GHOSTWRITING.
The most INFURIATING cancellations in Netflix History
Over 1500 titles. That’s how many original shows Netflix has produced since it started pumping out its binge-worthy content in 2013. Some are hits some are misses. But as you are about to see, having a huge viewership and fan-following does not always guarantee series renewal. Here are the most INFURIATING cancellations in Netflix History.
First up, is arguably the most in-demand series and its cancellation prompted several petitions from fans to bring it back but that was not enough to save “Daredevil”. Did you know the show “Daredevil” was praised for its dark tone, its realistic fight scenes, and its portrayal of complex and flawed characters? It was based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name and starred Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock/Daredevil, a blind lawyer who fights crime at night as a vigilante. Analytics has even found that the audience demand for Marvel's Daredevil is 17.2 times the demand of the average TV series in the United States alone in the first 30 days of airing. For comparison, only 2.7% of all shows in this market have this level of demand! Despite critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base, "Daredevil" was still cancelled by Netflix after three seasons. The decision to cancel the show was reportedly due to the unexpected end of Netflix's partnership with Marvel. Talk about being BLINDsided.
Just like this next show, which people praised for its feminist themes, and a fan favourite just like “Daredevil” before it, “Jessica Jones” seemed like it was poised for many more seasons to come. The show's exploration of trauma, its depiction of sophisticated and complicated characters, and its themes set it apart from other superhero shows. It was so good that it felt like the most realistic comic book show and its influence can still be seen in current TV shows and movies today. But just like Daredevil, the cancellation of "Jessica Jones" was part of a larger trend of Netflix cancelling Marvel series, which also included "Iron Fist", "Luke Cage", and "The Punisher" which disappointed comic book fans and non-alike.
Oh man, Netflix sure knows how to let down, don’t they? Because “The Get Down” is another show with strong critical reception but was still cancelled after just one season. The show was created by Baz Luhrmann and Stephen Adly Guirgis. It followed a group of teenagers living in the South Bronx in the late 1970s during the birth of hip-hop, disco, and punk music. But apparently, "The Get Down" was one of the most expensive shows ever produced by Netflix, with a reported budget of $120 million for just one season. Wow! And you can see the value of it when watching. The show featured elaborate sets, complex choreography, and an extensive soundtrack that included both original music and classic hits from the era. The high cost of production may have contributed to the show's cancellation, as Netflix may not have seen a strong enough return on its investment. For what it’s worth, "The Get Down" remains a beloved cult classic among its fans until now.
Unbelievable right? It almost feels like Netflix likes pranking its viewers. Getting us hooked on these good shows with no intention of finishing them. It just leaves us hanging! While one of the reasons why a show may not get renewed could be a business move, sometimes it just does not make any sense. You would not believe why this next show was cancelled.
"American Vandal" was a Netflix mockumentary series that premiered in 2017. The show was created by Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda. It parodied true crime documentaries, following high school students as they investigate and try to solve various crimes in their school. Even though it had all the acclaim and a strong fan following, "American Vandal" was cancelled after two seasons. The decision to cancel the show was reportedly due to a variety of factors, including the high cost of production, but the silliest reason offered was that they had difficulty keeping the show fresh and original. So, what happened? Perrault had claimed in an interview that “That’s the only way a show like this keeps feeling fresh to us, is that it completely evolves.” but that did not happen as planned because they didn’t see eye to eye with the streaming giant which ultimately might have led t the show’s downfall. Whatever it was, the show's unique blend of humour, social commentary, and true crime parody helped to set it apart from other shows on Netflix, and its legacy continues to inspire other creators in the genre to this day.
Speaking of true crime, the critically acclaimed "Mindhunter" remains a beloved series among true crime and mystery fans, who have praised its meticulous attention to detail, smart writing, and talented cast. So why did Netflix decide to give it the axe? "Mindhunter" was a Netflix crime drama series that premiered in 2017. The show was created by Joe Penhall and executive produced by David Fincher, who also directed several episodes. The series followed two FBI agents, Holden Ford (played by Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (played by Holt McCallany), as they interviewed serial killers in an effort to understand their motivations and behaviours. The production of "Mindhunter" was a significant contributor to its cancellation. The show was reportedly very expensive to produce. It had all these elaborate period sets, extensive location shoots, and meticulous attention to detail all contributing to its extremely high production costs. Netflix’s ginormous budgets for big series like “Stranger Things" is not a sure thing for all of the streamer’s projects. According to David Fincher, the fan favourite was too expensive for Netflix to move forward with a third season. “I’m very proud of the first two seasons,” he told Le Journal du Dimanche, through Forbes. “But it’s a very expensive show, and in the eyes of Netflix, we didn’t attract enough of an audience to justify such an investment” for season three. What does that mean and how can they say that? Fans would argue there is more than enough support and viewers for it to keep going. Additionally, it is also seemingly David Fincher's involvement in the series was a significant factor in its cancellation, as the big-time busy director reportedly had scheduling conflicts that prevented him from continuing with the show. But as they say, never say never. The show's legacy continues to inspire other crime dramas, and there are still hopes among fans that it may one day return for a third season. And if that is the case maybe there is still hope for the rest of the cancelled shows too.
Who knows! We can all dream and live in fantasy, can’t we? Just Like Tuca and Bertie, a Netflix animated series that premiered in 2019. The show was created by Lisa Hanawalt, who also worked on the hit animated series "BoJack Horseman", and followed the adventures of two best friends, Tuca (voiced by Tiffany Haddish) and Bertie (voiced by Ali Wong), as they navigate their personal and professional lives in a surreal and whimsical world. While the show was widely praised by critics for its unique and vibrant animation style, as well as its thoughtful exploration of complex topics such as mental health and sexual assault, it failed to attract a large enough audience to justify its high production costs. Additionally, the show faced competition from other animated series on Netflix, including "BoJack Horseman" and "Big Mouth", which may have also somehow caused its cancellation. "Tuca and Bertie" remains a beloved series among its fans, who have praised its humour, heart, and thoughtful exploration of important issues. In response to the cancellation, there was a grassroots effort among fans to save the show, with a petition garnering thousands of signatures and the show eventually being picked up for a second season by Adult Swim.
See? I told you. Even if Netflix does not listen, at least other networks are. A cancellation does not always mean the end for these shows. But I get how frustrating it must be to get into a new story and get attached to the characters only for it to be ripped away with no closure. The reason why a show ends abruptly is something Netflix does not usually confirm, and audiences very rarely get any explanation. Based on their track record, there is no rhyme and reason for their cancellations. And that’s why these are some of the most infuriating cancellations in Netflix history.