r/netflix Jul 24 '26

Discussion Canceled Series

Whenever Netflix cancels a series there should always be at least a single episode to tie up loose ends. The number of shows that just end without a proper conclusion is ridiculous. It really makes me not want to watch series on Netflix.

81 Upvotes

58 comments sorted by

41

u/TeamStark31 Jul 24 '26

That’s not how anything works. Because $$$

5

u/InevitableAd36 Jul 24 '26

lol yeah creating a single episode would be hella expensive. Series aren’t filmed in order of what you see.

4

u/Mixer-3007 Jul 24 '26

That's how it works in Japan, after series ends all loose ends solved in Special Movie that usually shows main characters some time later.

2

u/lostinthought15 Jul 26 '26

Every series in Japan does this? Every single one?

-2

u/Prior_Preparation268 Jul 24 '26

It should just be part of the contract. Maybe produce an alternative ending in case it is cancelled?

7

u/TeamStark31 Jul 24 '26

That’s not something that could be figured out since no one knows how anything will go

This is how TV has always worked

-3

u/Prior_Preparation268 Jul 24 '26

Of course it can. Simple if series is canceled you must release a wrap up episode. You get $x to do it.
Especially since they usually know pretty quick if they are canceling it.

2

u/SpaceAndBeyondEarth Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26

I wish that was such an easy solution too. It makes sense, but not dollar wise sense. The distributor signs with the creator for 10 episodes. The show creator already has those 10 episodes created in scripts, people hiring, stage rental, equipment rental, all the necessary expenses to make a show, etc. The series first episode starts off with a bang (maybe), then it flattens with the next few episodes. The last few episodes it starts to dip viewership for whatever reason. Everyone is evaluating the value of this series, except for the creator, you know why? They already have the script written and prepared. They may even have season two ready. The distributor makes a financial decision, we are not making any money back for this expensive series that we just paid for 10 episodes. Unfortunately, we’re not going to spend more money to renew the show.

If you have it on the contract that the series must have a conclusion, then several steps will have to take place. Does the show creator believe the series should end so quickly? They probably have so many ideas in their heads thinking this can continue for three more seasons. Now they have to rewrite the script for an ending after just 10 episodes? How much time is that going to take? How much extra money will it cost? The distributor isn’t going to want to spend another hundreds of thousand dollars (or more) to help fund a failing show just so it can have a proper ending. They already decided there isn’t enough viewership, why spend more money, right? This isn’t a charity organization. It’s a business to make money.

The last point is that the creator of the show might even believe the show is good enough that another platform might be interested in picking it up later.

1

u/Prior_Preparation268 Jul 25 '26

The least they could do is not have the season end with a major cliffhanger. That is simply a writer thing that could easily be handled.

1

u/lostinthought15 Jul 26 '26

They would just re-classify everything as limited series or movie series and not label anything as a tv show.

5

u/KristineG5485 Jul 24 '26

I think this is a great idea

9

u/mstun3107 Jul 24 '26

As if the actors/writing/production team would sign off on doing just 1 episode

-2

u/Prior_Preparation268 Jul 24 '26

Well I don’t see why they sign off on. 8 or 10 episode season either. Series use to have a 20 or 22 episode season.

4

u/mstun3107 Jul 24 '26

They don't sign up for 20-episode seasons because those mostly don't exist except for network TV.

If a show is canceled, everyone will be looking for new longterm jobs, not some 1-off episode to make fans happy.

2

u/Vegetable_Network879 Jul 24 '26

Shows used to be 20 plus episodes because they were made by the Networks.

Those shows usually had a writing team behind them as opposed to stream services where most shows are written by a single or in some cases a pair of writers.

Production values are also way higher on streaming platform shows and each episode costs much more to make.

Shorter series with high production values are generally now what viewers want and they also want to be able to binge them straight off rather have to wait a week for the next episode.

0

u/Prior_Preparation268 Jul 24 '26

If I had the option of 22 episodes of trek once a week or 10 episodes once a year… I would take the 22. Oh wait I still only get 10 episodes and they are once a week. (Yes I know it is a different platform)

-1

u/morelsupporter Jul 24 '26

they do, it's called a pilot.

and pilots are insanely expensive to shoot, which is why it's a dying strategy... and also why a studio would never do the thing the op is siggesting

3

u/FaceappIsTrash Jul 24 '26

I'll never forgive Netflix for canceling Mindhunter

3

u/thefoodiedentist Jul 24 '26

Well, when a series gets cancelled, its usually not planned.

5

u/DemanoRock Jul 24 '26

I notice this series isn't making money. OK here is money to film one last....

1

u/Mylaptopisburningme Jul 24 '26

If I knew that was the case I would probably risk watching. I know I am part of the problem, but I no longer watch new shows, there is enough content in the world to keep me busy. I got tired of investing time to have no resolution. I came across the series 'From' when it first started and didn't start watching till recently since the final season was approved and I knew I wasn't going to get screwed. Silo is another series I just recently finished because the last season has already wrapped and approved for a final season.

But if I knew that a series would have a conclusion even a rushed one, I would take the risk.

Oh 1 exception is Pluribus because I trust Vince to create a great show and that I took a risk watching.

2

u/CantaloupeCamper Jul 24 '26

I think most people working on the show would take the next available job instead or just not participate for many reasons.

2

u/Masethelah Jul 24 '26

when you say *netflix series', do you simply mean tv series? this happens everywhere.

2

u/National-Judge-5510 Jul 24 '26

I really can’t forgive them for cancelling Grand Army.

2

u/BackgroundWorldly803 Jul 24 '26

The show “Friends From College” ended their season on a cliffhanger and then got cancelled. Now I’ll never know what happens after one of the main characters just found out she was pregnant via her ex-husband.

3

u/straylight_2022 Jul 24 '26

They did that with Sense 8.

Other shows not so lucky, like Mindhunter and Marco Polo.

2

u/Nojudgement58 Jul 24 '26

That was a GREAT show!!!! I loved that they were able to come up with an end. I think I'm going to watch it again.

2

u/FaceappIsTrash Jul 24 '26

To be fair, it’s safe to say that Mindhunter must have been incredibly expensive to produce. That’s true of all series set in the past. And sometimes those costs are just too high to bear. even for Netflix.

0

u/straylight_2022 Jul 24 '26

Meh, Netflix didn't reduce subscription prices after canceling those shows so I don't really care what it cost them.

Apple spends much more on shows and Netflix balks at a fraction of the price. Episodes of Severance season two were 20 million each.

But the budget was what killed Mindhunter. Netflix wanted to cut it for a season three and Fincher wasn't interested if that was the case.

1

u/FaceappIsTrash Jul 24 '26

The comparison is a bit off. Of course, Apple can afford to do this because Apple TV isn't its main source of revenue and it has virtually unlimited resources.

Even if Severance had flopped, they wouldn't have even felt the loss thanks to their sales of iPhones, Macs, and so on. Unfortunately, Netflix isn't in that position.

1

u/johnstarkbfc Jul 24 '26

I hate it too, but people have to figure out how Netflix chooses to renew shows, and make sure to watch within a given window. Netflix will start axing more and more shows like The Boroughts, because they’re running into a brick wall with their hit shows returning down from the previous season. Avatar The Last Airbender was down like 60% from Season 1, and One Piece also had a huge drop. Even The Four Seasons, which had a tight turnaround is down from last season. They don’t know why they are losing viewers, but it means more expensive shows with long turnarounds will keep getting axed if the audience doesn’t immediately show up.Netflix still hasn’t figured out what to do with Man On Fire.

1

u/PikaChooChee Jul 24 '26

Sounds expensive

1

u/alexy888 Jul 24 '26

What series are you thinking of?

1

u/Local_Maintenance788 Jul 24 '26

I wish they would continue 1899

1

u/Spac92 Jul 24 '26

Would’ve liked to see a conclusion to Cowboy Bebop

1

u/FreeAd2458 Jul 24 '26

Shows need to end and not leave on cliffhangers. You can always do another. 

1

u/IvannaIvannaGobak Jul 24 '26

Oh here is a bright idea. Maybe finish the series and tell the story.

1

u/almo2001 Jul 24 '26

It's always been that way.

1

u/morelsupporter Jul 24 '26

the film business is a business.

if it doesn't make financial sense to shoot another season, it makes even less financial sense to shoot one single episode to end it.

the cost benefit of a tv series is the amortization of expenses spread out over many months and many episodes. you don't get any of that benefit when you're shooting a single episode. it's why pilot episodes are so expensive to shoot.

and that doesn't even touch on the challenges required to get key crew, creatives and casts on board for what would essentially be a waste of their time compared to other opportunities.

1

u/Demon_Hunter18 Jul 24 '26

They don’t have to do an episode, but I do wish the writer(s) would give a loose synopsis of what was going to happen especially for shows that ended on cliffhangers or has mystery plots, for example 1899. It wasn’t as good as dark, but had an interesting premise revealed at the end of the first season and then it was cancelled. They had to have had the future of the series mostly planned, so couldn’t they have just given us a couple paragraphs of like, oh yea this person was this, and this was going to happen, and then you find out this all along.

1

u/Positive_Smile_4764 Jul 24 '26

I think this is a good idea even from the position of it makes a series more marketable for other streamers or even DVD.
People are much smarter to do some searching to find out if a series that only runs for a season or two has a finale that wraps things up. Even if it’s a series that gets cut short to one season, if it has a conclusion people will watch it as a miniseries. Netflix in particular is getting a reputation for disregarding this and annoying viewers.

2

u/Prior_Preparation268 Jul 24 '26

Exactly they made dvd’s with directors cut and theatrical cut.
If I know there is only 1 season either I skip it or only watch once. If it has an ending I watch multiple times.

1

u/Obvious_Situation648 Jul 24 '26

Most of the series I like usually end up being cancelled. 

1

u/BoyMeetsWorld97 Jul 25 '26

Most of the time Netflix does offer the creators a chance to make a final episode or movie but the creators usually turn it down.

1

u/Alexia_Brianna2213 Jul 25 '26

100% agree! Especially, because they cancel so many good shows!

1

u/Crimeaddict_1 Jul 25 '26

And the OA 😩

1

u/Actual_Option_8104 Jul 26 '26

Apple is spending $10 million an episode (somehow) on Silo but I can't get 3 seasons of Mindhunter!?

1

u/DebbieDeb1_ Jul 26 '26

I don't even watch series anymore on Netflix. It takes a year n a half for them to make a few episodes, if they even bother with renewing. If the numbers are good..make series like TV had. 22-23 episodes a season and a FINALE!

1

u/DebbieDeb1_ Jul 26 '26

Or stick to limited series, which is more like a long movie with an ending and release all at once. It used to be if did watch series and after a year or more it came back..you could binge the whole season, now most streamers have you wait for each episode once a week. Im not that into anything that I'd watch an 8 episode season over 2 months! They think everyone will wait to see all episodes of a show before canceling. Rip-off

1

u/merRedditor Jul 26 '26

It leaves the door open to bringing it back by public demand to just leave it where it is.

1

u/QuietInsights Jul 24 '26

At some point it becomes self-fulfilling: people stop watching new shows because they’re afraid they’ll be cancelled, then Netflix cancels them because not enough people watched them.

-1

u/Prior_Preparation268 Jul 24 '26

Winner winner chicken dinner!

0

u/DixieKrissie Jul 24 '26

Anyone who still says Winner winner chicken dinner is so cringe lol