Netflix has recently been on a spree of show cancelations, which started in the latter half of 2022 and seems to be continuing. This typically happens when the first season of a show does not get adequate viewer numbers, and so they cannot justify the cost of future seasons. However, recently there have been many beloved shows that have been canceled without comment, which has ultimately left audiences feeling flat.
It may seem unclear as to why Netflix continues to suddenly cancel shows, with the most obvious conclusion being that simply not enough people were watching. However, it has come to light that they also look at completion rates (percentage of viewers that actually finish every episode), which allows Netflix to make the decision irrespective of how beloved a show is. In the wake of these mass cancelations, here are some of the most beloved Netflix shows that did not deserve to be cut.
10 1899 (2022)
1899 is the most recent cancelation in this article, with the show premiering in November 2022, only to be abruptly canceled and exist within the crux of the recent Netflix cancelation debate. The maritime drama had all the markings of a great historical fiction show, with mystery and intrigue propelling the narrative forward. Speculation over the reason for cancelation has ranged between it being too expensive to produce to perhaps not having a good completion rate.
The most frustrating aspect of the cancelation for viewers is that the season had a cliffhanger at the end of the final episode of the first season, which many want closure for. After the plug was pulled so suddenly, fans petitioned for Netflix to reconsider, and a change.org petition was even made to voice discontent with the decision.
9 I Am Not Okay With This (2020)
Again bowing out after one season after plenty of rave reviews, fans will not be able to have closure to Sydney's turbulent journey with her new-found powers. This coming-of-age black comedy had an explosive first season, with many twists and turns and incredible performances from the cast, yet met an untimely end due to the COVID-19 pandemic increasing production costs.
I Am Not Okay With This never feels stagnant whilst watching and has a realistic portrayal of teenage anxieties, including the early stages of a same-sex romance. For these reasons, it would be great to see if the show could make a return in the future, but in the meantime, fans will have to be content with their disappointment.
8 The Get Down (2016-2017)
Created by Baz Luhrmann and Stephen Adly Guirgis, The Get Down was Netflix's most expensive venture at the time, costing around $120 million. This makes the fact that it was canceled all the more surprising, but it could in fact be one of the possible reasons as to why the show did not continue.
Set in the South Bronx region of New York City in the 1970s, the music within the show was very well regarded as well as the cinematography and overall look of the film. However, elements of the show were criticized as taking away authenticity. Despite this, it would have been interesting to see where the show could have been taken next with such a fantastic cast.
7 GLOW (2017-2019)
An out-of-work actress in 1980s Los Angeles finds the world of women's wrestling in this wild-hearted comedy-drama GLOW. Each episode carefully explored the camaraderie and competition between the women as they thrive in this unconventional performative world.
Immensely popular and spanning three seasons, GLOW was renewed for another two before Netflix canceled the show, again citing COVID-19 reasons. Not having a proper ending to the show does make it feel incomplete and underappreciated, but it does not look like this wrestling comedy will be making a comeback.
6 The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018-2020)
Another show lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina bowed out after four seasons. The show was known for its fantastic re-imagining of Sabrina's world as a mysteriously dark manifestation of the occult, where Sabrina had to wrestle with her power as a witch versus her empowerment as a young woman.
Despite fans being disappointed that the show was ending, closure was offered by way of two crossovers with Riverdale, which helped tie up loose ends of the plot. A comic book series, The Occult World of Sabrina, has also been announced, which aims to pick up where the show left off.
5 Everything Sucks! (2018)
Praised for being a sweet and savvy coming-of-age comedy-drama, Everything Sucks! focuses on a group of teenagers making a movie together alongside personal issues of sexuality, mental health, and adolescent hardships. Set in 1990s America, it seeks to feel nostalgic whilst parodying the typical teen culture of the time.
The show was generally well received, with the character Kate's realistic storyline where she seeks to come to terms with her sexuality being highly commended and impactful for young LGBTQ+ viewers. Being canceled after just one season understandably left fans of the show upset, as many storylines did not feel resolved.
4 Archive 81 (2022)
This creepy horror story sees an archivist restoring damaged videotapes but gets pulled into a mystery involving the missing filmmaker and the discovered documented contents. Intelligent and intriguing, Archive 81 was released in January 2022 and enjoyed by its fans, but like many others in this list canceled after just one season despite garnering positive reviews.
A cliffhanger leaves the show's audience hanging because of this cancelation, as there is no confirmation of the fate of either main character. It is clear that this thriller was intended to run for several seasons, and hopefully, there is a possibility that these storylines could be continued on another platform in the future.
3 One Day At A Time (2017-2020)
A bubbly and bright sitcom, One Day At A Time was a fantastically produced Netflix show that ended way before its time. Focusing on a multi-generation Cuban-American family, the show sees every character learning to handle issues of everyday life. It was applauded for its commitment to portraying a Hispanic family at its heart, as well as addressing challenging themes like PTSD, sexuality, gender identity, and racism, all within a backdrop of well-written humor.
Netflix canceled the show in 2019, but then a fourth season was aired on Pop TV in 2020 before being canceled for good. For such a brilliant show, this was a shame, but One Day At A Time still holds a beautiful and vibrant legacy for fans to revisit.
2 Atypical (2017-2021)
Atypical is a comedy that sees protagonist Sam navigate being a teenager with autism whilst looking for romance. The show also handles the lives of his parents, who each have their own struggles, as well as his younger sister Casey who is coming to terms with her sexuality. With positive reviews, Atypical was commended for its portrayal of social issues, especially when, in its second season and onwards, autistic actors and writers were included in production.
With great writing and a believable storyline in each episode, it was sad to see Atypical come to an end after four seasons. Despite being a very popular series, it may be said that the show had reached its natural end and the showrunners were able to craft a warm-hearted and fitting conclusion to the show, unlike others in this article.
1 Sense 8 (2015-2018)
A gripping science fiction drama series, The Wachowskis excelled again with Sense8, where a group of strangers discovers that they are connected via their thoughts and feelings. It was an immensely popular show that focused on the relationship between empathy and evolution and was highly praised for its positive representation of LGBTQ+ characters and themes throughout the show.
Netflix announced that they canceled the show, which had ended with a cliffhanger and a completely unresolved story, as a third season had been expected, which resulted in large amounts of backlash from fans of the show. In an unprecedented response, Netflix produced a two-and-a-half hour finale released in 2018, which left viewers with a solid ending, but a door slightly open in case the show ever gets a future season.