The 25 Most Obvious “Algorithm” Shows Netflix Regrets

Netflix is known for making shows based on what they think people will watch, using data and popular genre labels. This often leads to shows that feel calculated and formulaic, rather than creatively driven. Many try to copy successful shows or jump on current social media trends. Here’s a list of twenty-five series that seem to have been created this way, but didn’t manage to attract a large or lasting audience.

‘Blockbuster’ (2022)

Netflix created a comedy series about the last video rental store still operating, a bit of irony considering Netflix contributed to the decline of video stores. The show centered on Timmy Yoon, the store manager, and his eccentric employees as they tried to keep the business afloat. It aimed for a funny, heartwarming vibe like shows such as ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ and ‘Superstore,’ but didn’t gain enough viewers. Ultimately, Netflix cancelled the show after one season because of low ratings.

‘Space Force’ (2020–2022)

Steve Carell and Greg Daniels teamed up to create a comedic take on the creation of the U.S. Space Force. The show follows General Mark Naird as he moves his family to Colorado to take charge of this new military organization. With a large budget and a talented cast, the workplace comedy had a lot of hype. However, reviewers pointed out that the show struggled to balance its political commentary with its focus on the characters. Ultimately, Netflix canceled the show after two seasons because it didn’t become as popular as they’d hoped.

‘Jupiter’s Legacy’ (2021)

This show was designed to kick off a new series of superhero movies and shows, inspired by the comics of Mark Millar. The story follows heroes across many years, looking at the complicated connections between them and their children, who have lost faith in the heroic life. Filming was troubled and the show ended up costing a lot more than planned. Despite hopes for a larger franchise, the streaming service cancelled it only a few weeks after it premiered. This was a major setback for the service as it tried to build its own successful superhero brand.

‘Cowboy Bebop’ (2021)

Okay, so I was really excited for the live-action Cowboy Bebop series on Netflix. I grew up with the anime, and I thought John Cho was perfect as Spike Spiegel! They really tried to nail that cool, jazzy, noir vibe, which looked amazing. But honestly, it just didn’t quite work for me, and a lot of other fans either. They made some big changes to the story and how the characters developed, and it just didn’t feel like Bebop anymore. Sadly, it showed in the ratings – everyone tuned in at first, but viewership dropped quickly, and Netflix cancelled it after just one season. It’s a shame, because the idea had potential, but it just didn’t translate well from animation to live action.

‘Resident Evil’ (2022)

This show, based on the well-known survival horror video game series, told its story through two different time periods. One followed teenage sisters in New Raccoon City, while the other showed a future devastated by a virus. The series tried to combine the drama of teenage life with the violence and action fans expected from the games. Critics thought the show’s pacing was inconsistent and that it strayed too far from the original game’s story. Netflix canceled the series shortly after it was released, choosing not to order a second season.

‘The I-Land’ (2019)

Ten people find themselves stranded on a dangerous island, having no idea who they are or how they got there. The show blends the excitement of survival stories with sci-fi elements, and was initially promoted as a mind-bending mystery in the style of shows like ‘Lost’ or ‘The Hunger Games’. The story unfolds to reveal a complicated scheme involving virtual reality, prisons, and attempts to reform criminals. However, critics generally didn’t like the show when it first came out, citing issues with the writing and how it was made.

‘Sexy Beasts’ (2021)

A dating show featured singles wearing incredibly realistic animal and mythical creature masks on their blind dates. The idea was for them to connect based on personality first, before seeing what each other looked like. Originally from the UK, the show aimed to challenge the importance of looks in dating. However, viewers were more focused on the strange costumes than the actual relationships. The initial excitement surrounding the masks faded quickly, and interest in the show dropped off.

‘Hype House’ (2022)

The show followed a group of teenage stars from TikTok as they lived and created content together in a Los Angeles mansion. Cameras captured their daily lives, including both the content creation process and the drama between them. While the show aimed to leverage the influencers’ large online followings, many viewers and critics found the staged conflicts and displays of wealth boring. Ultimately, it demonstrated how challenging it can be to turn brief internet popularity into a successful TV series.

‘Dated and Related’ (2022)

A new reality show sent pairs of siblings to a fancy villa in southern France with the goal of finding each other love. The show featured cringeworthy dates and focused on the dynamics between the siblings. It was created to follow the popular formula of other dating shows, but despite initial online buzz, it didn’t attract a large, loyal audience. Ultimately, it’s a good example of a TV show made based on data analysis, aimed at a very specific audience.

‘Snowflake Mountain’ (2022)

A reality show featured spoiled young people who thought they were going on a luxury getaway, but were actually sent on a tough wilderness survival trip. Led by ex-military experts, the participants faced challenges meant to help them become more independent and grow up. The show had a similar format to ‘The Simple Life,’ putting privileged people in difficult situations. Viewers watched as the contestants struggled with everyday tasks and roughing it outdoors. Unfortunately, the show wasn’t popular enough to be renewed for another season.

‘The Pentaverate’ (2022)

This comedy series, created by and starring Mike Myers, centers on a secret society that has been quietly shaping world history for centuries. Myers played eight distinct characters, using a comedic style similar to his previous films. The story follows a Canadian journalist who discovers the truth about this helpful, yet hidden, organization. The show’s humor depended a lot on inside jokes and Myers’ unique comedic voice. Despite being a costly production, it didn’t gain much attention when it first came out and largely went unnoticed by viewers.

‘Q-Force’ (2021)

A comedy series on Netflix followed a team of LGBTQ+ spies who felt overlooked by their agency and were determined to prove their worth. The show blended classic spy action with humor rooted in queer culture, and featured well-known voice actors like Sean Hayes and Wanda Sykes. However, the first trailer sparked criticism online for what many saw as harmful stereotypes, and the series was cancelled after just one season of ten episodes.

‘Hoops’ (2020)

A high school basketball coach with a penchant for swearing is convinced he can transform his losing team into championship contenders, hoping it will launch his career. The animated comedy series, starring Jake Johnson, used a lot of offensive language and relied heavily on crude jokes. However, critics disliked the show, finding it unfunny and overly reliant on shocking moments. Unable to attract viewers in a competitive market of adult animated shows, it was cancelled just a few months after it first aired.

‘Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!’ (2021)

Jamie Foxx starred in a traditional sitcom as a dad navigating life with his teenage daughter. The show was loosely based on his real relationship with his own daughter, and it used classic sitcom elements like a laugh track and slapstick humor reminiscent of 90s TV. Despite Foxx’s popularity, the series didn’t quite stand out, and after one season, both he and the network agreed to end it.

‘Hard Cell’ (2022)

Catherine Tate created and co-directed this funny, documentary-style show about a women’s prison. She played several roles, including the prison governor and various inmates. The six-episode series used humor to look at the unusual aspects of prison life. However, viewers thought the show’s tone was uneven, sometimes silly and other times quite serious. It wasn’t very popular and wasn’t renewed for another season.

‘Disjointed’ (2017–2018)

Kathy Bates played a woman who had long fought to make cannabis legal and finally achieved her dream by opening her own shop in this new sitcom. Created by Chuck Lorre, the show used colorful animated scenes between moments and aimed to appeal to both fans of classic sitcoms and those who enjoy stoner comedies. However, critics found the humor to be stale and the laugh track distracting. Ultimately, Netflix ended the series after releasing twenty episodes across two parts.

‘Girlboss’ (2017)

This comedy series starred Britt Robertson and was based on the life story of Sophia Amoruso. It followed the journey of Nasty Gal, from its beginnings as a small eBay shop to a hugely successful fashion brand. The show highlighted Amoruso’s determined, and sometimes difficult, personality. It was cancelled not long after the actual Nasty Gal company filed for bankruptcy. Many critics thought the show didn’t quite make the main character relatable or interesting enough for viewers.

‘Insatiable’ (2018–2019)

A former lawyer, whose career fell apart, starts coaching contestants in beauty pageants. He takes on a particularly resentful teenager as a client. The show immediately faced criticism for potentially shaming people based on their weight. It was difficult to categorize – sometimes it felt like a darkly humorous comedy, and other times like a sensational, over-the-top thriller. While the initial controversy drew viewers, ratings quickly declined, and the streaming service cancelled the show after two seasons because people were so divided about it.

‘Marvel’s Iron Fist’ (2017–2018)

After being missing for years, Danny Rand comes back to New York to take back control of his family’s business. This series was part of a larger story leading up to the team-up event, ‘The Defenders.’ However, the action scenes weren’t as well-received as those in other Marvel shows, and the show struggled with its story and characters, disappointing both comic book readers and general viewers. Ultimately, it was the first of the Marvel shows on Netflix to be cancelled, and this led to the end of the partnership between Marvel and Netflix.

‘The Witcher: Blood Origin’ (2022)

This limited series told the story of the very first Witcher and the magical event known as the Conjunction of the Spheres. While aiming to build upon the popular fantasy world with new characters – specifically elves – the show was met with strong disapproval from fans. Criticism centered on the writing, inconsistencies with established lore, weak visual effects, and a story that felt hurried. It currently has one of the lowest viewer ratings of any original series on Netflix.

‘Cursed’ (2020)

As someone who loves a good fantasy series, I was really intrigued by ‘Cursed’! It was a fresh take on the Arthurian legend, telling the story through Nimue’s perspective, and it was based on a graphic novel by Frank Miller and Tom Wheeler, which I thought was cool. It felt like they were trying to give fantasy fans something new after ‘Game of Thrones’ ended, but honestly, it just didn’t quite stand out enough. It was a shame, because it was a visually impressive show, but Netflix ended up cancelling it after only one season, probably because it wasn’t getting the viewership numbers they hoped for, despite the big budget.

‘Gypsy’ (2017)

Naomi Watts starred in a psychological thriller as a therapist who became too involved in the lives of her patients and their families. While promoted as a high-quality, visually impressive drama, the show struggled to find an audience. Critics found the story to be slow-moving and ultimately unsatisfying, and pacing problems combined with a weak plot held it back. Despite plans for another season, the series was cancelled after just ten episodes.

‘Chambers’ (2019)

After surviving a heart attack, a young woman becomes obsessed with finding out who donated the heart that saved her. The show, a supernatural horror series with Uma Thurman in a supporting role, mixed teen drama with psychological suspense and explored complex, otherworldly ideas. Unfortunately, viewership numbers weren’t high enough to cover the costs of its special effects and genre elements, so Netflix decided not to order another season shortly after its debut.

‘Neo Yokio’ (2017)

Ezra Koenig’s animated series, set in a futuristic New York, followed a demon-slaying bachelor. Featuring voice acting by Jaden Smith and Jude Law, and incorporating references to high fashion, the show was known for its dry wit and commentary on the upper class. While it attracted a dedicated fanbase, it didn’t achieve widespread popularity and ended after one season and a holiday special.

‘Messiah’ (2020)

A CIA officer looks into a compelling leader who many believe is a god. The show, a political thriller, examined how the world reacted to this new religious movement. It sparked debate over its portrayal of religion and where it was filmed. After only one season, the streaming service cancelled it due to difficulties with production. This left the main storyline unfinished and the central questions unanswered.

Tell us which of these cancelled shows you actually enjoyed in the comments.

2025-11-30 22:47