Top 10 Netflix Shows That Were Cancelled Too Soon
#10: “The OA” (2016-19)
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Created by and starring Brit Marling “The OA” is the story of an interdimensional traveler who returns to her hometown seven years after she vanished without a trace. This mind-bending sci-fi drama’s first and second seasons, dubbed Part I and Part II, garnered solid reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, and helped the show develop a devoted following. So, when the show was cancelled on August 5th, 2019 after just two seasons, diehard fans were understandably crushed. To make matters worse, the show ended on a massive cliffhanger! Marling and co-creator Zal Batmanglij were “deeply sad” about the decision and fans were so distraught they started a Change.org petition to save the show, which currently has more than 85,000 signatures.
#9: “Love” (2016-18)
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When Judd Apatow attaches his name to a show you can almost always count on two things: it’ll be a heartfelt and humorous look at young people struggling to make sense of the world, and . . .it’ll get canceled. Just like “Undeclared” and “Freaks and Geeks” before it, “Love” was dropped like a bad habit just as it was starting to hit its stride. However, unlike the previous two, “Love” actually managed to score a second and third season. The quirky comedy explored the modern dating landscape from the perspective of two very different individuals, both searching for love in Los Angeles. The show’s sharp writing, cringe-comedy and stellar supporting cast helped “Love” stand out from the crowd but was sadly not enough to earn it a fourth season.
#8: “Lady Dynamite” (2016-17)
20 episodes across two seasons was simply not enough time to adequately explore the unique comedic stylings of this unconventional Netflix original series. “Lady Dynamite” featured actress and comedian Maria Bamford playing a fictionalized version of herself, one who returns to Hollywood in search of stardom after spending time away dealing with her bipolar disorder. Described as a “vibrant, subversive, sweet, meta-fictional ride”, the show was unceremoniously cancelled in early 2018, despite having earned solid reviews from critics and an impressive 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Many fans were understandably dismayed that a show that explored mental health issues in such a funny and sincere manner was shown the door so early into its run.
#7: “Santa Clarita Diet” (2017-19)
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This horror comedy starred Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant and revolved around one family’s struggle to contain a massive secret: mom has become a flesh-eating zombie. The Netflix Original’s hilarious premise was enough to earn the show three 10-episode seasons, but it ultimately got the axe in April of 2019. Following the show’s demise, Barrymore stated that Sheila Hammond was one of her all-time favourite characters, while Olyphant quipped “I’m going to continue coming in and doing scenes. If they don’t want to film it, that’s up to them.” Both responses demonstrate how passionate the leads were about the show, and that echoes the feelings of legions of fans who were similarly saddened by its cancelation.
#6: “Tuca & Bertie” (2019)
We here at WatchMojo have a special place in our hearts for animated comedies aimed at adult audiences. So we were particularly gloomy the day we discovered that “Tuca & Bertie” had bitten the dust. Featuring top-notch voice performances from Tiffany Haddish, Ali Wong and Steven Yeun, the show explored the relationship between neighbors and friends Tuca and Bertie, a couple of 30-something birds who live in the same building. The show explored a number of interesting themes, from sexuality to social anxiety, all the while keeping the laughs coming with its surreal brand of humor. How a show with a 100% approval rating on everyone’s favorite online aggregator got cancelled after just one season... we’ll never understand.
#5: “The Get Down” (2016-17)
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Arguably the most ambitious show in the history of the streaming service, the Netflix Original Series “The Get Down” pushed the envelope with its highly stylized depiction of the South Bronx’s burgeoning music scene in the 1970s. The show reportedly had a budget of $120 million, making it one of the most expensive TV shows ever made. However, with its beautiful mise-en-scène, stunning cinematography, vibrant characters, banging soundtrack and stellar acting, it’s painstakingly clear that every dollar was put to good use. Only one season was ever produced (broken up into two halves), which is a shame, because there was so much left to explore in this unique world crafted by veteran filmmaker Baz Luhrmann.
#4: “Bloodline” (2015-17)
The reason for “Bloodline’s” cancellation has been heavily debated ever since it was announced in September of 2016. However, one thing that was never up for debate was the brilliance of the show’s writers and actors. Starring a trio of bonafide heavy hitters in Kyle Chandler, Ben Mendelsohn and Linda Cardellini; and featuring a supporting cast that included screen legends Sam Shepard and Sissy Spacek, “Bloodline” appeared too stacked to fail. Unfortunately, three seasons is all we got of this family drama; whose slow burn plot kept viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Despite having been nominated for a slew of awards, including a win for Mendelsohn at the Primetime Emmy Awards, “Bloodline” failed to secure a fourth season.
#3: “American Vandal” (2017-18)
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In this day and age, it’s more than a little shocking that a show as funny and refreshing as this one could fail to garner a third season. “American Vandal” was a mockumentary series that parodied the wave of true crime documentaries that had cropped up in the decade. It can often be difficult to truly nail the tone of a mockumentary, but this Netflix Original knocked it out of the park, thanks in large part to the sincere performances of lead actors Tyler Alvarez and Griffin Gluck. Both seasons offered a new lowbrow premise, and both never failed to entertain. While the show was officially canceled in October of 2018, the producers have stated they will continue to look for a new home for the brilliant series.
#2: “Sense8” (2015-18)
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Few cancelations in television history have drawn the ire of fans quite like “Sense8”. The brainchild of the Wachowskis, the show, which featured a stellar ensemble cast and wholly unique premise, developed an ardent following, causing many to wonder how and why it was shown the door in 2017. In response, Netflix’s chief content officer Ted Sarandos offered the following comment: “the audience was very passionate but just not large enough to support the economics of something that big, even in our platform.” And yet, the same fanbase that wasn’t large enough to support the show somehow managed to convince Netflix to put out a feature-length special following its demise. The people have spoken, and they want more of “Sense8’s” brand of sci-fi drama. Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions: “Friends from College” (2017-19) “The Break with Michelle Wolf” (2018) “The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale” (2018) “Everything Sucks!” (2018)
#1: Marvel Netflix Universe (2015-19)
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When news broke years ago that Marvel would be teaming up with Netflix to produce original superhero content loosely tied to the MCU, we were all so incredibly stoked. The film MCU is awesome, but there’s also something extra-special about being able to binge 10 straight episodes of “Daredevil”, “Jessica Jones” or “Luke Cage”. These Netflix programs, which also included “Iron Fist”, “The Punisher” and the miniseries “The Defenders”, provided Marvelites with an outlet for their super-fandom in between movies, and featured fleshed-out and down-to-earth versions of favourite supes that rarely failed to engage. Sadly, with 2019’s arrival of Disney+ and their slate of new Marvel shows, our Netflix favorites got the ax. R.I.P. Marvel Netflix Universe... R.I.P.