October 14th 2024.
Unfortunately, it seems that even the most promising and well-received shows are not safe from the harsh reality of being cancelled. Netflix's fantasy drama Kaos, which boasted a star-studded cast and garnered high praise from both critics and audiences, has been cancelled after just one season. This is a familiar story for streaming fans, who have all too often experienced the disappointment of falling in love with a new show, only to have it abruptly ended without any closure.
It's a shame that not even the mighty Jeff Goldblum playing the powerful Zeus was enough to save Kaos. The show now joins the ranks of other beloved series such as Chucky, My Lady Jane, and Our Flag Means Death, all of which have met their untimely end this year, whether on a cliffhanger or not.
Out of all the major streaming services, Netflix is known for its mercilessness when it comes to cancelling shows. Even those that have received critical acclaim often struggle to meet the streaming giant's high viewing figures. So, let's take a closer look at what may have gone wrong with Kaos, and also explore five other beloved shows that were cut short before their time on Netflix.
Starring Jurassic Park icon Jeff Goldblum as the Greek God Zeus, Kaos was a unique blend of fantasy, comedy, and drama. It followed the immortal Olympian as he descended into paranoia amidst a chaotic world (or kaos, as the title suggests). Despite debuting to strong word of mouth and boasting a healthy Tomatometer score of 76% and a Popcornmeter rating of 83%, Kaos failed to meet Netflix's expectations with its viewership of 825 million and a sharp decline in its second week. Sadly, this may have been a contributing factor to its cancellation, especially since it ended on a cliffhanger, potentially deterring any new viewers from giving it a chance.
Another show that faced a similar fate was Dead Boy Detectives, based on a comic book by Neil Gaiman and set in the same universe as Netflix's The Sandman. The teen drama followed two young ghosts as they solved crimes from beyond the grave and quickly found an audience with its spooky storytelling and well-developed characters. Despite earning a Tomatometer score of 91%, the show's fanbase was not large enough for Netflix, who announced its cancellation after only one season.
Even the highly-anticipated spin-off That 90s Show, which briefly saw the return of original stars Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, couldn't escape the trend of early cancellations on Netflix. Despite surviving for two seasons, this follow-up to the beloved sitcom That 70s Show was ultimately unable to hold onto its spot on the streaming service.
Another show that didn't make the cut was Uncoupled, a romantic-comedy-drama starring Neil Patrick Harris. The show, which aired in 2022, followed a middle-aged man whose life is turned upside down when his partner suddenly leaves him. While it received decent scores from both audiences and critics, it wasn't enough to save it from cancellation, despite attempts from co-producers Showtime to keep it going.
Meanwhile, Unstable, which starred Parks and Recreation's Rob Lowe and his real-life son John Owen Lowe, was cancelled after only two seasons. The show, which followed CEO Ellis and his socially awkward son Jackson, had a jovial chemistry between the two Lowe men that won over critics and audiences alike. However, disappointing viewing figures for its second season sealed its fate, and Netflix announced its cancellation last week.
Fans were also left heartbroken when Shadow and Bone, based on Leigh Bardugo's popular book series, was cancelled after only two seasons. The show, which featured state-of-the-art VFX and Ben Barnes as the mysterious General Krigan, was unable to justify its high budget and was cancelled in November of last year. Unfortunately, this also meant the cancellation of a planned spin-off based on the author's Six of Crows duology.
It seems that even supernatural teen dramas like Lockwood & Co. are not safe from Netflix's chopping block. This show followed three teenagers, led by Ruby Stokes' Lucy Carlyle, as they ran a ghost-hunting agency in a ghost-infested London. Despite its promising premise, the show was cancelled after only one season, with many fans blaming Netflix for not promoting it enough, leading to low viewing figures.
Even a show as critically acclaimed as Mindhunter, helmed by renowned director David Fincher and starring Anna Torv, Jonathan Groff, and Holt McCallany, was not immune to Netflix's cull. This gripping drama followed a team of FBI Agents as they interviewed and investigated serial killers in 1970s America. Despite its stellar cast and near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes scores, it was cancelled after its second season. Fincher himself admitted that filming the show was a taxing and costly process, and unfortunately, the viewership did not justify its high budget.
It's a sad truth that even the most beloved and well-received shows can fall victim to Netflix's ruthless cancellation decisions. As fans, all we can do is hope that our favorite shows will be given a chance to wrap up their stories and that future series will be given a fair chance to succeed on the streaming platform. Until then, we'll just have to brace ourselves for more potential heartbreaks in the future.
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