Netflix has insisted its cancellation rates for television series are on par with the industry standard. Nevertheless, fans frequently bemoan the streaming giant's cancellations. But sometimes, when the axe falls at Netflix, it's particularly painful. These are some of the most heartbreaking cancellations in Netflix history. Whether it's because of much-loved characters, unresolved plotlines or storylines that had just begun to take flight, each of these shows held a special place in viewers' hearts, and all of them -- with one exception -- are still much missed.

The Defenders Family of Series (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist & The Punisher)

Daredevil, Jessica Jones, & Luke Cage
Processed with MOLDIV

This exciting early attempt at a Marvel prestige television crossover event began with Daredevil in 2015, with follow-up shows for the other characters releasing over the next few years to build up to The Defenders. Each series generated buzz, if not necessarily universal praise -- Iron Fist debuted to a lukewarm reception, exacerbated by controversies around the show's handling of race in casting. On the other hand, Luke Cage and Jessica Jones drew positive notice for their stylish visuals, charismatic casts and serious handling of mature subjects like racism and sexual assault.

The "Marvel Netflix universe" was new and exciting on multiple fronts, and interest was high. Sadly, the hype dwindled over time, and the viewing numbers for each show didn't stack up to production costs. Ironically, critical opinion on the later seasons of these shows (including Iron Fist) was actually significantly more positive, pointing to an overall trend of improvement that was destined to be cut off too early.

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The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

This prequel to Jim Henson's '80s cult classic The Dark Crystal was simply stunning on every level. A gorgeous production that combined modern technology with the best of Henson puppetry and craftsmanship, Age of Resistance was a visual marvel tailor-made for fantasy lovers. The story had the wonderfully old-school feel of a sweeping epic, with compelling themes and a fascinating world full of lovable characters. Top-notch physical performances from Henson puppeteers and a star-studded voice cast (including Anya Taylor-Joy and Mark Hamill) blended together to entertaining, magical and often moving effect.

The show ended on an exhilarating cliffhanger, with the plot poised to ratchet into an entirely new gear. Fans held on to hope for over a year, but in 2020, the hammer came down. For the foreseeable future, audiences will be locked out of the world of Thra once again. Fantasy television is much poorer for it.

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The OA

A joint creation of actor Brit Marling and director Zal Batmanglij, The OA was a dazzling, mystifying mind trip through time and space that captivated lovers of genre-bending and unusual storytelling. Critics lauded the ambition of the show and Marling's performance in the ethereal starring role. Season 2 was a game-changer, dramatically expanding the scope of the plot and its possibilities. For every question answer in the first season, a new, more urgent one came to light.

The OA was not a show for everyone; it was entirely unafraid to be inaccessible and weird. But those viewers who resonated with it became extremely devoted to the series. Marling and Batmanglij have revealed that they originally planned to tell the story in five parts, meaning the world has been deprived of three more seasons of mesmerizing brilliance.

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The Society

The Society

Debuting in 2019, The Society's tale of ordinary teens attempting to survive without adults in an abandoned, isolated version of their affluent town was like an updated take on Lord of the Flies. The series received praise for its progressive storylines, intense drama and thought-provoking commentary on culture, community and coming of age.

Once again, fans were left on an infuriating cliffhanger. At the season finale's conclusion, the political situation in New Ham was in utter turmoil, with main character Allie deposed and the teens' fragile society in chaos. Furthermore, the episode revealed that the cast was actually trapped in an alternate dimension, while the rest of the town mourned them in the "real world" version of the town. This setup for big supernatural plot developments in the future will not come to fruition as Netflix made the shocking decision to cancel the show in 2020, citing COVID-19 restrictions. The news blindsided creators and fans alike, as a second season had already been in the works.

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Sense8

TV sense8 finale

Fans still mourn this trippy, groundbreaking show helmed by the Wachowskis and J. Michael Straczynski. A huge undertaking, the production shot on location around the globe to create an epic tale about people of all walks of life joined together by a psychic bond. Sense8 drew praise for its highly diverse cast and authentic LGBT representation.

Sense8 was canceled after two seasons because its audience, though deeply passionate, wasn't large enough to justify the astronomical costs of production. The creators were at least able to produce a final two-hour special to wrap up the show, but viewers were still left with a number of unresolved questions.

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Tuca and Bertie

This adult animated series, created by Lisa Hanawalt of Bojack Horseman fame, was a hilarious and heartfelt depiction of the friendship between the titular pair of thirty-year-old bird-women. Tuca and Bertie's distinctive aesthetic was splashy, silly and fun, with puns and sight gags dropping at a near-constant rate, even as the show also explored dark topics like sexual assault against minors with nuance and sensitivity.

Viewers and critics were devastated when Tuca and Bertie was canceled with unusual swiftness, less than three months after its debut. The decision was especially surprising given the show had received near-universal praise and made multiple "best of" lists that year. Thankfully, this story has a happy ending: Adult Swim renewed Tuca and Bertie for a second season in 2020. The continuation began airing June 13, 2021, and the first episode is available in full on YouTube.

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Anne with an E

Anne with an E - TV series

Critics and audiences loved this raw, realistic take on the classic children's novels, though its progressive politics caused some controversy. Mining the source text for the sadness hidden between its lines, Anne With an E diverged from past adaptations to offer something much darker and more complex. Difficult subjects were explored throughout the show's run, from sexism to classism to Canada's history of oppressing indigenous peoples. The series was far from being just doom and gloom, though. Its joyous themes of found family and community, not to mention its sweeping Prince Edward Island views and charming cottagecore aesthetics, are dearly missed by fans as well.

Anne With an E managed to run for three seasons, and the final episode wrapped most central plot threads like Anne and Gilbert's famed romance. However, the abrupt ending left the new character Ka'kwet's storyline frustratingly unfinished. Viewers will never know whether the young Mi'kmaq girl ever escaped after being abducted to a tyrannical residential school.

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Altered Carbon

Based on the novel by Richard K. Morgan, Altered Carbon offered two seasons of slick cyberpunk visuals, gritty violence and philosophical ponderings on the meaning of identity. The story posits a future in which human consciousnesses can be stored in chip-like "stacks" and transferred between bodies (dismissively called "sleeves") as easily as changing out a hard drive, inviting viewers to question the relationship between physicality and mental existence.

This central concept meant multiple actors could take on the main role of Takeshi Kovacs as he changes sleeves over the years. The show took full advantage of this, casting Joel Kinnaman as the protagonist in the first season and bringing in Anthony Mackie for the second. It's a shame fans will never get the chance to see anyone else interpret the character, whose long life bursts with mystery, intrigue and action.

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