Netflix, known for its prolific content output, faced scrutiny yet again in 2023 as it decided the fate of several original series. Despite a slight decline from the cancellation spree of 2022, with 14 shows getting the axe this year, the streaming giant stirred discussions on its cancellation criteria and viewership metrics.
Five of the canceled shows were animated, a move that aligned with the company’s internal restructuring and layoffs in the animation department earlier in the year. Three belonged to the live-action young adult category, while one was a reality series featuring young adult contestants.
The key determinant for renewal across all platforms, including Netflix, remains viewership. To provide transparency, Netflix introduced changes to its measurement methodology in 2023. The platform shifted from ranking based on total hours watched to a more nuanced approach, calculating “views” by dividing viewing hours by runtime.
One of the casualties of this evaluation was “Shadow and Bone,” canceled on November 15, 2023. Despite a strong debut, the show, which ranked second in its first week with 55 million hours watched, fell prey to the cancellation decision. The engagement report from January to June 2023 placed it as the 32nd most-watched title on Netflix, accumulating 192.9 million hours viewed for Season 2 and 99.5 million for Season 1.
“Glamorous,” a series focusing on the life of a gender non-conforming queer man, premiered on June 22, 2023, only to be canceled alongside “Shadow and Bone.” It initially entered the Netflix Top 10 but gradually faded. The engagement report recorded 36.6 million hours of viewing, covering the period until the end of June.
“Agent Elvis,” a unique portrayal of Elvis Presley engaged in covert spy operations, faced cancellation despite not making it to the Netflix Top 10. Its total viewing hours reached 5.5 million from release through June.
“Captain Fall,” “Farzar,” “Wellmania,” and “Snowflake Mountain” were also casualties of the Netflix cancellation spree, each with its own storyline and audience appeal. The decision to cancel varied, ranging from viewer engagement metrics to the show’s resonance with the platform’s objectives.
As Netflix navigates the delicate balance of content curation and audience satisfaction, these cancellations underscore the complexities inherent in the streaming giant’s decision-making process. With the streaming landscape continuously evolving, the fate of original series remains uncertain, leaving both creators and viewers on the edge of anticipation.