Netflix is the most powerful streaming service in the world, both in terms of the number of subscribers and the number of releases. Unfortunately, for every new series and every new movie, there are adventures that are cut short. The new era of streaming equals cancellations.
Netflix has become the undisputed champion of creating incredible original programs… only to cruelly cancel them before they have the chance to truly shine, resulting in some shows that have ended too soon.
Sometimes it’s challenging to be a Netflix original series: most of them extend far beyond what is advisable due to their popularity, like Stranger Things or Big Mouth, or they get canceled too soon.
And the rest of the series, those that don’t enjoy the love of the entire audience, are canceled at the end of the first or second season, saying goodbye to a story that had a lot of potential ahead.
Whatever the reason, some of Netflix’s most beloved series have suffered truly devastating cancellations. And today, we review them:
The seven canceled Netflix series that hurt us the most in 2024
Archive 81
While Black Mirror dominates Netflix’s anthology horror space, Archive 81 had a promising start that could have invaded the territory of the science fiction franchise if given time to breathe.
The first season focuses on a tortured film restorer who discovers something sinister in the footage he is commissioned to resurrect, hinting at a larger and more twisted plot that promises to drag viewers into a web of intrigue and disaster. Unfortunately, the second season, which was set to expand on Archive 81’s dark story, never aired due to lack of audience.
Santa Clarita Diet
Santa Clarita Diet, which marked the triumphant return of Drew Barrymore, an icon of horror comedy, told the story of an affluent real estate agent who becomes an undead cannibal forced to feed on human flesh.
Wonderfully silly, with a bloody sense of humor and standout performances from Timothy Olyphant, Liv Hewson, and Skyler Gisondo, Santa Clarita Diet was charming and disgusting in equal parts, in the best possible sense. Despite it being evident that there was much more to explore, Netflix cruelly pulled the plug on the series to the dismay of its devoted fans.
Warrior Nun
“Warrior Nun” provided Netflix with a pathway into a modern supernatural story, following an orphaned teenager who wakes up in a morgue to discover she has incredible powers, destined to be the latest in a long line of demon-hunting nuns.
While the first season of the series was uneven, receiving mixed reviews, the second season marked a notable improvement, refining the chemistry of its cast and fight choreography to be a worthy spiritual successor to clear inspirations like Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Sadly, “Warrior Nun” was one of the casualties of Netflix’s wave of cancellations.
Sense8
“Sense8”, another atmospheric supernatural mystery that found its way onto Netflix, features an eclectic group of eight strangers who discover they are psychically connected, making sense of their powers while being pursued by a mysterious organization.
Directed by the renowned Wachowski sisters, the series captivated audiences, invoking the best elements of mystery shows like Lost and gradually constructing its own narrative. Although it was canceled after two seasons, Netflix at least allowed the Wachowskis to craft a feature-length finale that served as a definitive conclusion.
I Am Not Okay With This
Based on a graphic novel of the same name, “I Am Not Okay With This” tells the story of Sydney Novak, a girl who discovers she has latent telekinetic powers.
Compared to other high-concept original series that Netflix has created and canceled over the years, “I Am Not Okay With This” is a relatively realistic high school drama, with Sydney’s powers being the only supernatural element. Another great series that said goodbye too soon.
Mindhunter
The cancellation of “Mindhunter,” one of the most tense and compelling police dramas ever aired on the small screen, was a painful moment. “Mindhunter,” largely produced by David Fincher, was inspired by real events and depicted the efforts of a fearless FBI agent to interview incarcerated serial killers to understand, and possibly prevent, their horrific crimes.
Beyond the morbid fascination of its premise, “Mindhunter” captivated viewers with the atmospheric period drama of its incredibly realistic characters, making its unceremonious cancellation a true pity.
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance
Puppets are an underrated and endangered form of art in the age of content mills in modern entertainment, but “The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance” aimed to change that. Reviving Jim Henson’s 80s classic, “The Dark Crystal,” the hypnotically whimsical series sees the return of the heroic Gelflings fighting for good against the efforts of the evil Skeksis.
Despite the charm of its adorable practical creatures and its mesmerizing story, “The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance” failed to impress Netflix executives enough to secure a second season.
