There is only one thing that Netflix loves to do more than green-lighting future projects: cancel great series before they even have a chance. Time and time again, for one reason or another, Netflix has pulled the plug on outstanding shows that garnered small yet mighty fan bases. Despite having the potential for mass appeal, these canceled series ultimately suffered because of Netflix executives’ lack of faith in the product.
Just because a show doesn't have the widest reach when it first premieres doesn’t mean it won't go on to gain more popularity. Series like Paramount's smash hit Yellowstone or AMC's Mad Men are strong examples of shows that started off small and eventually became staples of American television. Here are several Netflix series that could have followed a similar trajectory if they hadn't been cut short.
GLOW
GLOW may be the program that suffered the most from Netflix's tendency to pull the plug too early. Over three seasons, creators Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch brought audiences one of the funniest period comedies television has seen in recent years. The series featured a stellar ensemble with familiar faces like Alison Brie and Marc Maron along with making household names of talents like Britney Young and Gayle Rankin. The series still has fans clamoring for more, as the third season was left somewhat open-ended with Brie's character Ruth turning down a major offer. Brie told fans in November that it's unlikely the show gets a continuation.
The Society
The Society was one of the most provocative and challenging teen dramas of the 2010s. With a storyline similar to Lord of the Flies, this series followed a group of small-town teens who woke up one day to find all of the adults had vanished. The teens were forced to step up and figure out how to survive with no way to escape their town. The Society had a cast full of young actors who have outstanding careers ahead of them, including Kathryn Newton and Gideon Adlon. As the show only got ten episodes, fans were frustrated when it ended with more unanswered questions than the series finale of The Expanse.
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance
A spinoff from the 1980s film of the same name, The Dark Crystal may have been one of Netflix's most ambitious projects ever. The story was told entirely through puppetry by Jim Henson Studios. Between the stunningly detailed puppets, breathtaking practical effects and a treasure trove of voice actors such as Mark Hamill and Taron Egerton, this show appeared to have everything going for it. Sadly, the series didn't capture the attention of the movie's original fans or find a large enough base of new viewers to warrant a second season. Star Mark Strong called the cancellation a "shame."
The Get Down
A Baz Luhrmann musical drama about the birth of Hip-Hop sounded like a fever dream that wouldn't pan out well. However, Luhrmann's fantastical perspective of the world paired perfectly with the spirit of exploration inherent in early New York rap. The series featured the talents of an almost entirely POC cast, including Justice Smith, Shameik Moore, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and The Mandalorian star Giancarlo Esposito. While early episodes had an inconsistent tone, the later installments found a more coherent ambiance. Luhrmann could have continued exploring that groove he attained in the later episodes and seen the important story to fruition if there had been a second season.
Netflix Presents: The Characters
This Netflix anthology series was a perfect tool to highlight up-and-coming comedic talent. It was also one of the funniest series the platform has ever released. Each episode starred a stand-up comedian whose act includes a lot of character work. The comedian would then build out a half-hour episode with a series of sketches featuring characters from their stand-up. Performers like John Early and Kate Berlant gained a large following from the series, and further installments on Netflix's part could have continued to do the same. The Characters was far more entertaining than Netflix's creepy anthology film The House.
Mindhunter
This unsettling crime thriller may be the best thing that comes from David Fincher's partnership with Netflix. Over its two seasons, the show explored the lives of FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench as they grew the Behavioral Science Unit, interviewed infamous serial killers and solved cases across the country. While there was no official cancellation from Netflix, the show has no future on the streaming platform, since the cast and crew were released from their contracts and Fincher chose to focus on other projects for the streamer. He originally intended for the series to last five seasons, which may still happen, but most likely not on Netflix.
The Break with Michelle Wolf
Netflix tried to change the late night landscape by giving several female hosts like Michelle Wolf and Chelsea Handler their own shows. Sadly, the streamer did not give these fantastic comedians the time needed to develop their series and gain a following. Where most of mainstream late night thrives off polarizing political comedy, The Break had a refreshingly light-hearted take on the world. Wolf was also a great host but her series only lasted one season. If Netflix really wants to give female comedians a platform to use their voice, they have to at least let those performers get a good warm-up in before pulling the plug.