This past week brought significant decisions for several television shows, leaving audiences to celebrate renewals or say goodbye to canceled series. The end of the year often marks a period when networks and streaming platforms finalize their plans for the coming year. This update covers fresh decisions on shows like Boston Blue, Last Samurai Standing, Heated Rivalry, and Boots.
New Series and Spinoffs Getting a Second Chance
Several new and recently debuted shows received good news this week, securing their spot for another season.
Boston Blue, the CBS spinoff of Blue Bloods, has been renewed for a second season. The show, which stars Donnie Wahlberg reprising his role as Danny Reagan, was a quick success for the network. Reports indicate it attracted roughly 8 million viewers in the first few weeks after its debut, a strong performance that led to a swift renewal decision.
The Japanese epic Last Samurai Standing will also return. Netflix confirmed the renewal of the series for a second season on December 19. The period drama, based on a best-selling novel and starring Junichi Okada, performed well globally. It remained a top non-English show on Netflix and was the most talked-about series in Japan for four consecutive weeks.
Similarly, the HBO Max sports romance Heated Rivalry is coming back for more. The series, which follows two rival hockey players in a secret relationship, found a strong audience following its debut and will get a second season. The first season is set to conclude on December 26.
Popular Shows Ending Their Runs
While some shows are just beginning, others are coming to a close. Several high-profile series across different platforms have been marked as ending with their current or upcoming seasons.
On Paramount+, the hit survival thriller Yellowjackets will end after its upcoming fourth season. Over on HBO Max, the Sex and the City revival And Just Like That… is also concluding after its current third season.
Netflix has announced that several major originals are entering their final chapters. This includes the cultural phenomenon Stranger Things, which will end with its fifth season, and the fantasy series The Witcher, concluding with Season 5. Other Netflix originals like Outer Banks, Squid Game, and the acclaimed fantasy The Sandman are also set to end with their next seasons.
In the world of animation, long-running comedies are also wrapping up. Netflix’s Big Mouth will end after its eighth season, and Fox’s The Great North was canceled after five seasons.
Surprise Cancellations of the Week
Not every decision follows predictable ratings. This week saw the cancellation of Boots after just one season on Netflix. The decision came as a surprise to some, as the military coming-of-age drama had earned strong reviews, including a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes from both critics and audiences.
According to reports, producers had already outlined storylines and were about to take the characters to active conflict after boot camp, before the cancellation.
The show, which was the final series from legendary producer Norman Lear, tackled the story of a closeted teen joining the U.S. Marine Corps in 1993. While specific reasons for the cancellation were not detailed, industry reports suggest that even well-reviewed shows can be canceled if they do not align with a streamer’s broader programming strategy.
Other notable cancellations include Peacock’s Poker Face after two seasons and FX’s English Teacher, which was also axed after its second season.
Long-Running Network Shows and Franchise Shifts
Broadcast networks have made significant changes to long-standing lineups this year. CBS concluded several veteran crime dramas, including S.W.A.T. after eight seasons and The Equalizer after five. The network also ended the FBI spinoffs Most Wanted and International. The popular sitcom The Neighborhood is ending after eight seasons as well.
On ABC, the long-running family comedy The Conners wrapped up with its seventh season. NBC canceled the reboot of Night Court after three seasons and ended shows like Found and The Irrational after two seasons each. The much-discussed spinoff Suits: LA was canceled after just one season.
Fox canceled first-responder drama 9-1-1: Lone Star after five seasons.
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Streaming Service Strategy Shifts
Streaming platforms have been reevaluating their original programming, leading to a wave of cancellations. Prime Video canceled multiple shows after single seasons, including the dramas Butterfly and Countdown, and the ballet series Étoile. In a major move, the expensive fantasy series The Wheel of Time was shelved after three seasons.
Apple TV+ concluded the workplace comedy Mythic Quest after four seasons and will end the resort comedy Acapulco after its fourth and final season.
Hulu canceled new series like How to Die Alone after one season. Max (formerly HBO Max) canceled the comedy Bookie after two seasons.
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