Netflix has paved the way for many amazing TV shows in the last 15 years, revolutionizing the television landscape. However, because of its international reach and ambitious plans, the platform has not always been able to keep up with all the projects it initiates, often leading to the cancelation of some of its best series. Sometimes, TV shows need more seasons to reach their full potential. As a consequence, many promising stories have been abandoned, leaving their viewers yearning for more.
Some of these cancelations were caused by factors outside Netflix's control — the COVID-19 pandemic being a major example. However, many of the canceled TV shows had such an exceptional critical reception and committed fanbase that their sudden ending felt unjustified. Due to their original renewal plans, some stories ended on shocking cliffhangers, leaving fans without closure. For these reasons, many canceled Netflix shows are worth revisiting, giving their characters the resolution they deserve and addressing all the unanswered questions.
10 The OA (2016-2019)
Canceled After 2 Seasons
With the last episode's cliffhanger, The OA is still one of the most painful and unjustified cancelations in the history of television. The TV show was a groundbreaking creation that kept the viewer attached to the screen from start to finish. Its popularity was the result of compelling and ambitious storylines that cleverly combined elements of sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery used as a way to address philosophical questions. Empire named it the ninth-best series of all time.
The OA's cancelation after only two seasons was unusually rushed and undeserved. The intricate nature of the show and the exploration of profound themes such as human connections, identity, and spirituality required more episodes and time to be fully developed and offer the audience the closure they crave. Given The OA's visionary goals, the canceled Netflix show ended on such an absurd cliffhanger that it deserves another season.
9 Sense8 (2015-2018)
Canceled After 2 Seasons
With its original plot and diverse cast, Sense8, when it debuted in 2015, was also a groundbreaking TV series that tackled unexplored issues of identity and sexuality in an empathetic manner. The fantasy element is cleverly handled to explore the emotional connection between distinct characters from different corners of the world. The Netflix show was characterized by nuanced characters, a rich and complex story, and a strong political message.
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It is no surprise, therefore, that Sense8 gathered an extremely loyal fanbase. After the second season ended on a cliffhanger, Netflix announced its cancelation in 2017. The news generated a backlash, and fans created a petition online to renew the series. Although the fans' request was partially met with a last episode special released in 2018, there is much more the series could explore, and a two-hour finale was a bitter consolation prize.
8 Mindhunter (2017-2019)
Canceled After 2 Seasons
Directed by David Fincher, Mindhunter doubtlessly merited another season. With the positive reviews it received from critics and the interest it earned from the public, this TV series portraying the founding of the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit and the science of criminal profiling is a worthy successor to Criminal Minds. Since the second season received even more praise compared to the first, Mindhunter had every reason to continue. However, fans were not so fortunate.
Netflix announced in 2020 that a third season was being considered but was placed on indefinite hold because Fincher was embarking on other projects. In 2023, however, Fincher said the series was officially over (via Collider). When the last season aired, the concluding episode appeared as a prelude to another story. Therefore, as the official ending of the show, it left an unsatisfying taste in the mouths of the viewers, unable to offer a strong finale.
7 Kaos (2024)
Canceled After 1 Season
The premise of Kaos, a TV retelling of Greek mythology, is as captivating as promising. The portrayal of Jeff Goldblum as Zeus only amplified the hype. Unsurprisingly, the first season received generally favorable reviews. Within the first month of its release, Kaos stayed in Netflix's Top 10 Chart for four consecutive weeks (via Variety). Unfortunately, the viewership was still not enough to hit Netflix's benchmark, and the show was canceled in October. The decision was not well-received and fans proved their interest in the show's future by asking for a renewal.
Furthermore, the cancelation of Kaos is a major missed opportunity. Besides its popularity, the wasted potential of the source material is also upsetting. The rich tapestry of legends from Ancient Greece provides many creative opportunities. With the absurd adventures and fascinating dynamics that characterize the myths surrounding the Gods of Olympus, the writers could have truly unleashed their imagination. Furthermore, although the last episode provided some closure, Kaos left several unresolved questions for another season.
6 1899 (2022)
Canceled After 1 Season
1899 debuted in 2022 as a mystery science fiction German TV series about a group of European emigrants who voyage on a steamship from the UK to New York. The series received favorable reviews and became immediately popular. Soon after its release, it earned second place in Netflix's Top 10 TV English titles (via Variety). Therefore, the decision to cancel it in January 2023 without providing any specific reasoning came as a shock.
With the historical setting and suspenseful narrative, this canceled Netflix show had the making of a great sci-fi story. As promising as it was, 1989 needed more time and time to expand on its story. Furthermore, given the popularity with the audience, it was a shame not to continue. The fans also started a petition online to save the show again in this case. Considering the story's potential and commitment demonstrated by its followers, 1989 deserves at least one more season.
5 Lockwood & Co. (2023)
Canceled After 1 Season
When Netflix announced that Lockwood & Co. was the fourth most-watched UK show on the platform for the first part of 2023, fans probably breathed a sigh of relief: their new favorite supernatural mystery thriller was safe. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Despite the positive critical reception and popularity among the audience, the show was canceled after only eight episodes.
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Because Lockwood & Co. is based on the five-book series by Jonathan Stroud, there was plenty of material to adapt as well as a lot of room to reinvent and come up with new, fascinating ideas. Furthermore, the showrunners appeared willing to continue the story after the first season. Or at least, that is what the ending suggests. The unanswered questions and unresolved mysteries of Lockwood & Co.'s ending also demand a continuation, sadly not to be because of industry concerns.
4 The Chair (2021)
Canceled After 1 Season
The Chair aired in 2021 with a magnificent performance by Sandra Oh as Dr. Ji-Yoon Kim, the first woman of color to obtain the position of Chair of the English department at a prestigious university. The Netflix show was praised for the complex depiction of the main character and its ability not to fall victim to expected and boring stereotypes, while obtaining a score of 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite the positive reviews it received, the series was canceled in 2023 after only one season.
Besides subverting old tropes and creating compelling characters, The Chair stood out for its original and thorough exploration of the world of academia, often not the central focus of movies and TV series. The approach offered an unusual perspective and a social critique of the behind-the-scenes ongoings of higher education. However, six episodes only provided a glimpse, and it would have been worthwhile to go deeper.
3 The Society (2019)
Canceled After 1 Season
The Society premiered in 2019 as a clever portrayal of a teenage community inexplicably left to fend for themselves. A mystery teen drama, this TV show used an intriguing concept to explore deeper meanings of social belonging and adulthood and was indeed praised for its originality and thoughtfulness. Given the series' reception, it was initially renewed for another season, until lockdown halted production, leading to its official cancelation.
The Society was a captivating idea that, given the enigmatic nature of the plot and the complexities of the issues touched, should not be condensed into only 10 episodes. Furthermore, considering the original plans before the pandemic, the first season ended with some significant cliffhangers. Too many questions were left to address for this canceled Netflix TV show not to garner another season.
2 The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance
Canceled After 1 Season (2019)
With its beautiful visuals and compelling narrative, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, when released in 2019, received both critical acclaim and praise from the audience, with all the potential to become a classic. As a consequence, it is again a disappointment that Netflix canceled the series after only one season. An epic prequel to the original 1982 film, the TV show revisited the magical world of Thra, touching, as every respectful fantasy does, upon themes of good vs. evil with intelligence and emotional depth.
Showrunners Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews announced, soon after the release of the first season, that they had plans to continue the story (via IndieWire). This is also proved by the fact that, despite a satisfying conclusion, the Netflix show left many questions that needed answers, making its cancelation even more abrupt and unexpected. However, there is still hope. The Jim Henson Company has already suggested they haven't given up, and they are prepared to revive the story as soon as they find a way (via MovieWeb).
1 GLOW (2017-2019)
Canceled After 3 Seasons
One of the most unexpected recent TV show cancelation concerns Glow. When it debuted on Netflix, this series about female wrestlers set in the vibrant 1980s was immediately met with universal acclaim. The critics loved it, the public was ecstatic, and countless people appeared to be invested. Glow was also nominated for and won several Emmy Awards. After the success of the first three seasons, the audience was eager for Netflix to release the fourth and final one.
Unfortunately, the show was one of those that suffered the consequences of 2020. With the outbreak of COVID-19, production had to be halted due to safety concerns. Filming then never resumed, causing the story to end on a cliffhanger, which made the cancelation even more heartbreaking. The characters and the fans deserve closure. Glow is definitely among the canceled Netflix shows that deserved a last season.
