on Netflix cancelling queer TV shows
- 3shotcine
- Mar 8
- 6 min read
by Suria Rai, resident writer at 3shotcine
Remember when the newest adaptation of Anne With an E (2017-2019) was overflowing with countless possibilities? Or when Netflix “decided to not move forward” with a third season of Fate: Winx Saga (2021-2022); despite the two shows’ dedicated fanbase? It seems that all of our favourite TV shows are getting overturned, and people want to know why.
Claudia Flynn (2023) points out that accurate representation of the queer community is not an easy task and this is because there is no correct way to represent these identities, which can leave writers to struggle in finding a way to portray LGBTQ+ characters in a realistic manner. But, you can’t blame them for trying, can you? From the 1990’s to present times, we’re lucky that mainstream media has increased their coverage of LGBTQ+ individuals, issues, and concerns at all, and Netflix has played a big part in being one of those streaming platforms to do that.
Whether minor or major, the network is known for its extensive and diverse catalogue that brought presentation to screens that traditionally catered to narrow demographics. Bringing shows like Atypical (2017-2021), Sex Education (2019-2023), Heartstopper (2022-present) and many more to life. Furthermore, studies have shown that for LGBTQ+ individuals, seeing themselves represented in media can affirm their identities and experiences as well as lead to improved mental health by providing a sense of community and belonging (Sugandh Bahl, 2024). However, that surge of hope has been slowly dissipating as the streaming platform picked up the habit of “pulling the plug” on equally as many queer TV shows, bringing the company into disrepute.
Thus, it raises the question of how many more petitions Netflix watchers should run, in order to save their favourite TV shows from leaving the screens, before they finally decide to listen to their viewers — and what this would mean for the future of their queer audience, if Netflix even cares about the very diversity it prides itself on.
The rise of queer TV shows, specifically on Netflix, marked an important shift in mainstream media. Ranging from the latest shows such as Baby Reindeer (2024) and Everything Sucks! (2018) to classics like Orange is the New Black (2013-2019), they provided rich, multi-dimensional characters whose stories went far and beyond tokenism or stereotypes which opened a door that allowed for authentic representation. According to Gay Times (2023), 90% of queer individuals actively seek out queer media in the UK, US and Canada. While this statistic may not be surprising, it was also revealed that 60% of heterosexual and cisgender individuals engage with this content as well. This further proves that queer media is far from a niche interest; it resonates with a wide audience. As I mentioned before, people are not only eager to learn about those who share their experiences, but also those with various backgrounds. What are we without exploring various perspectives and broadening our understanding of the world?
Now, let’s talk about First Kill (2022). Based on V.E. Schwabb’s short story of the same name, it follows Juliette (Sarah Catherine Hook), a young teenage vampire who is pressured into making her first kill in order to join her family’s “legacy” of other bloodsuckers. She, ultimately, ends up setting her sights—and falling in love—with Calliope (Imani Lewis), who so happens to be a descendent of a long line of vampire killers. Sounds scandalous, right! Yes, well, it stood out not only for its supernatural elements, but for its lesbian romance at its core, so you can imagine the confusion that fans felt when the streamer announced that the TV series had been axed, just a couple months after it aired. Especially since it garnered quite the passionate following and racked up over 100 million streaming hours in just the first three days alone.
Apparently, First Kill failed to meet the viewership and completion benchmarks, with audience numbers declining as the series progressed. This drop-off led Netflix to believe that there might not be sufficient interest to justify a second season.
Oh, but the cancelling spree doesn’t stop there…
Another notable show that, unfortunately, got the boot was the Wachowski’s and J. Michael Straczynski’s Sense8 (2015-2018). During a time when mainstream television continued to struggle to incorporate authentic diversity, Sense8 emerged as a pioneering work with its unapologetic portrayal of LGBTQ+ representation; several of the show’s main characters are queer. The show was known for its newfangled depiction of various identities and sexualities where it followed eight individuals from around the world who—regardless of being strangers—developed a psychic link that allowed them to share each other’s emotions, thoughts and experiences (I’d be freaked out if I found out that my thoughts weren’t my own). Even better, the show’s eight protagonists resided from greatly different cultures: Mexico, South Korea, Germany, Iceland, India and the United States. Like, can we agree that this show basically screamed diversity?
Well, diverse or not, it clearly didn’t matter as the show met its time after just two seasons because it “simply did not entice enough viewers to support its high production cost” (yikes!). But at least we got one last two-hour special to wrap things up, right?
As for creators Jonathan Entwistle’s and Christy Hall’s I Am Not Okay With This (2020), it is a coming-of-age TV show that surrounds a 17-year-old girl, Sydney Novak (Sophia Lillis), who is trying to navigate the start of high school, family complications and her feelings for her best friend, Dina (Sofia Bryant). Not only that, Sydney was also dealing with newfound telekinesis powers, so it’s safe to say that as someone who can be a sucker for the sci-fi and supernatural genre, I thought this series would set off and become the next big hit after Netflix’s Stranger Things (2016-present) and The Umbrella Academy (2019-2024). I mean come on, it was giving WLW Carrie — and it was that good!
However, my predictions were quickly shut down when the streaming service canned the TV series after season one. Entwistle told Business Insider that the team tried asking for the possibility of delaying production instead of cancelling the show but Netflix turned down that idea because “it is a big cost to pay the actors to keep them and Netflix would essentially be paying large group of filmmakers and actors to remain doing nothing”. Ironically, Netflix chose to renew a second season of Entwistle’s other series, The End Of the F***king World (2017), even though it was meant to be a single-season show instead. Make it make sense, Netflix!
With that being said, it is truly unfortunate that these shows with such important representation wasn’t given the opportunity to finish telling their stories, and although the reasons cited for these cancellations mainly centred around viewership numbers and budget constraints, it doesn’t change the fact that it deprived audiences of narratives they cherished and it’s clear that the emotional impact of these cancellations on LGBTQ+ communities cannot be overstated since for many viewers, these shows provided a rare glimpse into lives that mirrored their own experiences — minus the supernatural twists, of course!
Representation in media is crucial, period. I believe it shapes how we see ourselves and significantly influences self-acceptance, so the abrupt ending of some of these narratives are bound to leave many feeling marginalised and overlooked. Moreover, the balance between creating diverse content and meeting commercial demands is a challenging one, and these fall-outs serve as a critical reminder that representation isn’t a one time goal; it’s a continual process that requires dedication, investment and respect. Queer audiences deserve more than just to be seen — they deserve to be seen in stories that are given more time to flourish as well as the care as any other mainstream series.
Aaannnddd that’s all for my exploration on Netflix’s itchy-backside to cancel queer TV shows. I hope you enjoyed this piece.
A review by Suria Rai, resident writer at 3shotcine.
Suria is an aspiring author, pursuing an English with Creative Writing degree at her university. She enjoys anything remotely related to books, good food and rom-coms while also having a huge soft spot for anything horror and the supernatural. If she isn’t catching up on the latest films or daydreaming characters for her novel, she can be found appreciating nature… in Stardew Valley.
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