Netflix
It has paved the way for many incredible TV shows over the last 15 years, revolutionizing the television landscape. However, due to its international reach and ambitious plans, the platform has not always been able to keep up with all the projects it starts, often leading to the cancellation of some of its best series. Sometimes TV shows need more seasons to reach their full potential. As a result, many promising stories were abandoned, leaving viewers eager for more.
Some of these cancellations were caused by factors outside of Netflix’s control – the COVID-19 pandemic being a big example. However, many of the canceled TV shows had such exceptional critical reception and committed fan bases that their sudden endings seemed unjustified. Due to the original renewal plans, some stories ended on shocking cliffhangers, leaving fans without closure. For these reasons, Netflix’s many canceled shows are worth revisiting, giving their characters the resolution they deserve and addressing any unanswered questions.
10
The OA (2016-2019)
Canceled after 2 seasons
With the cliffhanger of the last episode, OA is still one of the most heartbreaking and unwarranted cancellations in television history. The TV show was an innovative creation that kept the viewer hooked to the screen from start to finish. Its popularity was the result of compelling and ambitious stories that skillfully combined elements of science fiction, fantasy, and mystery, used as a way to address philosophical questions. Empire named it the ninth best series of all time.
OAThe show’s cancellation after just two seasons was unusually hasty and undeserved. The show’s complex nature and exploration of deep themes like human connections, identity, and spirituality required more episodes and time to fully develop and offer audiences the closure they crave. Given OAFollowing the visionary goals of, Netflix’s canceled show ended on a cliffhanger so absurd it deserves another season.
9
Sense8 (2015-2018)
Canceled after 2 seasons
With its original plot and diverse cast Sense8when it debuted in 2015, it was also a groundbreaking TV series that tackled unexplored questions of identity and sexuality in an empathetic way. The fantasy element is expertly 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.
It is no surprise, therefore, that Sense8 has gathered an extremely loyal fan base. After the second season ended on a cliffhanger, Netflix announced its cancellation in 2017. The news sparked backlash and fans created an online petition to renew the series. Although fans’ request was partially fulfilled with a special last episode 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 without a doubt it deserved another season. With the positive reviews it has received from critics and the interest it has garnered from the public, this TV series depicting the founding of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit and the science of criminal profiling is a worthy successor to Criminal Minds. As the second season received even more praise compared to the first, Mindhunter I had every reason to continue. However, fans weren’t so lucky.
Netflix announced in 2020 that a third season was being considered, but it was put on hold indefinitely 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 final episode appeared as a prelude to another story. Therefore, as the show’s official conclusion, it left an unsatisfactory taste in viewers’ mouths, unable to deliver a strong ending.
7
Chaos (2024)
Canceled after 1 season
The premise of Chaos, a television retelling of Greek mythology, it is as captivating as it is promising. Jeff Goldblum’s portrayal of Zeus only amplified the hype. Unsurprisingly, the first season received generally favorable reviews. In the first month of its launch, Chaos remained in the Netflix Top 10 for four consecutive weeks (via Variety). Unfortunately, the viewership was still not enough to reach Netflix’s benchmark, and the show was canceled in October. The decision was not well received and fans showed interest in the future of the program by asking for renewal.
Furthermore, the cancellation of Chaos It’s a huge missed opportunity. In addition to its popularity, the wasted potential of the source material is also worrying. Ancient Greece’s rich tapestry of legends offers many creative opportunities. With the absurd adventures and fascinating dynamics that characterize the myths surrounding the Olympian Gods, the writers could have really let their imagination run wild. Additionally, although the last episode provided some closure, Chaos left several issues unresolved for another season.
6
1899 (2022)
Canceled after 1 season
1899 premiered in 2022 as a German science fiction mystery TV series about a group of European emigrants who travel on a steamship from the United Kingdom to New York. The series received favorable reviews and became immediately popular. Shortly after its release, it took second place on Netflix’s Top 10 English-language TV titles (via Variety). Therefore, the decision to cancel it in January 2023 without providing any specific reasons came as a shock.
With a historical setting and suspenseful narrative, this canceled Netflix show produced a great science fiction story. As promising as it was, 1989 needed more time and time to expand his story. Furthermore, given its popularity with the public, it was a shame not to continue. Fans have also started an online petition to save the show again in this case. Considering the potential of the story and the commitment demonstrated by its followers, 1989 It deserves at least one more season.
5
(2023)
Canceled after 1 season
When Netflix announced that Lockwood & Co. was the UK’s fourth most-watched show on the platform in the first half of 2023, fans likely breathed a sigh of relief: their new favorite supernatural mystery thriller was safe. Unfortunately, this was not the case. Despite positive critical reception and popularity among audiences, the show was canceled after just eight episodes.
Why Lockwood & Co. is based on the five-book series by Jonathan Stroud, there was a lot of material to adapt, as well as a lot of room to reinvent and introduce new and fascinating ideas. Furthermore, the producers seemed willing to continue the story after the first season. Or at least that’s what the ending suggests. The unanswered questions and the unsolved mysteries Lockwood & Co.The ending also demands a sequel, which unfortunately does not happen due to 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 black woman to obtain the position of chair of the English department at a prestigious university. The Netflix show was praised for its complex portrayal of the main character and its ability to not fall prey to boring, expected stereotypes, while also earning an 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite the positive reviews it received, the series was canceled in 2023 after just one season.
In addition to subverting old tropes and creating compelling characters, The chair stood out for its original, in-depth exploration of the academic world, often not the central focus of films and TV series. The approach offered an unusual perspective and social critique of behind-the-scenes happenings in higher education. However, six episodes only gave a glimpse and it would have been worth going deeper.
3
The Society (2019)
Canceled after 1 season
The Society premiered in 2019 as a smart portrait of a teenage community inexplicably left to its own devices. A mysterious 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 cancellation.
The Society it was a captivating idea that, given the enigmatic nature of the plot and the complexities of the issues addressed, should not have been condensed into just 10 episodes. Furthermore, considering the original plans before the pandemic, the first season ended with some significant obstacles. Too many questions were left unanswered for this canceled Netflix TV show not to get 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, it received critical acclaim and public acclaim, with all the potential to become a classic. As a result, it is once again disappointing that Netflix canceled the series after just one season. An epic prequel to the original 1982 film, the TV show revisited the magical world of Thra, approaching, like all respectful fantasy, themes of good versus evil with intelligence and emotional depth.
Showrunners Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews announced shortly after the release of the first season that they had plans to continue the story (via IndieWire). This is also proven by the fact that despite a satisfying conclusion, the Netflix show left many questions that needed answers, making its cancellation even more abrupt and unexpected. However, there is still hope. The Jim Henson Company has already suggested that it has not given up and is prepared to revive the story once it finds a way (via FilmWeb).
1
GLOW (2017-2019)
Canceled after 3 seasons
One of the most unexpected recent concerns about TV show cancellations Shine. When it debuted on Netflix, this series about female wrestlers set in the vibrant 1980s was immediately met with universal acclaim. Critics loved it, audiences were ecstatic, and countless people seemed invested. Shine was also nominated for and won several Emmy Awards. After the success of the first three seasons, audiences were eager for Netflix to release the fourth and final season.
Unfortunately, the show was one of those that suffered the consequences of 2020. With the outbreak of COVID-19, production had to be interrupted for safety reasons. Filming never resumed, causing the story to end on a cliffhanger, which made the cancellation even more poignant. The characters and the fans deserve closure. Shine is definitely among the canceled Netflix programs that deserved a final season.