Summary
- Successful TV shows like Gossip Girl reboot and Shadow and Bone were canceled due to financial reasons and declining viewership, leaving fans confused and disappointed.
- Lockwood & Co and Inside Job garnered good ratings and critical acclaim, but were canceled due to viewership numbers and decision reversals by Netflix.
- Big Mouth and Sex Education had natural conclusions and ended on their own , with the creators feeling satisfied with the stories and characters they had developed over the course of the show.
2023 has been a year that has featured some amazing TV shows and, unfortunately, shocking cancelations, too. Some beloved TV shows have been left behind despite their popularity with viewers or the critical acclaim they have amassed. Production companies are often under fire when a beloved TV show is canceled for what might seem like unfair reasons. However, production companies are after all a business, and if a show is not doing well enough to justify the expenses that go into its production, it's within their right to axe the show and move on to greener pastures.
Even though it's shocking that successful TV shows get canceled, a lot of thought is put into the decision before the cancelation is final. Several factors like declining viewership, financial constraints and creative differences can for why a TV show is canceled despite seeming popular. While some TV show cancelations like that of Sex Education and Big Mouth can be justified, other TV shows like The Peripheral and Shadow and Bone have left viewers wondering why production studios seem to let go of shows that are good before giving them a chance to thrive.
15 Gossip Girl Reboot
Cancelled After 2 Seasons
The original Gossip Girl series was one of the most beloved and successful teen dramas of its time. As such, when HBO picked up the Gossip Girl reboot, expectations for the show were quite high. The original Gossip Girl featured characters and elements that made it a joy to watch, and the Gossip Girl reboot was just not as good. The Gossip Girl reboot ended after 2 seasons because audiences and critics did not love the reboot as much as the original. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Gossip Girl showrunner Joshua Safran stated that the show was too expensive to make and was not pulling in numbers like other popular TV shows on HBO.
14 The Peripheral
Cancelled After Season 1
The Peripheral was one of Prime Video's most visually stunning science fiction shows. After a successful first season, The Peripheral was renewed for a second season, but then Prime Video rescinded the renewal. The Peripheral season 2 was meant to start production earlier this year, but the SAG-AFTRA strikes put a halt to production. Seeing as The Peripheral season 2 was meant to be released in 2024, the production break would have moved that date to 2025. Releasing a show three years after its first season ended was a risk Prime Video did not want to take because viewers would have lost interest by the time 2025 rolled around (via Deadline).
13 Lockwood & Co
Canceled After Season 1
Another show that was unfortunately on Netflix's chopping block this year is the YA supernatural drama, Lockwood & Co. Netflix is notorious for canceling shows that are not pulling in good viewership numbers. However, Lockwood & Co brought in an estimated 79.91 million viewing hours in the first 3 weeks on the streaming platform. According to a report published in Variety, Netflix was pleased with the show. However, the viewership numbers were not good enough to green-light a second season (via Variety).
12 Single Drunk Female
Cancelled After 2 Seasons
Freeform's Single Drunk Female was a refreshing take on the struggles of a millennial woman. Seeing as Single Drunk Female was critically acclaimed and had good ratings, the cancelation of the show seemed to come out of nowhere. After a successful second season, Disney-owned Freeform decided not to go ahead with the third season of the show. So far, not much is known about why Single Drunk Female was not renewed for a third season, but the show might have been canceled in an effort made by Disney to save money.
11 Shadow And Bone
Cancelled After 2 Seasons
According to reports made in Variety, the show was too expensive to produce and, despite being incredibly popular, wasn't bringing in the new viewer numbers that were integral in ing Shadow and Bone's production expenses.
Netflix's Shadow and Bone was axed by the streaming platform after two seasons. Netflix canceled Shadow and Bone after season 2 because the streaming giant was re-evaluating its content strategy after the SAG-AFTRA strikes delayed the production of the show. The SAG-AFTRA strike is not the only reason that the popular show was canceled, however. According to reports made in Variety, the show was too expensive to produce and, despite being incredibly popular, wasn't bringing in the new viewer numbers that were integral in ing Shadow and Bone's production expenses (via Variety).
10 Canceled TV Shows Fans Still Refuse To Let Go Of
This feature explores 10 TV shows that have captured audiences' hearts but were cancelled early, from Mindhunter to Freaks and Geeks.
10 Inside Job
Cancelled After 2 Seasons
Inside Job ed the growing number of animated series that were being canceled by studios this year. Inside Job was renewed for a third season before Netflix backtracked on its decision. The animated series was beloved by both critics and audiences alike, and its cancelation understandably left the show's creator, Shion Takeuchi heartbroken. In a statement Takeuchi made on Twitter, he expressed his sadness at the cancelation of the show, stating, "I'm heartbroken to confirm that Netflix has decided to cancel season 2 of Inside Job." It's still unknown as to why Netflix rescinded its decision to continue with Inside Job season 3.
9 Star Trek: Prodigy
Cancelled After 1 Season
Star Trek: Prodigy along with Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies, The Game, and Queen of the Universe was one of the shows that was axed by Paramount+. The Star Trek franchise comes with a large fan following, so the show's cancelation caused some divisiveness among its viewers. The cancelation of Star Trek: Prodigy is even more heartbreaking because season 2 of the show was already in production. Star Trek: Prodigy was canceled by Paramount+ because of cost-cutting measures and tax write-offs. Luckily, Star-Trek: Prodigy has found a new home on Netflix.
The first season of the show will be available to stream on Netflix on 25 December and the second season of the show will be available in 2024.
8 The Winchesters
Cancelled After 1 Season
Supernatural's prequel series, The Winchesters had a lot of potential to build an expansive universe that would have included interesting characters and varying storylines. After a riveting first season, The Winchesters was canceled by CW due to programming changes. After the cancelation of The Winchesters, executive producer Jensen Ackles started a #SaveTheWinchesters campaign to find the show a new home but that was unsuccessful. Supernatural was widely beloved and came with a loyal fanbase, so the possibility that The Winchesters might find a new home should not be overruled.
9 TV Shows Canceled Just As They Got Good
Networks and studios cancel TV shows all the time, and it can be particularly devastating when this happens just as a show is getting its bearings.
7 Big Mouth
Canceled After 8 Seasons
The hilarious adult animated series Big Mouth has unfortunately come to the end of its road after a successful run on Netflix. Big Mouth is one of the few shows on Netflix that survived past season 2 on the streaming platform. Netflix announced that the show will be renewed for a seventh and eighth season, with the eighth season serving as the finale to the show. Netflix canceled Big Mouth after season 8 because the story has come to a natural close. The characters on the show have grown up and it's time for them to graduate from middle school and focus on the next chapter of their lives.
Big Mouth season 7 aired full episodes on 17 October, 2023 and the eighth season will premiere at an unknown date.
6 The Great
Canceled After 3 Seasons
The critically acclaimed period drama about Catherine the Great and her husband Peter III was canceled by Hulu after only three seasons. Seeing as The Great had so many storylines that still needed to be explored, the show's cancelation came as a shock. The Great was canceled by Hulu earlier this year as the show, despite acclaim, was not pulling in the numbers that other Hulu originals like The Handmaids Tale have. While it's heartbreaking that The Great was canceled, the show's viewership numbers would likely have continued to dip due to the absence of fan favorite, Peter III.