In the age of streaming, TV cancellations are far too common — andfantasyand sci-fi shows seem to bear the brunt of the impact, likely due to their budget requirements and large casts. Manyfantasy shows have been axed before concludingtheir original plans, with some of them evenending on agonizing cliffhangers. Most of these cancellations are explained by viewership numbers and negative reviews, but there are a handful of projects whose fates remain surprising.
Given the fan bases surrounding these titles and the fact that they boast positive reviews, one could even say these cancellations don’t make sense. Networks and streamers want to ensure they’re benefiting from a series before continuing its run, and that’s understandable. But in the modern era of television, that often prevents good shows from getting the chance to find their footing. This leads to frustrations about certain cancellations, anda handful of them feel unbelievable, even after the reasons for the decision come out.
Shadow and Boneremains one of Netflix’s most disappointing fantasy cancellations, especially given how much excitement surrounded the series ahead of its debut. Fans ofLeigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse bookswere eager to see them adapted on-screen, and Netflix did its due diligence with the first season. Some new fantasy shows have noticeably limited budgets, butShadow and Boneproved an ambitious undertaking from the jump. Everything from its stunning sets to its cast suggested that Netflix viewed it as an investment.
That’s why it’s so surprising that NetflixcanceledShadow and Boneafter season 2, supposedly because of disappointing viewership numbers. While the series did see a dip in quality in season 2, it was still heavily discussed and positively received (it got a fresh 78% critic score onRotten Tomatoes). Given how beloved season 1 was, Netflix could have given it the opportunity to turn things around. It would have been wise to do so, as thefan campaign to bring backShadow and Boneconfirmed there was still demand.
With demand forShadow and Boneseason 3, canceling it seemed like a questionable choice, especially given the criticisms Netflix faces for axing so many of its original series. The fact that continuing the series could have led to an even more highly anticipatedSix of Crowsspinoff made matters worse. Perhaps the streamer didn’t realize the potential such a series had, but Bardugo’sSix of Crowsbooks are even more beloved than their predecessors. For this reason,not following through on one more season and a spinoff was a mistake.
Luciferis one of the rare fantasy shows to be canceled and then saved, with Netflix giving the series the opportunity to have a proper ending. The first three seasons ofLuciferaired on Fox, but the network canceled the supernatural procedural due to a declining audience, as well as for economic reasons (viaCBR). While the numbers can’t be contested,Luciferaccumulated a cult following throughout its run, and trying to cancel the series without a proper ending was a dubious decision on Fox’s part. At the very least, giving it one more outing would have avoided major frustrations.
The fact that Lucifer continued for so long after its near-cancellation suggests that its audience hadn’t shrunk that massively.
Thankfully, Netflix stepped in to saveLucifer, granting it three more seasons before it concluded. The fact that Lucifer continued for so long after its near-cancellation suggests that its audience hadn’t shrunk that massively, making Fox’s choice that much more perplexing. It’s probably for the best that the series moved to Netflix, however, as its quality improved after the move.
Netflix might have savedLucifer, but its choice to cancelWarrior Nunproved an unpopular one — and the streamer’s refusal to reverse that decision, even after fans rallied behind the series, didn’t make a ton of sense.Warrior Nunwas yet another victim of decreased viewership(viaDeadline), but it’s hard to get behind that explanation for a couple of reasons. For one, the show still spent a few weeks in Netflix’s Top 10 and maintained a fairly dedicated audience. It also didn’t receive much marketing for season 2, which might’ve helped to boost its numbers.
Like many other canceled series,Warrior Nunlikely could have turned things around in a third season, especially if it received the marketing it deserved. Season 1 was incredibly popular, and season 2 boasted a 100%Rotten Tomatoesscore that made its fate worse. AlthoughWarrior Nunseason 2’s endingwasn’t a terrible place to wrap the story, Netflix really should’ve given it a more planned ending, even if it meant renewing it for just one more season. This would have prevented outrage fromfans who campaigned to reviveWarrior Nunand allowed it to go out on a high note.
Of all Netflix’s fantasy cancellations,Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’s was the least understandable, as it already had four successful seasons on the platform and seemed poised to deliver another. The COVID-19 pandemic was the reason forChilling Adventures of Sabrinabeing canceled, but there were plenty of series that faced production delays and still managed to return later on. GivenChilling Adventures of Sabrina’s consistently positive reception, it’s surprising it wasn’t one of them. And the series' controversial ending didn’t help matters.
Sabrina Spellman’s later appearance inRiverdaledid smooth things over a bit, butthe crossover between the two series could have been even better had the Netflix show continued. Given how highly anticipated this crossover was, it’s even more shocking Netflix didn’t renewChilling Adventures of Sabrinafor one more outing. The choice to wrap things up without more planning was odd at the time, and it contributed to some major disappointment.
A more recent fantasy cancellation that came as a surprise wasThe Wheel of Time,which just finished its third season on Prime Video in April 2025. AlthoughThe Wheel of Timeproved a divisive adaptation of Robert Jordan’s books during its first two seasons, things seemed to be improving by the end of season 2.The Wheel of Timeseason 3 was the show’s best outing yet, with the newest batch of episodes boasting a 97%Rotten Tomatoesscore — a huge step up from seasons 1 and 2, which both landed in the 80s.
WithThe Wheel of Timeseason 3 finally winning viewersover, it’s bizarre that Prime Video chose to cancel it now. There was much more source material to adapt, and given the chance to evolve more, the show could’ve become one of the platform’s biggest offerings. The fact thatThe Rings of Powergot renewed made this decision even more perplexing, as both have received similarly mixed responses from audiences.
My Lady Janewas canceledafter just one season on Prime Video, despite overwhelmingly positive reviews and a 95% critic score onRotten Tomatoes. EvenGeorge R.R. Martin lamentedthe series ending so early, but it seems the viewership numbers weren’t enough to warrant another outing. That said,My Lady Janeonly needed one more season to wrap up its story, which was adapted from the book of the same name, written by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, and Jodi Meadows.
It seems like Prime Video should have just greenlit a second season, which would have completed the story and satisfied fans.
For that reason, it seems like Prime Video should have just greenlit a second season, which would have completed the story and satisfied fans. It would’ve benefited the streamer to have a finishedfantasyseries rather than one that was cut short, as viewers are growing frustrated with frequent cancellations. That would’ve reflected well on Prime Video, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t in the cards forMy Lady Jane.
