That was fast: Netflix has canceled its ambitious, widely hyped and, ultimately, widely disappointing anime adaptation Cowboy Bebop, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The move comes less than three weeks after the show’s Nov. 19 debut on the streaming service.
The space Western had a rough reception. The 10-episode series garnered only a 46 percent positive critics rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Fans seemed to agree, giving the show a 56 percent positive audience score on the site. According to Netflix’s Top 10 site, the series has racked up almost 74 million viewing hours worldwide since its debut — so it got plenty of sampling out of the gate — but it plummeted 59 percent for the week of Nov. 29 to Dec. 5.
Insiders pointed out that Netflix’s renewal rate for scripted series that have two or more seasons stands at 60 percent, in line with industry averages, and, like all Netflix renewal verdicts, the decision was made by balancing the show’s viewership and cost. The streamer also prides itself on taking big swings on projects like Cowboy Bebop and has many other genre shows on the air and in the works.
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Source: ‘Cowboy Bebop’ Canceled by Netflix After One Season – The Hollywood Reporter
What a shame – there seems to have been some fashion in bashing this show, especially from people who were 12 when they watched the original and endowed it with some completely non-existing properties. I liked the original and thought this one was brilliant too. This is why we can’t have nice things.
Robin Edgar
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