Netflix Reveals Multiple Shows Not Getting Second Season

Thanks to sites like What’s On Netflix, fans of the streamer’s original programming can get frequently updated looks into which shows are being renewed, canceled, or pushed off the streaming library.

Per a recent report from the site, a number of Korean language dramas have been canceled for the upcoming year, including titles like The Sound of Magic, Mask Girl, and Glitch.

These series have not received traditional cancellations, however, as Netflix seems to be utilizing a new approach for sheepishly sweeping their show-ending news under the rug.

Rather than the network putting out press information or official statements to inform fans that their favorite K-dramas won’t be returning, the streamer seems to have re-listed several shows as limited series in place of their previous status as normal full-length television shows.

By restructuring the shows as ‘limited,’ Netflix seems to be retroactively implying that the shows never intended to run for multiple seasons and have concluded on the creators’ respective terms.

While it remains largely unclear if Netflix ever intended to order multiple seasons of any of these shows in the first place, the shift to a limited series label certainly demonstrates to fans that future seasons will not be produced.

One show, A Time Called You, first premiered on September 8 under the ‘Season 1’ banner, before being reshuffled into the limited series deck just this week. This has also been the case for series such as Celebrity, The Days, and First Love.

One likely explanation for why Netflix would put so much stock into overseas media only to pull away from the shows in recent weeks likely has to do with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. These plagued the Hollywood entertainment industry for a large portion of this year.

While striking actors and writers were shutting down picket lines, Netflix and other networks likely pivoted hard to overseas productions unaffected by American unions, in order to ensure their content library wouldn’t go bare.

Now that the strikes have finally concluded, Netflix feels secure in their long-running library of American content to put a swift end to their overseas partnerships.

If this is the case, it exemplifies a certain lack of foresight for the streamer, as several fans, foreign and domestic, have become attached to the new programs. It could result in resentment toward Netflix when their favorite series are unceremoniously canceled.

The streamer has already garnered a reputation for axing shows before their time, with series such as Sense8, The Santa Clarita Diet, Archive 81, and Glow never receiving proper finales.

Of course, fan resentment doesn’t seem to be taking a toll on Netflix’ subscriber numbers, demonstrating to the decision-making executives that their choices aren’t negatively impacting the streamer’s bottom line.

If fans wish to see their favorite shows running long and prosperous seasons, the only way to get the attention of Netflix may be to cancel subscriptions to the service.