The Chaos of Cancellation: How Streaming’s Short-Sighted Decisions Are Killing Great TV

Netflix’s abrupt cancellation of “Kaos” epitomises a troubling trend in streaming: axing innovative shows before they reach their potential. This decision raises alarming questions about the future of diverse, creative storytelling on television.

The abrupt cancellation of “Kaos” after just one season is a tragedy that reflects a disturbing trend in the streaming industry. This decision not only robs viewers of a promising series but also raises questions about the future of innovative storytelling and diverse representation on television.

The Rise and Fall of “Kaos”

“Kaos”, Netflix’s audacious modern retelling of Greek mythology, burst onto screens with electrifying energy and boundless potential. Created by Charlie Covell, the mind behind “End of the F***ing World”, the series offered a fresh and irreverent take on classical myths, featuring Jeff Goldblum as a tracksuit-wearing Zeus. The show’s blend of spectacular world-building, stunning visual flair, and spell-binding performances set it apart from the crowd, promising a new benchmark in mythological adaptations.

The series finale left viewers on the edge of their seats, with a depleted Zeus facing off against his fellow Olympians and the tantalising prospect of all-out godly warfare. This cliffhanger set the stage for what should have been a glorious second season, full of divine drama and mortal machinations. However, the television gods had other plans.

The Cruel Hand of Cancellation

Less than 48 hours after many viewers, including myself, finished watching the series, Netflix dropped the axe on “Kaos”. The cancellation came a mere month and a half after its premiere, despite the show pulling in an impressive 14.9 million views and maintaining a spot in the Top Ten list. This swift and seemingly arbitrary decision highlights the brutal nature of the streaming industry’s current approach to content.

The cancellation of “Kaos” is not an isolated incident. It joins the ranks of other promising shows like “The Brothers Sun” and “Dead Boy Detectives” as reluctant one-season wonders of 2024. This trend extends beyond Netflix, with Amazon’s Prime Video cancelling “My Lady Jane” and Disney+ cutting short “Star Wars” spin-off “The Acolyte”. These decisions leave viewers in perpetual limbo, forever wondering about the fates of characters and storylines they’ve invested in.

The Binge-or-Die Ultimatum

The streaming model was supposed to revolutionise how we consume television, offering viewers the freedom to watch at their own pace. However, the cancellation of “Kaos” reveals a darker truth: the industry now demands that viewers binge-watch new content immediately upon release, or risk losing it forever. This ultimatum creates a perverse incentive structure that punishes viewers who prefer to savour shows over time and rewards only those who can dedicate large blocks of time to immediate consumption.

This approach is particularly damaging for complex, richly-layered shows like “Kaos” that benefit from reflection and discussion between episodes. By forcing viewers to rush through content, streaming platforms are potentially diminishing the very qualities that make their original programming stand out.

The Impact on Diversity and Representation

Perhaps the most troubling aspect of these cancellations is their disproportionate impact on shows that champion diversity and inclusivity. “Kaos”, along with “My Lady Jane” and “The Acolyte”, all came from female or non-binary creators, featured racially diverse casts, and prominently included queer characters. When these shows are discontinued, it sends a disheartening message that stories centring on marginalised voices are somehow less valuable or successful.

This pattern of cancellations undermines the industry’s purported commitment to diversity and inclusion. It’s not enough to greenlight diverse projects; they must also be given the time and support needed to find their audience and reach their full potential. By pulling the plug so quickly on these shows, streaming platforms risk perpetuating the very inequalities they claim to be addressing.

The Broken Promise of Streaming

The cancellation of “Kaos” after just one season represents a broken promise to both creators and consumers. For creators, it means years of hard work and creative vision can be discarded in a matter of weeks. “Kaos” took eight years to develop, only to be euthanised after less than six weeks on the platform. This creates an environment of uncertainty and fear that may discourage bold, innovative storytelling in favour of safer, more formulaic content.

For viewers, these premature cancellations rob us of the opportunity to see good series become great and already great ones reach a satisfying conclusion. The unspoken contract between storytellers and audience members is that in exchange for our time and attention, we will be given a complete narrative with a beginning, middle, and end. By breaking this contract, streaming platforms risk alienating their audience and eroding the trust that is essential for building a loyal viewer base.

The Short-Sighted Nature of Quick Cancellations

Television history is replete with examples of shows that took more than one season to find their footing and audience. Classics like “Blackadder”, “Seinfeld”, “Parks and Recreation”, “Breaking Bad”, and “Schitt’s Creek” all needed time to evolve and grow. If these shows were made today, they might not survive the ruthless culling that seems to characterise the current streaming landscape.

Recent examples like “Interview with the Vampire” and “Industry” demonstrate the value of patience. Both shows have seen significant breakthroughs in later seasons, becoming social media sensations and critical darlings. By cancelling shows like “Kaos” so quickly, streaming platforms are potentially missing out on future hits and cultural phenomena.

The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy of Failure

As viewers become increasingly aware that their favourite new shows might not survive past the first season, they may become less likely to invest time in new content at all. This creates a self-fulfilling prophecy where viewership numbers fall even further, justifying more cancellations. This cycle threatens to stifle innovation and risk-taking in television production, leading to a landscape dominated by safe, predictable content.

The Cynical View: Was “Kaos” Set Up to Fail?

One can’t help but wonder if shows like “Kaos” are sometimes set up to fail. Releasing such an ambitious, original, and big-budget show in the dying days of summer with muted fanfare, and then cancelling it before many potential fans have even added it to their watchlists, raises questions about Netflix’s intentions. If there was little intention of renewing the show, why commission it at all? Or why not present it as a limited series from the outset?

This approach not only wastes creative talent and resources but also erodes viewer trust. It creates a sense that investing in new, original content is a risky proposition that may lead only to disappointment.

The Changing Nature of TV Recommendations

In the past, TV recommendations often came with the caveat, “Stick with it through the first season; it gets much better.” Now, they come with the ultimate spoiler: there’s no more where that came from. This shift fundamentally changes how we approach new television content, potentially making viewers more hesitant to engage with new shows and more likely to retreat to the comfort of familiar, completed series.

Conclusion: The Need for a New Approach

The cancellation of “Kaos” after just one season is more than just the loss of a promising show; it’s a symptom of a larger problem in the streaming industry. The current model of quick cancellations based on immediate viewership data is short-sighted and potentially damaging to the future of television as a medium for innovative storytelling.

Streaming platforms need to reconsider their approach to new content. This could involve:

1. Giving shows more time to find their audience and develop their narrative.
2. Being more transparent about renewal criteria and timelines.
3. Considering the qualitative aspects of shows, not just raw viewership numbers.
4. Committing to completing storylines, even if it means shorter subsequent seasons.
5. Investing more in promoting new shows to give them the best chance of success.

By adopting a more nuanced and patient approach to content, streaming platforms can foster an environment that encourages creative risk-taking, supports diverse voices, and ultimately produces better television. The tragedy of “Kaos” should serve as a wake-up call for the industry to reassess its priorities and remember that great television, like the myths it sometimes reimagines, needs time to become legendary.

Bob Lynn / 11-Oct-2024