Netflix Just Canceled One of Its Best Series After Just One Season (Again)

We’ve definitely lost one of the platform’s top shows of the past year

Image Credit: Netflix

The Netflix curse has struck again: the platform has decided to cancel the acclaimed Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, adding another title to the list of TV series that have been interrupted after just one season. Based on the famous graphic novels by Bryan Lee O’Malley, the show brought Edgar Wright back to the franchise as an executive producer, alongside the almost complete voice cast of the 2010 film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. In a blog post on X, O’Malley, who co-developed and executive-produced the series, confirmed the news: “We were recently informed that the show will NOT be returning.” 

However, he did offer a positive note to fans, explaining that the series was conceived as a standalone story and that a sequel was unlikely. “We always envisioned only one season and called in a lot of favors to get it done, so continuing would have been nearly impossible,” O’Malley wrote. “I know some of you were hoping for a sequel.” He went on to praise the entire cast and crew, describing the production as a unique experience: “It was an honor to work with everyone on the team around the world. Every day was like conducting a symphony orchestra. From the moment [Ben David Grabinski] proposed the idea, it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime miracle.”

The series won over critics and audiences with an original and innovative approach; rather than simply an animated adaptation of the film, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off offered a fresh take, giving greater depth to the characters. The seven former villains had their own episodes that explored their internal dynamics and rivalries, while Ramona Flowers emerged as a more autonomous and active figure, relegating Scott Pilgrim to a marginal role in the first half of the show. This approach has been well received, earning a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and an 85% rating from viewers, cementing the series as a high-quality show.

The cancellation news has sparked mixed reactions among fans, with many expressing disappointment, lamenting Netflix’s tendency to cancel good work in favor of lesser-rated shows. In the comments on O’Malley’s post, one commenter wrote, “Netflix gives Big Mouth ten seasons but doesn’t give anything truly good a chance.” However, others expressed gratitude for the one season that was made. “Sadly, there’s no sequel, but I’m still grateful I got this,” another fan commented, while another added, “I’m glad I got this one season at least, it’s more than I expected.”

Despite this bad news, the self-contained narrative of the series – to be recovered on Netflix, if you haven't already done so – allows fans to consider it a complete experience, capable of celebrating the Scott Pilgrim universe in a new and exciting way.

Source: MovieWeb