Sad times. Netflix has decided to cancel Sense8. After an absolutely stunning second season, both visually and emotionally, the show will end without a conclusion.
Cindy Holland, Netflix’s VP of Original Content, released the following statement on Thursday regarding the cancellation:
After 23 episodes, 16 cities, and 13 countries, the story of the ‘Sense8’ cluster is coming to an end. It is everything we and the fans dreamed it would be: bold emotional, stunning, kick ass, and outright unforgettable. Never as there been a more truly global show with an equally diverse and international cast and crew, which is only mirrored by the connected community of deeply passionate fans all around the world. We thank Lana, Lilly, Joe, and Grant for their vision, and the entire cast and crew for their craftsmanship and commitment.
I don’t understand this statement. It doesn’t give a reason for the cancellation, just praise for the show. Come on Netflix, at least tell us what the problem was. Too expensive? Not enough views? Too inclusive?
The day before the cancellation Netflix founder and CEO Reed Hastings said on CNN that the service should cancel more shows.
Our hit ratio is way too high right now, so we’ve cancelled very few shows…
I’m always pushing the content team: We have to take more risk; you have to try more crazy things. Because we should have a higher cancel rate overall.
It becomes even more unfathomable with this in mind. “We have to take more risk.” What show on any network is more risky than Sense8?
Perhaps the show should have been less ambitious from its inception. A budget of £9 million per episode makes it a massively expensive undertaking. Netflix is first and foremost a business, not a platform for social commentary, so while the show is worthy, in the view of Netflix it needs to get enough viewers to be commercially viable.
I think that’s a shame because even if it loses money Sense8 sets Netflix on a path to being one of the best content creators in the world. With a proper conclusion Sense8 would be something that people could come back to time and time again. Now it will be difficult to recommend that people watch it, knowing I’ll be setting people on a wonderful path that leads to disappointment.
Sense8 could become the Firefly for a new generation. Crowdfund a movie anyone?
