Netflix's Shocking Lineup: The Hottest Cancelled Shows of 2023!
Discover the casualties of Netflix's ruthless axe in 2023 Bid farewell to acclaimed series like 1899, The Chair, Freeridge, Hot Skull, Inside Job, and more Explore the heartbreak of canceled shows, including Ridley Jones after an impressive 5-season run
In 2023, numerous original shows on Netflix were canceled as the streaming giant faced intense competition and the impact of the Writers Guild strike. With the market flooded with streaming options, viewers are becoming more selective in their subscriptions, forcing platforms to deliver top-notch content. To combat revenue losses due to password sharing, Netflix implemented a new plan that received criticism but ultimately resulted in an increase in subscribers. However, Netflix's reputation for prematurely canceling original shows remains unchanged. The lack of transparency regarding streaming data and the abrupt cancellations have left fans questioning the decision-making process. This trend persisted throughout 2023, with multiple original shows being axed at different stages of their runs.
1899 (1 Season)
The Chair (1 Season)
: The television show 1899 premiered on Netflix in November 2022, consisting of eight episodes. The plot revolves around a group of passengers traveling from the UK to the United States onboard a vessel called the Kerberos. The storyline is intricate, incorporating elements of mystery and science fiction throughout the entire season. Despite receiving favorable reviews and concluding with a thrilling cliffhanger, Netflix opted to cancel 1899 at the beginning of 2023. The swift cancellation suggests that the show's streaming data did not meet the platform's expectations, leading to its non-renewal for a second season.
With successful series like Grey's Anatomy and Killing Eve under her belt, Sandra Oh's Netflix show The Chair was expected to be a hit. The Chair follows Oh's character Ji-Yoon Kim, who becomes the first female chair of the English department at Pembroke University. Although the show was released in 2021, Netflix officially announced its cancelation in January 2023. Despite Oh's popularity, the cancelation wasn't surprising since The Chair struggled to attract a consistent fan base from the start.
Freeridge (1 Season)
Hot Skull (1 Season)
Premiering on Netflix in February 2023 as a spin-off of the popular show On My Block, Freeridge tells the story of a group of teenagers who accidentally unleash a curse upon their town. Unfortunately, the show was canceled in April 2023, and while no official reason was provided, it is believed that the low viewership and completion rate were the main contributing factors. Just like Lockwood & Co., Freeridge joins the list of young adult supernatural shows that Netflix has chosen to cancel.
Hot Skull made its debut on December 2, 2022, only to be axed after a single season. This Turkish sci-fi series, available on Netflix, is an adaptation of Afşin Kum's novel with the same title. The gripping storyline revolves around an epidemic that spreads through spoken words. The cancellation of Hot Skull was unveiled by Şevket Çoruh, the actor playing Anton, who expressed his surprise on Twitter, stating, "Had I known, I would never have forged such a deep bond. Our camaraderie was fleeting. Take care, Anton."
Inside Job (1 Season)
Inside Job is a captivating animated sitcom designed for a mature audience. The show centers around the daily lives of employees at Cognito, Inc., where the world is depicted as a place where most popular conspiracy theories are actually true. Despite initially greenlighting a second season, Netflix made the surprising decision to cancel Inside Job in January 2023. This move by the streaming platform was particularly disheartening given that the renewal for season 2 was granted before the second part of season 1 even premiered, leaving fans on an agonizing cliffhanger.
Lockwood & Co. (1 Season)
Lockwood & Co. is a television series based on a popular young adult book series by Jonathan Stroud. The story takes place in a world where children possess the unique ability to see ghosts and become part of ghost-hunting agencies. The protagonist, Lucy (played by Ruby Stokes), becomes a member of the small agency known as Lockwood & Co., which is led by Anthony (Cameron Chapman) and George (Ali Hadji-Heshmati). The show premiered on Netflix in January 2023, featuring eight captivating episodes. Unfortunately, it was announced in May 2023 that there would not be a second season for the series. This decision may not come as a surprise, considering Netflix's track record of canceling other young adult shows such as I Am Not Okay With This and The Midnight Club.
Uncoupled (1 Season)
Uncoupled, co-created by Darren Star, known for Sex and the City, and Jeffrey Richman, features Neil Patrick Harris in the lead role of Michael, a gay man navigating the complexities of dating in his forties following a devastating breakup with his longtime partner, Colin. The series premiered on Netflix in 2022, but in a surprising move, the streaming giant announced its cancellation in January 2023, despite its apparent popularity among viewers. However, Showtime has stepped in and taken up the reins for the show's second season, ensuring its continued production.
Dead End: Paranormal Park (2 Seasons)
Dead End: Paranormal Park is an animated horror series that is set within a theme park called Phoenix Parks. The show revolves around two park employees, Barney (Zach Barack) and Norma (Kody Kavitha), who uncover the existence of paranormal activity in their workplace. One of the standout aspects of Dead End: Paranormal Park is its commendable portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters, which has garnered significant praise since its debut. However, despite its success, the show was unexpectedly canceled after two seasons on Netflix in January 2023. Creator Hamish Steele expressed his disappointment in an article for Gizmodo, stating, "The uncertain nature of TV production often means that you don't have control over how things come to an end." Nevertheless, Steele reassured fans that he intends to continue the story of Dead End: Paranormal Park through comic books.
Sex/Life (2 Seasons)
Sex/Life originally aired on Netflix in June 2021, followed by its second season release in March 2023. The series features Sarah Shahi in the role of Billie, a woman caught between her current life with husband Cooper (played by Mike Vogel) and her previous romantic involvement with ex-boyfriend Brad (portrayed by Adam Demos). Netflix made the decision to cancel Sex/Life approximately one month after the premiere of its second season. During an episode of the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast, Shahi expressed her opposition to certain creative decisions made for the show's second season. Additionally, she publicly criticized Netflix, revealing that she perceived less support from the show's team compared to the first season.
Bling Empire (3 Seasons) & Bling Empire: New York (1 Season)
Bling Empire takes viewers into the glamorous lives of wealthy Asian American socialites in Los Angeles, while its spinoff, Bling Empire: New York, offers a similar premise set in the bustling city of New York. Notably, these series made history by being the first reality TV shows to feature an all-East and Southeast Asian cast. Bling Empire enjoyed a successful run on Netflix, airing for three seasons from 2021 to 2022, while the debut season of Bling Empire: New York premiered in 2023. Unexpectedly, Netflix made the decision to cancel both Bling Empire and Bling Empire: New York, leaving fans puzzled about the reasoning behind this choice. Although no official explanation was provided, it is widely speculated that the high production costs played a significant role in the decision.
Ridley Jones (5 Seasons)
Ridley Jones, an animated series targeting preschoolers, is set in a lively museum where the exhibits magically come to life. Although the show enjoyed a successful five-season run on Netflix, it was unexpectedly discontinued in March 2023. Speculations emerge suggesting that Netflix's decision to cancel Ridley Jones was influenced by the negative response towards the introduction of Fred, a non-binary character, in the fifth season. The show faced a wave of negative reviews online, ultimately leading to its cancellation. Chris Nee, the creator of Ridley Jones, took to Twitter to inform fans about the show's unfortunate fate.
