Shows Netflix Canceled in 2 Seasons or Less: 'Dead Boy Detectives'
Remember a decade ago when Netflix was the streaming app to watch everything on (and even at one point the only one to get Friends?!) Well, times have certainly changed, because instead of being one of the favorite streaming services, it’s gotten a bit of a reputation over the years. For what, you may ask? Chances are you already know what we mean; Netflix is now known for canceling their original series in two seasons or less.
First, it was Sense8, then it was the Baby-Sitters Club, and now the two newest victims are Inside Job and 1899. And if you’ve been on Twitter for the past 24 hours, then you know how fans are losing their minds over the sudden cancellation of fan-favorite animated series Inside Job.
When Netflix cancels a show, fans are often left disgruntled and without closure (99.9 percent of the time, there’s an insane cliffhanger we’ll never get the answers to!) We’re in 2023 now, and it’s still looking bleak for Netflix shows.
According to What’s on Netflix, Netflix bases its decisions on renewals and cancellations on how many people watch the show, if/how quickly they finish whatever is released, and budget constraints. However, fans have been recently calling that methodology out, due to the fact that many beloved shows get axed for virtually no reason.
If you’re as angry as Twitter is right now, then let’s take a look back at the good shows Netflix decided to cancel in two seasons or less.
A version of this article was originally published on Jan 2023.
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‘Dead Boy Detectives’
Dead Boy Detectives is a great show that follows two boys who decide not to enter the afterlife when they die and instead investigate supernatural crimes on Earth. This show, based on characters made by Neil Gaiman and Matt Wagner, had everything: comedy, drama, supernatural stuff, mystery; and amazing reviews at that. However, Netflix did it again and canceled the show after one season.
‘Black Summer’
Black Summer was a horror drama about a group of strangers banding together to fight the zombie apocalypse. It was canceled after two seasons.
‘Barbarians’
The beloved show, Barbarians, is a German historical war drama about the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 A.D. Despite being a hit and critically acclaimed, it only lasted two seasons, and was cancelled.
‘ODDBALLS’
ODDBALLS is the comedy adventure animated show developed by animator and YouTuber James Rallison of the Odd1sOut. It was canceled after two seasons for an unspecified reason.
‘The Brothers Sun’
After one season, The Brothers Sun was sadly canceled. It was an action dramedy following Taipei’s most renowned gangster family, and their misadventures. Per Deadline, it was cancelled to low audience.
‘Ratched’
The series Ratched followed the life of Mildred Ratched before the events of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Starring Sarah Paulson, Cynthia Nixon, and Sharon Stone, this thriller show captivated fans instantly when it released in 2020. However, after four years of no news, it was confirmed in Feb 2024 that it was canceled after one season.
‘Obliterated’
Obliterated is an action comedy series that followed a group of special forces trying to track down a terrorist organization in Las Vegas. It was cancelled in 2024 after one season.
‘Fate: The Winx Saga’
Based on the beloved animated series, the show Fate: The Winx Saga captured a darker spin. The show follows the lead Bloom (Abigail Cowen), who’s working to navigate her dangerous powers with the help of her friends. Sadly, it was canceled after two seasons, with many speculating that the budget was too large.
Per the News, there’s actually going to be a comic that answers a lot of cliffhangers. Fate: The Winx Saga Vol. 1: Dark Destiny was announced and will answer a lot of fans’s questions.
‘Invisible City’
Invisible City, also known as Cidade Invisivel, is a beloved fantasy show following an environmental police officer who finds a hidden world of mythological creatures with ties to Brazilian folklore. Despite having two successful seasons, Netflix axed the show, and the actors confirmed it, per DailyMail.
‘Captain Fall’
Captain Fall only lasted one season, but fans adored it because it followed the topsy-turvy adventures of a bright-eyed sea captain who accidentally ends up entangled in a cartel ring. Despite being originally ordered for two seasons, viewership numbers were reportedly low.
‘Farzar’
Farzar followed a group of misfits leaving their home to protect the human race from aliens, but not all was what it seemed! It was allegedly canceled due to the rippling effects of the SAG-AFTRA strike, per Deadline.
‘Wellmania’
Wellmania is the show that follows a woman who tries many different well-being living habits to try to reclaim her health. Per TV Line, the star and executive producer Celeste Barber confirmed the show would be ending after only one season, claiming Netflix said it had to do with poor numbers.
‘Shadow & Bone’
The fan-favorite fantasy show, Shadow and Bone, which followed orphan mapmaker Alina Starkov and how her superpowers can shape the world after ruin, was canceled after two seasons. While it’s unclear why the show was canceled, it was canceled with two others potentially due to the strike halting productions.
‘Glamorous’
Starring Kim Cattrall, Glamorous followed a makeup enthusiast who was hired as one of the industry’s biggest moguls. It was canceled after one season, along the same time it was announced Shadow and Bone and Agent Elvis were canceled.
‘Agent Elvis’
Starring Matthew McConaughey and Kaitlin Olson, Agent Elvis was about the legendary Elvis, but if he became a secret government spy. It was canceled after one season.
‘Warrior Nun’
Based on the comic book character, Warrior Nun was a fantastical fantasy show starring Alba Baptista, who plays an orphaned teen who realizes she has superpowers. Now, she and a group of fights have to band together to hunt demons. It lasted two seasons, but was cancelled before a third was announced.
‘Lockwood & Co.’
Based on the series by the same name, Lockwood & Co instantly became a fan-favorite on Netflix when people could follow the psychic detection agency. Sadly, after one season and only four months since it premiered, Netflix has yet again pulled the plug on a potentially iconic show.
‘SEX/LIFE’
Despite the second season premiere releasing one month ago, Netflix has pulled the plug on the steamy romantic drama SEX/LIFE. The short-lived show follows a suburban mother and housewife who finds herself hypnotized by her sexy, wild past when a former flame comes back into her life.
In a recent podcast interview per Variety, the beloved lead actress Sarah Shahi talked about how difficult things were in the second season, saying, “I’m not going to put it down, but I definitely did not have the support that I did the first season from the people involved in the show. It became a much different thing for me, and I’m not afraid to say that. I struggled with the material. I just felt the thing that it had the first season — I mean, I’m never gonna work for Netflix again now after saying all this, but I can’t lie. And it was definitely a challenge.”
‘Inside Job’
The latest animated series to get the axe by Netflix is the beloved tongue-in-cheek animated comedy Inside Job, which follows a group of wacky coworkers who work tirelessly to keep secrets hidden and conspiracy theories alive. Despite having a die-hard fan base and trending consistently, Netflix nixed the idea of a second season.
‘Cooking with Paris’
Cooking with Paris was hot, but Netflix decided it would only last one season, much to the chagrin of loyal viewers who adored seeing Paris Hilton try to navigate the kitchen in style.
‘Baby-Sitters Club’
Based on the ever-so-popular children’s book series, Baby-Sitters Club follows a group of young girls who start their own babysitting service. Sadly, it only lasted two seasons before Netflix decided to pull the plug.
‘Disjointed’
Starring Kathy Bates as cannabis legend Ruth Whitefeather Feldman, Disjointed follows her wacky journey of hiring her son and his friends to help run her Los Angeles marijuana dispensary. Despite critics hating it, it grew a loyal fanbase, but it didn’t save it from lasting one season.
‘Everything Sucks’
Starring Sydney Sweeney and Jahi Di’Allo Winston, Everything Sucks was a coming-of-age series based on high-schoolers in 1990s Oregon, where the A/V club and drama club collide. Along with that, many are dealing with their identity, sexuality, and feeling out of place in high school. Sadly, viewership was low, and Netflix canned it, leaving those loyal viewers on a bunch of cliffhangers.
‘Gypsy’
Starring Naomi Watts, Gypsy was an intense thriller following a therapist who gets way too involved in the lives of her patients. Netflix canceled it almost immediately after the first season was released, with many still so confused as to why it got axed so early.
‘Sense8’
One of the biggest cult followings from a Netflix show came from the Emmy-nominated show Sense8. The show followed a group of random people who were suddenly linked mentally, and have to protect each other from being hunted by those who fear them. Apparently, Netflix canceled the show due to budget constraints, but fans are still wildly upset to this day.
‘Chambers’
Chambers was the horror show for people back in 2019, which was as sinister as it gets. It followed a teenager who survived a heart transplant, but is plagued by “sinister impulses.” Despite a dynamite cast and storyline, Netflix canceled it after one season.
‘Chelsea’
Along with canceling animated and hit series, Netflix isn’t above canceling talk shows as well, including Chelsea Handler’s show Chelsea. It was another amazing show of hers where she interviewed celebrities, academics, and professionals. But after two seasons, Netflix pulled the plug.
‘Cowboy Bebop’
This was one of those shows where Netflix just didn’t give it a chance in the first place. Based on the insanely good anime, Cowboy Bebop was in hot water from the beginning, but many became fans of the show after watching it. It followed a group of bounty hunters who continually chase down the galaxy’s most dangerous criminals. After three weeks after the series debut, they canned it.
Iron Fist
Iron Fist was a shocking cancelation announcement, especially since it was a long-awaited Marvel release. It followed a man who gained mystical martial arts skills called the Iron Fist. Two seasons in, and with a lot of cliff-hangers, fans had to say goodbye to another Netflix show.
‘Dash & Lily’
Chances are, your BFF isn’t over Dash & Lily getting canceled after one season. The feel-good, romantic holiday series was based on the book of the same name, and despite them working on the second season, Netflix changed its mind.
‘The Irregulars’
The Irregulars was a must for Sherlock Holmes fans, following a group of street teens who are manipulated into solving crimes for Doctor Watson and Sherlock Holmes. It was a wild ride from the start, but Netflix pulled the plug after one season.
‘Luke Cage’
Another Netflix Marvel casualty was the show Luke Cage, which followed a man who was unexpectedly given super strength and unbreakable skin. Not only does he have to save his city of Harlem and those in it, but he has to save himself. After two seasons, Netflix canned it.
‘The OA’
The OA is a fantasy mystery following a blind girl who went missing for years, only to come back fine and with her sight. While it was an under-the-radar show, the fanbase was strong, but sadly not strong enough to dissuade Netflix from canceling it after two seasons due to budget cuts.
‘Tuca & Bertie’
Starring Ali Wong and Tiffany Haddish, Tuca & Bertie was a fan-favorite show following two 30-year-old bird women BFFs navigating everything life throw at them. After one season, it was canceled by Netflix, but Adult Swim picked it up for the next two seasons, only to cancel it again. While it was technically over two seasons, Netflix did cancel it after one, so we’re going to count this one.
‘American Vandal’
American Vandal was one of the most unique shows to hit Netflix. It was a true-crime satire that grew a total fanbase in no time, but Netflix still thought it was good to cancel it after two seasons.
‘Mindhunter’
One cancellation that still stings fans to this day is when Netflix abruptly canceled the show Mindhunter ahead of its third season. The intelligent true0crime show followed a couple of FBI agents who interview serial killers to solve open cases in the 1970s.
‘1899’
Along with Inside Job, Netflix also announced at the beginning of 2023 that they were canceling the mystery series 1899 after one season. 1899 followed a group of European immigrants on a steamship to start new lives in New York City, US, but obviously things go asunder.
‘I’m Not Okay With This’
After one electric season, I’m Not Okay With This was canceled. The fantasy dramedy followed a girl navigating the regular tribulations of high school, along with some mysterious superpowers she can’t control. It was originally set to have at least two seasons, but due to COVID hardships, it was scrapped.
