Ever since Netflix decided to move from DVD rentals into the streaming world, things have never been the same. Since then, Netflix has invented and perfected the art of binge-watching through the hundreds of original series they put out year after year. In addition, they have given several shows a home that would not have ever found one on traditional television networks.
Netflix certainly lives up to its tagline "see what's next" by constantly ing new content. Determined to be the home of the next big hit, Netflix has a history of canceling fan-favorite shows after only one season without ever explaining why.
Updated on March 10th, 2022 by Danielle Bruncati: Despite being one of the biggest streaming services that can afford to house some "low-performing" shows, Netflix continues to cancel new shows left and right. In the last two years, Netflix has taken the ax to beloved young adult shows with large social media fanbases, multi-cam comedies, and even live-action anime adaptations. It seems like there is no sure way to keep a Netflix show out of dreaded canceled after one season club since they even canceled a show that garnered Emmy wins.
Julie And The Phantoms (2020)
Based on a Brazillian show Julie and the Phantoms centers on Julie, a young teenager who has lost her ion for music after the death of her mom. After accidentally summons 3 ghosts from a 90s band, the misfit group decides to help each other out by becoming a real band.
Julie and the Phantoms were released on Netflix at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and gave fans a much-needed escape from the terrible world. Despite cultivating a strong fan base online, Netflix refused to renew the show after keeping fans' hopes up for over a year.
The Get Down (2016)
Created by Baz Luhrmann (The Get Down follows the rise of hip hop in South Bronx, New York during the late 1970s.
Though the series was released in two parts, it officially only had one season, leaving many fans angry and wanting more from the talented diverse cast. The series received high praise from critics for its innovative storytelling and music, but even the rave reviews weren't enough to save The Get Down.
Girlboss (2017)
Inspired by Sophia Amoruso's real life and her bestselling autobiography #GirlBoss, the series Girlboss centers on Sophia Marlowe, a twenty-year-old who manages to start her own fashion brand inspired by vintage clothing while still in college.
Girlboss aired in April 2017 but was unfortunately canceled shortly after. The series currently holds a 36% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and received mixed reviews with critics who couldn't decide if the show portrayed a feminist message or not.
Disted (2017-2018)
Not even TV-legend Chuck Lorre, who created The Big Bang Theory, is immune from the dreaded canceled after one season club. However, Disted did make Netflix history as the streaming service's first original multi-cam sitcom.
Disted centers on Ruth, a middle-aged woman who has spent decades advocating for legal marijuana. Now that it's legalized, she ropes her son and his friends into helping her run a dispensary in LA.
Everything Sucks (2018)
Freaks and Geeks for being a one-season show. Created by Ben York Jones and Michael Mohan, the series was set in the 1990s and focused on a group of high school outcasts from the A/V and drama club who decide to work together to create a movie.
The series found a cult following on Netflix but fell short when it came to critic reviews who found that the show relied too much on 90s nostalgia. However, the show was praised by both fans and critics for its coming out storyline.
Daybreak (2019)
Loosely inspired by Daybreak centered its action in a post-apocalyptic world where teenagers are the only ones who have survived a bomb that has turned every adult into a zombie.
In typical Netflix fashion, all ten episodes of the first season were released in October 2019, and by December 2019 the series had been canceled. The series became notable for its ability to break the fourth wall in the same vein as Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
Soundtrack (2019)
Released on Netflix in December 2019, Soundtrack centers on a group of Los Angeles citizens who are often romantically entwined. The series plays with time, featuring several flashbacks but the core of the show centers on the power of music.
Soundtrack is one of the most underrated musical dramas of all time and it's a shame the series never got a chance to shine. It features the musical stylings of several iconic artists and sadly, marked the final acting performance for Markie Post.
The Society (2019)
Another Netflix teen show to get the boot after only one season is Lord of the Flies, the series centers on a group of teenagers who return home from an extended camping trip to find all the adults in their town have vanished. The series follows the teenagers as they try and survive without their parents while also trying to discover why they disappeared.
The Society did find a fan base on Netflix and was originally renewed for a second season, but thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, Netflix rescinded its renewal, and thus, the series was canceled after one season.
Tuca And Bertie (2019)
While Netflix's original animated shows might not be a huge selling point for the platform, the streaming service has had success when it comes to adult animated shows like BoJack Horseman. Unfortunately, Tuca and Bertie did not reach expectations.
The series centered on two 30-year-old bird best friends who live in Bird Town and are navigating their everchanging lives. Ali Wong and Tiffany Haddish lend their voices to the main characters, but even their comedy chops couldn't save the show from its cancellation.
V Wars (2019)
Inspired by the comic series by Jonathan Maberry and Alan Robinson, V Wars centers on Dr. Luther Swann (Ian Somerhalder), a doctor who finds himself at odds with his best friend when a new disease that turns humans into vampires runs rampant through their town.
The series dropped on Netflix in December 2019 and after several months of waiting was officially canceled in March of 2020. Despite having a fanbase already established and having Ian Somerhalder play the lead, V Wars failed to carve out space in the world of Netflix.
