When Netflix cancelled its ambitious sci-fi project ‘Sense 8’ ahead of season 3, fans went bonkers. Why did Netflix take such a harsh step for the popular show? Let’s find out!
The hearts of millions of ‘Sense 8’ fans were crushed when Netflix cancelled the show right after it launched the second season. The move came across as a surprise for most since the platform isn’t known for cancelling many shows early in their tenures. The move upset many fans who joined heads to start a petition to bring the show back, and they succeeded as they won the battle, but not the war.
Highlights —
- Netflix cancelled ‘Sense 8’ on grounds of low viewership and budget
- Fans waged a war against Netflix
- Netflix revived ‘Sense 8’ but it still stands cancelled
Netflix cancelled ‘Sense 8’ on grounds of low viewership and budget
Netflix launched ‘Sense 8’ as one of its budding ambitious sci-fi projects with so much potential that it made no sense to the fans when the show was cancelled so early in its run. It not only presented the viewers with a gripping storyline but was also one of the very few shows with such an incredibly diverse cast. Understandably, it was not easy for most fans to accept Netflix’s decision of dropping the show.
To be fair, Netflix did have justifiable reasons to end ‘Sense 8’.
First things first, ‘Sense 8’ cost Netflix a whopping load of money because the show’s premise required frequent filming in countries abroad. Speaking of the budgetary concerns, actor Freema Agyeman said, “They shoot in 14 countries, it’s a massively expensive show – at the end of the day it’s showbusiness, this is a business, somebody is counting the bottom line. It’s a business! But I think the fans felt really cheated that it ended on such a huge cliffhanger”.
It’s not just international filming, but also international production that posed a concern for the makers and the streaming platform. The international production lagged the show behind, which is perhaps why it took the show two years between the launch of season 1 and 2. Renewing ‘Sense 8’ for season 3 would also have meant a similar delay, which would have resulted in contractual complexities with the cast. Among other concerns, the complicated premise of the show made it hard to market it. The final blow that convinced Netflix to cancel ‘Sense 8’ was that the reviews were inconsistent and that the viewership ratings had begun to drop.
Fans waged a war against Netflix
Although many viewers were quitting the show because of not being able to handle the in-between season delays and the complex premise of the show, there were fans who were massively affected after Netflix cancelled ‘Sense 8’. The result was a petition that the fans started to “#RenewSense8”, which was able to gather thousands of signatures. Fans took to “Twitter” in an almost passive-aggressive approach for sharing their love for the show and their disappointment at its cancellation.
A fan said, “Sense8 has amazing plot, well-written characters, poc, lgbt+ rep, breathtaking cinematography, and amazing cast. WE NEED S3 #RenewSense8.”
Another fan said, “The fact that we need to tweet #RenewSense8 makes me angry. Just for the message of acceptance that the show gives it should be renewed”. Much of the fan protest came from a place of disappointment over the abrupt ending of a series that was dynamically diverse and inclusive in terms of its plot and cast.
Moreover, season 2 of ‘Sense 8’ ended on a cliffhanger, and the show getting cancelled before providing a closure was what greatly disturbed the fans.
Netflix revived ‘Sense 8’, but it still stands cancelled
The massive protest of the fans after Netflix cancelled ‘Sense 8’, however, did bring some positive results. Although Netflix had not changed its decision of keeping the show cancelled, the fan campaign to “#RenewSense8” made the network contemplate their decision. Ultimately, after carefully considering the claims of the fans,
Netflix decided to tie all the loose ends and provide closure to the viewers through a two-hour special episode of Sense 8.
Cindy Holland, the vice-president of Netflix, said, “We’re really pleased to provide an ending for Sense8. For us, I still take those decisions [to cancel] very seriously when we’re making them … We were gratified to see so much fan love, and we were happy to be able to support what I think all the fans around the world will agree is going to be a fantastic, fitting conclusion for it”.
As promised, the creators did provide a fitting closure to the fans, although ‘Sense 8’ still remains cancelled with no signs of getting renewed in the future. Would you like ‘Sense 8’ to get renewed? Let us know in the comments below!
