The Consistent Cancellation of Representative Shows
Graphic by Adriana Martinez
Time and time again we browse the long lists of television shows featured on streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO. After many hours of contemplation we finally decide on a new show. There is the slim possibility that the cast looks a little like you, or that it may discuss everyday questions and problems you deal with. Finally, you might even be given an accurate representation of your culture or community. Then after a week, month or even a year, you hear the horrific news that your new favorite show has just been cancelled, after living its short, one seasoned life.
For Netflix, the cancellation of their countless original shows isn’t new - we see this done repeatedly every year. According to Insider, (not including co-productions with other networks and studios), Netflix has cancelled over 42 of their original shows, with most only accumulating only one to three seasons, and more likely being cancelled after the second. Amongst this array of cancellations, it consistently happens to be the few series that give light to underrepresented groups on film and television, that are the first to go. As a result, many subscribers and fans of these Netflix originals are left disappointed in the network's decisions.
One of the Netflix original cancellations which garnered particular attention was Lana Wachowski’s Sci-Fi drama Sense 8, which was unexpectedly stopped in 2017, despite its positive reception. The series follows a group of individuals across the world who become mentally linked to one another, while being hunted by outsiders who perceive them as a threat to human civilization. This was arguably one of the few shows at the time which gave representation to the LBTQIA+ community, and also featured a diverse cast. According to The Guardian the show touches upon many issues regarding race, poverty, class, religion, homophobia, and transphobia. In response to the large outrage and grievance from fans across social media at the cancellation of Sense 8, Netflix stated it was due to the lack of viewership and cost per episode. However, fans saw this response as a quick shutdown for a show that seemed to be more timely and relevant than ever. As a result, Netflix eventually decided to give the show a proper ending with a two hour final episode. But this brings to question whether they simply added this finale out of fear for being called out for this very reason.
This was not the first nor only show to be canceled despite its large fanbase and widespread appraisal from audiences. In 2019 Spike Lee’s television show, an adaptation of his 1986 film She’s Gotta Have It was cancelled due to a supposed lack of viewership and costs for the show. According to Entertainment Weekly, the large loss in US Netflix subscribers impacted the funds available to continue on with the series. Yet Lee delivered a story that touched upon important racial and gender issues impacting black Americans, especially for black women, as portrayed by the protagonist Nola Darling. We are able to follow her journey in finding love and ultimately herself through her art, amidst the racism of America. Nola’s character - as mentioned in Essence - gave an authentic representation for black women that is rarely seen on large platforms like Netflix.
Another unfortunate Netflix cancellation was Gloria Calderon Kellett’s comedy family sitcom One Day at a Time, which told the story of three generations of a Cuban-American family living under one roof. The show touched upon many generational habits and traditions in the household - sometimes questioning their modern relevance - while also giving representation to the Latinx community. Upon hearing the news that the series was to not return for a fourth season, despite the large appraisal and popularity it had received, fans were rightly shocked. The network claimed the cancellation was due to a lack of viewers, but according to The Daily Beast the show was ranked highly and considered to be as admired and loved similar to hits such as HBO’s Game of Thrones and NBC’s This is Us. Luckily, within a year the show was picked up by Pop TV network and has now returned.
This leads to the question, why did Netflix decide to axe one of their most popular shows? If another network was willing to risk their own, adopting an original series from one of the most popularized streaming services, then where does this reluctance of Netflix come from?
This consistent cancellation of original shows is repeatedly justified as a result of a shortfall of costs and viewership. Yet based on what we have seen with the originals with high ratings and vast audiences, Netflix will still see a show out if need be. Now, we shouldn’t underestimate what lies behind closed doors at Netflix, or what criterias are needed to fit its standards, but from what we have seen, it is clearly not prioritizing representative shows.
Another notable example is the 2019 horror series Chambers, which became the very first show in television history to feature a Native woman as the female lead, along with other natives appearing in the cast. This was a pivotal opportunity for Hollywood to represent Natives for the first time in history, without them being racially expoloited. However, the show was cancelled only a month after it premiered.
Netflix has clearly succumbed to not only an unwillingness to prioritize representative shows, but a reluctance to invest in them as well. That is, to have a streaming service that will not only deliver accurate representative shows, but to commit to prolonging such shows, and knowing their worth.
Despite Netflix being one of the most popular streaming services, it is actually other networks such as HBO which have more significantly displayed prominent efforts towards supporting representation in their own original series. Not just because of available budgets and decent viewership, but because HBO has only released 82 original series since its launch in 1982. In comparison, since releasing its first original series in 2013, Netflix has since premiered over 1,500 original shows. Through comparing the two, we are able to understand why most HBO originals have surpassed more than three seasons and seen their proper endings. In the end, HBO gives attention and invests sufficiently in their series, rather than quick cutoffs to simply increase their viewer numbers - a technique adopted by Netflix. If there were less shows constantly being cycled in and out of Netflix, then beloved shows like The Get Down and most recently both The Society and I am not Okay With This could have been explored to their full potential.
Similarly, this past week viewers have begun to question Hulu’s inclusivity after they cancelled their one seasoned series adaptation of Stephen Frears 2000 rom-com High Fidelity, starring Zoe Kravitz. This is the same streaming service with originals such as Ramy forefronting a story of an Eqyptian-American man, as well as their newest original Love, Victor - a spinoff series of the film Love, Simon - which focuses on young Victor Salazar’s self discovery of his sexuality. From seeing just these two Hulu originals you would expect that a story which casts a black woman as the lead, about her past struggles with love while entwining the world of music, would remain on this service. Unfortunately, Hulu pulled the plug too soon on a show that offered representation for diverse music lovers.
So, after all this, why do so many representative shows continue to be cancelled? Is it the timing? The lack of funding or viewership? Netflix’s overbearing demands for record breaking shows? Or is it the fact that these stories are not always prioritized. Netflix, HBO, and Hulu may present, and include some diverse voices on their platforms, but why is it always out of reparation for previous shows that were lost?
A clear answer may never be given from each streaming service. Until then, be sure to hold onto your favorite show, because Netflix is already battling their budget against the 113 new originals releasing this year...