Summary
- Netflix's tendency to cancel shows without warning leaves viewers frustrated and feeling like they deserve more transparency.
- Even critically acclaimed series like Daredevil and Tuca & Bertie fell victim to Netflix's cancel-happy decision-makers.
- The platform's focus on quantity over quality often results in the premature axing of beloved shows like Mindhunter and The OA.
It has become increasingly clear to me that Netflix favors quantity over quality. As of April 2024, Netflix boasts the most subscriptions of any video-on-demand (VOD) or streaming service platform, boasting over 269.6 million paid hips across 190 countries. Since the premieres of Lilyhammer, House of Cards, and Orange is the New Black, Netflix Originals have boomed, and now for half of the streamer's total library. That said, Netflix is churning out content — and not everything gets the same marketing budget, , or leap of faith. Years later, certain seemingly random Netflix cancelations still sting.
There are some TV show cancelations that I can understand — even if they hurt. Productions with ballooning budgets or steep drops in viewership would likely have been axed on traditional networks too. On the other hand, Netflix is known to be evasive when it comes to sharing data. Ratings aren't collected from streamers in the same way, and the platform has a tight grip on pertinent information, from the number of views to how many subscribers started and stopped a fledgling series. Between its nebulous metrics and penchant for cutting shows after just one outing, Netflix constantly vexes viewers.
10 Daredevil
3 Seasons | 2015–18
Although Daredevil is making a grand return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the Netflix series cancelation still stands out as one of the most frustrating to date. The first-ever Marvel Netflix series, Daredevil follows Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) a blind lawyer-by-day who fights crime as the titular masked vigilante by night. One of my favorite aspects of Daredevil is that it actively avoided MCU movie crossovers. Not to mention, it was noticeably darker than the other Marvel projects of the day. Despite rave reviews, Emmy nominations, and spin-off shows, Daredevil was axed after three seasons.
Charlie Cox later reprised his role in several MCU projects, including She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and will star in Disney+'s Daredevil: Born Again (2025).
Daredevil is a Netflix original series starring Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock. The TV show ran for three seasons before being canceled by Netflix, despite being critically praised. Kingpin was the main antagonist in seasons 1 and 3 and also introduced Jon Benrthal's Punisher in season 2. Daredevil was followed by Disney+'s Daredevil: Born Again.
- Cast
- Jon Bernthal
- Showrunner
- Steven S. DeKnight
- Directors
- Phil Abraham, Stephen Surjik, Peter Hoar
- Writers
- Drew Goddard
- Franchise(s)
- Marvel
- Seasons
- 3
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix, Dis
9 Tuca & Bertie
1 Season | 2019
A hit with critics and viewers alike, Tuca & Bertie is an underrated animated show and a truly fresh entry in the adult-animation canon. Tragically, the show was cut short by Netflix's cancel-happy decision-makers. Created by cartoonist Lisa Hanawalt, Tuca & Bertie stars Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong as the voices of the titular best pals. Two months after its acclaimed debut, the hilarious-yet-poignant series was canceled, prompting a flurry of outraged social media posts, think-pieces, and petitions to renew Tuca & Bertie. A prime victim of Netflix's problematic algorithm, Tuca & Bertie was renewed for two more seasons by Adult Swim.
Tuca & Bertie is an animated series created by Lisa Hanawalt, focusing on the friendship between two anthropomorphic bird women living in the same apartment building. Voiced by Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong, the series explores themes of friendship, adulthood, and personal growth, balancing humor with more serious topics.
- Cast
- Tiffany Haddish, Steven Yeun, Nicole Byer, John Early, Cole Escola, Lisa Hanawalt, Reggie Watts
- Seasons
- 3
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Creator(s)
- Lisa Hanawalt
8 Archive 81
1 Season | 2022
Perhaps the worst part of canceling Archive 81 two months later.
Archive 81 is based on a 2016 podcast of the same name.
Archive 81 is a horror mystery series created for Netflix that follows archivist Dan Turner who has taken a job restoring a collection of damaged videotapes from 1994. Reconstructing the work of a documentary filmmaker named Melody Pendras, he is drawn into her investigation of a dangerous cult at the Visser apartment building. This place had burned down years prior, leaving several mysteries in its wake.
- Network
- Netflix
- Cast
- Ariana Neal, Martin Donovan, Evan Jonigkeit, Julia Chan, Matt McGorry, Dina Shihabi, Mamoudou Athie
- Showrunner
- Rebecca Sonnenshine
- Directors
- Rebecca Thomas
- Seasons
- 1
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
7 1899
1 Season | 2022
Fans of Dark rejoiced upon hearing about 1899 was unfairly axed by Netflix with little reason given.
1899
- Release Date
- 2022 - 2022-00-00
1899 is a period piece drama that centers around a ship full of immigrants headed to the new land and entering the new century. Riding on the steamship Kerebos, the multilingual engers contemplate how their lives will differ in this new era. However, when the ship comes across a missing vessel known as the Prometheus, the engers will be taken through several mysterious experiences and drag them through their worst nightmares.
- Network
- Netflix
- Cast
- Emily Beecham, Aneurin Barnard, Andreas Pietschmann, Miguel Bernardeau, Maciej Musial, Anton Lesser, Rosalie Craig, Mathilde Ollivier
- Showrunner
- Baran Bo Odar
- Writers
- Jantje Friese, Dario Madrona López Gallego, Emma Ko, Jerome Bucchan-Nelson, Juliana Lima Dehne, Emil Nygaard Albertsen
- Seasons
- 1
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
6 Warrior Nun
2 Seasons | 2020–22
The cancelation of Netflix's fantasy-drama Warrior Nun was frustrating for several reasons. Not only did the show boast a fresh premise, but it also featured LGBTQ+ characters at its center. Based on the comic book character Warrior Nun Areala, the show stars Alba Baptista as Ava Silva, an orphan who discovers her supernatural powers and s an order of ancient warrior nuns. A pulpy throwback to shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Warrior Nun boasted a dedicated fanbase. Frustratingly, Netflix's decision to nix the show continued the "Cancel Your Gays" trope, marking yet another woman-led show with queer representation that the streamer axed.
6 Biggest Things That Would Have Happened In Warrior Nun Season 3
Warrior Nun season 2’s finale, combined with recent comments from showrunner Simon Barry, helps decipher what would have happened in season 3.
In 2023, it was announced that Warrior Nun will continue with a trilogy of films, but the movies won't follow the TV show.
Warrior Nun
- Release Date
- 2020 - 2021
Based on the comic series Warrior Nun Areala, Warrior Nun is a Netflix series created by Simon Barry. When an orphaned teen wakes up in a morgue and a mysterious artifact lodged inside her, she learns she is part of an ancient order tasked with hunting demons - and that she's the chosen Halo-Bearer with unique superpowers.
- Network
- Netflix
- Cast
- Alba Baptista, Toya Turner, Lorena Andrea, Kristina Tonteri-Young, Tristan Ulloa, Thekla Reuten, Sylvia De Fanti, William Miller
- Showrunner
- Simon Barry
- Directors
- Simon Barry
- Writers
- Simon Barry
- Seasons
- 2
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
5 Sense8
2 Seasons & A Movie | 2015–18
One of Netflix's most ambitious shows to date, Lana and Lilly Wachowski (The Matrix), Sense8 is one of Netflix's most original, inclusive, and enduring shows. Thankfully, the streamer at least let the Wachowskis wrap their story up with a Sense8 movie.
Sense8
- Release Date
- 2015 - 2018-00-00
Created by the Wachowski sisters, Sense8 features an ensemble cast playing eight different people from around the world, who discover that they are suddenly mentally linked with one another and begin experiencing each other's lives and feelings. As the sensates begin to get to know each other, they must face a growing threat to all their lives by using their newfound empathic powers to their advantage.
- Cast
- Max Riemelt, Jamie Clayton, Anupam Kher
- Showrunner
- Lilly Wachowski
- Directors
- Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
- Writers
- Lilly Wachowski
- Seasons
- 2
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
4 Mindhunter
2 Seasons | 2017–19
A psychological crime thriller from executive producers David Fincher (Gone Girl) and Charlize Theron, Mindhunter was put on indefinite hold by Fincher, who ultimately scrapped his five-season plan.
From executive producers David Fincher and Charlize Theron comes Mindhunter, a series that chronicles the founding of the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit used to track and apprehend serial killers. Mindhunter follows Agent Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) as they work to establish a framework for understanding the minds of some of America's most dangerous serial killers. Mindhunter adapts a number of true crime stories, including the BTK murders and the notorious Co-Ed Killer, Edmund Kemper.
- Cast
- Anna Torv, Stacey Roca, Cameron Britton, Michael Cerveris, Joe Tuttle, Lauren Glazier
- Showrunner
- Joe Penhall
- Directors
- David Fincher
- Writers
- Joe Penhall
- Seasons
- 2
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
3 Everything Sucks!
1 Season | 2018
One of the few coming-of-age comedy-dramas to center on younger teens, Everything Sucks! was canceled and went without a new home.
Set in the 1990s, Everything Sucks! follows the lives of high school misfits in Boring, Oregon, as they navigate the trials of adolescence, including friendships, budding romances, and the clash between the A/V Club and Drama Club.
- Cast
- Peyton Kennedy, Jahi Di'Allo Winston, Quinn Liebling, Rio Mangini, Patch Darragh, Claudine Mboligikpelani Nako, Abi Brittle, Nicole McCullough, Connor Muhl, Ben York Jones, Zachary Ray Sherman, Jalon Howard, Katie O’Grady, Jen Taylor, Andy Sims, Kiah Butts, Sunday Manisto-Saari, Dylan Hall, Luke Schuck, Jonah Kellams, Audrey Boos
- Directors
- Michael Mohan, Ry Russo-Young
- Writers
- Ben York Jones, Michael Mohan
- Seasons
- 1
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
- Main Genre
- Comedy
- Creator(s)
- Ben York Jones, Michael Mohan
2 GLOW
3 Seasons | 2017–19
The Glow stars heavy-hitters like Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, and Marc Maron, and revolves around a fictionalized version of the 1980s syndicated women's professional wrestling circuit — the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, a.k.a. GLOW. The Emmy-nominated series delivered a knock-out third season and was renewed for a fourth and final outing in 2019. A year later, Netflix reversed the decision, blaming the cancelation on the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns and offering no hope for a future resolution.
Based on the 1980s wrestling phenomenon of the same name, GLOW (aka Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) is a comedy-drama series created by Netflix. It focuses on the women and people behind the unconventional new wrestling federation. The show follows three main characters, struggling actress Ruth Wilder, retried soap star Debbie Eagen, and director Sam Sylvia as they battle each other over how they wish to elevate their new project, all while dealing with the struggles of discrimination in entertainment during the 80s.
- Cast
- Marc Maron
- Showrunner
- Liz Flahive
- Directors
- Liz Flahive
- Writers
- Liz Flahive
- Seasons
- 3
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
1 The OA
2 Seasons | 2016–19
Created and executive produced by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij — the duo behind Hulu's recent hit The OA's cancelation, fans planned a hunger strike outside Netflix's Los Angeles Headquarters in protest.
Netflix Offered To End Cancelled Show With A Movie, The OA Co-Creator Reveals Why They Declined
The OA co-creator Zal Batmanglij reveals why he and Brit Marling declined Netflix's offer to end the cancelled science fiction show with a movie.
The OA
- Release Date
- 2016 - 2019-00-00
The OA is a mystery drama series that follows Prairie Johnson, who returns to her hometown after being missing for seven years with her sight mysteriously restored. As her baffling reappearance raises questions, she refrains from discussing her ordeal with authorities or family, sparking intrigue and speculation.
- Cast
- Brit Marling, Vincent Kartheiser
- Directors
- Andrew Haigh
- Writers
- Dominic Orlando, Henry Bean, Damien Ober, Ruby Rae Spiegel
- Seasons
- 2
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
- Creator(s)
- Brit Marling, Zal Batmanglij
