TV Shows That Tanked After Adding “Woke” Storylines Fans Hated

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Recently, the entertainment industry has been trying to update old favorites or create new shows that address current social topics. This approach often leads to disagreements between the people making the shows and longtime viewers, who feel that pushing a political message has become more important than telling a good story. Several shows that took this route faced immediate criticism, lost viewers quickly, and were eventually canceled. The following is a look at some TV series that struggled to gain an audience after adding elements that viewers considered forced or driven by an agenda.

‘The Acolyte’ (2024)

From the moment it was announced, this Star Wars show faced a lot of criticism. The showrunner’s comments about the show’s themes and diverse cast sparked debate, and many viewers felt it strayed too far from established Star Wars stories, focusing more on social issues than the Jedi traditions they enjoyed. As a result, the show received very low ratings from audiences, and Disney decided not to make another season due to poor reviews and a lack of viewers finishing the series.

‘Batwoman’ (2019–2022)

As a big cinema fan, I was really disappointed to see how quickly things went downhill for that series. It started with a lot of criticism of the main character’s lines about gender and power when the first trailer dropped. Even before the lead actress suddenly left, people were tuning out, and viewership just kept falling. The writers tried to save it by bringing in a new character, but it didn’t help – the ratings continued to plummet. Everyone, from critics to fans like me, felt that the show got too caught up in trying to make a social statement, and it lost sight of what made superhero stories fun – the action and the characters. Sadly, after three seasons, the network had to pull the plug because not enough people were watching anymore.

‘Velma’ (2023–2024)

This animated series aimed to give a fresh start to the Scooby-Doo story, but it drastically changed the characters’ backgrounds and personalities. Unfortunately, the show performed very poorly, as fans disliked its dark humor and the absence of Scooby-Doo himself. Many viewers found the writing to be unnecessarily harsh, focusing more on social commentary than the enjoyable mysteries of the original series. While some people initially tuned in out of curiosity, ratings quickly dropped.

‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ (2022)

Many Marvel fans were disappointed with the series, finding its humor out of place and its exploration of gender issues too obvious. The show often directly addressed online negativity and hostile fans, which many viewers felt was confrontational. Long-time comic book readers were especially critical of scenes where the main character gave the Hulk advice about controlling his anger. Overall, viewers felt the show’s effects and story weren’t as exciting or important as other Marvel movies and series.

‘Willow’ (2022–2023)

Disney brought back its beloved 1988 fantasy film as a new series, updating the story with a fresh cast and modern language. However, fans of the original movie didn’t like the changes, feeling the show traded the original’s magic for typical teen drama and romance. Many also felt the main character was overshadowed by new additions that didn’t connect with viewers. Ultimately, Disney cancelled the series after one season and removed it from their streaming service as a cost-saving measure.

‘Resident Evil’ (2022)

Netflix’s attempt to turn a popular video game into a TV series told a story across two different time periods, centering on shadowy business dealings. However, the show was heavily criticized for significantly changing the original game’s story and adding teen drama that didn’t fit the scary, survival-focused atmosphere. Dedicated fans were let down by the disconnect from the characters and established story they loved. Because of low ratings and negative reviews, Netflix cancelled the series soon after it premiered.

‘Cowboy Bebop’ (2021)

The recent live-action version of the popular anime faced a lot of doubt, and unfortunately, it didn’t impress most viewers. Fans felt the show simplified the original’s complex themes, replacing them with jokes and unnecessary details that changed why characters acted the way they did. There was also disagreement about how well the actors and costumes matched the look of the anime. Ultimately, Netflix cancelled the series quickly—less than a month after it launched—because the number of viewers dropped significantly after the first week.

‘The Witcher: Blood Origin’ (2022)

As a long-time fan, I was really excited for this prequel, hoping it would add depth to the world I love. Sadly, it had the opposite effect – it felt so disconnected from everything that made the Witcher special, it actually turned a lot of us off. People just didn’t connect with the story; it felt rushed, bland, and lacked the richness of the books and games. It’s really disappointing, and it’s added even more worry about where the main series is headed. Honestly, the low scores speak for themselves – it just didn’t capture the magic for many of us.

‘Masters of the Universe: Revelation’ (2021)

The new series, directed by Kevin Smith, continued the story of the popular 80s cartoon, but it quickly faced criticism. Many fans were upset that He-Man wasn’t a central character as much as the marketing suggested, with the show instead focusing on Teela’s story. Some viewers also disliked the changes made to the characters and the deaths of key figures, feeling it undermined the spirit of the original. As a result, audience ratings dropped sharply, with many accusing the creator of misleading advertising.

‘Queen Cleopatra’ (2023)

The show caused a major international uproar and even faced legal challenges from Egypt due to its choice of actors. Both viewers and historians strongly criticized it for portraying a contested version of history as if it were definitively true. Beyond the casting issues, the show was widely disliked for its poor writing and acting, and it became one of the lowest-rated programs ever shown on the streaming service.

‘National Treasure: Edge of History’ (2022–2023)

Disney tried to keep the ‘National Treasure’ series going with a new cast after Nicolas Cage didn’t return. However, the show received criticism for not having a strong lead and for feeling more like a teen drama than an adventurous story. Viewers missed the connection and clever mysteries that made the original movies so popular. Ultimately, the show didn’t attract enough viewers and was cancelled after its first season.

‘Gossip Girl’ (2021–2023)

The revival of the popular teen drama aimed to be more aware of social issues by featuring a more diverse cast and openly discussing privilege. However, both critics and fans found the new version lacked the exciting, dramatic energy of the original, feeling the characters were too focused on being good and understanding their own advantages. Attempts to make the wealthy characters seem sympathetic or regretful didn’t resonate with viewers who were looking for pure entertainment. Ultimately, HBO Max cancelled the show after two seasons because it didn’t create the same cultural impact as the first series.

‘Charmed’ (2018–2022)

The recent revival of this popular supernatural show took some big risks, updating the story and characters for a modern audience. While the marketing highlighted a feminist perspective, it turned off longtime fans who already saw the original series as empowering. Adding to the division, disagreements between the original actors and the new production team created further conflict among viewers. The show faced consistently low ratings and was ultimately cancelled during changes at the network.

‘Santa Inc.’ (2021)

This adult animated series used stop-motion to playfully mock the holidays, employing crude humor and feminist ideas. However, it received a lot of negative reviews online, with many viewers finding it unfunny and critical of Christmas. As a result, the show has very low ratings on popular review websites, didn’t attract a large audience, and was cancelled after just one season.

‘High Guardian Spice’ (2021)

This new animated series, created by Crunchyroll, quickly received negative reactions from anime fans. Many criticized the show’s poor quality and writing, feeling that Crunchyroll had misused subscription money. Viewers found the visuals and story to be lacking in the qualities they expect from anime, and the dialogue and character designs were seen as overly simple and focused on superficial labels instead of genuine character development. The series ultimately became a prime example of Crunchyroll losing touch with its audience.

‘Y: The Last Man’ (2021)

Okay, so I was really excited for this show, being a fan of the comics, but honestly, it was a huge disappointment. They cancelled it mid-season, and it’s not hard to see why. It just didn’t feel like the source material at all! They introduced a bunch of new characters and completely changed the main character’s personality. Plus, the story moved so slowly, and it was way too gloomy – the comics are fun adventures, but this felt…heavy. I guess with a big budget and not enough viewers, the network just couldn’t justify continuing it, and truthfully, I can’t say I blame them.

‘Q-Force’ (2021)

Netflix’s new animated comedy, featuring a team of LGBTQ+ superspies, faced backlash despite aiming to represent that community. Many viewers criticized the show for using overused stereotypes and trying too hard to appeal to audiences instead of being genuinely funny. This made it difficult to attract viewers – it wasn’t broad enough for a general audience, and it didn’t resonate with the LGBTQ+ community due to its reliance on clichés. Ultimately, the show was cancelled after one season without any official announcement.

‘Tom Swift’ (2022)

This series, a continuation of the Nancy Drew universe, starred a Black, gay billionaire inventor. However, it didn’t attract many viewers during its run on the CW, resulting in some of the network’s lowest ratings ever. Reviewers pointed out that the show’s style was inconsistent and the episodes felt hastily written compared to the original Nancy Drew. Ultimately, it was canceled after just five episodes.

‘Naomi’ (2022)

Ava DuVernay’s series, based on a DC comic, followed a young girl as she learned about her abilities across different universes. While interesting, the show was criticized for starting slowly and not having enough action. Many comic book fans felt it didn’t capture the colorful and exciting spirit of the original comic. Ultimately, the network cancelled it after one season, deciding to focus on other types of programming.

‘Gotham Knights’ (2023)

This show centered around the murder of Batman, with a team of teenagers – including his adopted son – investigating the crime. However, fans disliked the idea of a Batman story without the character himself, and the trailer was widely criticized for looking cheap and featuring overly dramatic dialogue. Critics felt the writing resembled a typical teen drama dressed up with DC Comics elements, rather than a genuine superhero narrative. Ultimately, the show was cancelled after its first season, shortly before the television network was sold.

‘Anne Boleyn’ (2021)

A recent historical drama on Channel 5 in the UK featured a Black actress playing the role of the Tudor queen. This casting decision led to significant discussion about how accurately historical figures should be portrayed and who gets to play them in period dramas. Viewers largely reacted negatively to the show, with many criticizing its historical inaccuracies and the use of modern language. As a result, the series lost a large portion of its audience between the first and last episodes.

‘Troy: Fall of a City’ (2018)

This BBC and Netflix series offered a new take on the story of the Iliad, reimagining characters like Achilles and Zeus with different actors. However, viewers strongly disliked it, criticizing the cheap-looking sets and how much it changed the original story. Many found the conversations awkward and the performances unconvincing, especially when compared to popular historical dramas like Troy and Game of Thrones. The show performed very poorly in ratings and the BBC decided not to create another season.

‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ (2023)

As a big fan of the original ‘Grease’ movie, I was really excited about the ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ prequel on Paramount+. But honestly, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me, or a lot of other fans, it seemed. The show tried to update things with modern pop music and current social issues, but it just felt out of place in the 1950s world of the original. It lacked that classic, slightly rough-around-the-edges charm we all loved. Sadly, it was cancelled after only one season and pulled from Paramount+, which is a shame. Apparently, it was written off as a tax loss, which is a pretty unceremonious end for a show based on such a beloved film.

‘Saved by the Bell’ (2020–2021)

The 90s sitcom was rebooted with both returning and new, more diverse, students at Bayside High. Though critics mostly enjoyed its self-aware humor, many original fans felt it was too negative and didn’t connect with the new characters. The show tried to examine the advantages the original characters had, which turned off some viewers who were hoping for a nostalgic experience. Ultimately, Peacock cancelled the series after two seasons.

‘The Wonder Years’ (2021–2023)

This updated version of a beloved story followed a Black family growing up in Alabama during the 1960s. Though critics generally liked it, the show didn’t attract as many viewers as the original. Interest faded in the second season, and the network ultimately cancelled it after two seasons.

‘Queer as Folk’ (2022)

Peacock updated a well-known British and American TV show, moving the story to modern-day New Orleans. However, the new version received criticism for being too dark and featuring characters that many viewers didn’t connect with. Fans of the original felt it was missing the fun and strong relationships that had made the show so popular, and it was ultimately cancelled after only one season.

‘First Kill’ (2022)

The show was a teen drama with supernatural elements, focusing on a relationship between a vampire and someone who hunted monsters. Although it gained a loyal online following, critics found its special effects and storylines to be overly dramatic and predictable. Because relatively few viewers finished watching the series – a crucial factor for Netflix – the streaming service cancelled it after just one season, upsetting its dedicated fans.

‘The Watch’ (2021)

BBC America created a TV show based on Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels, aiming for a gritty, punk-rock take on a police drama. However, fans of the books strongly disliked it, feeling that the show drastically altered the characters and overall spirit of the original stories. Even Terry Pratchett’s family publicly disowned the series, stating it didn’t resemble his work at all. Ultimately, the show was unsuccessful both with critics and audiences, and it was cancelled after one season.

‘Good Times’ (2024)

Netflix recently launched a reboot of the beloved 70s sitcom, with help from Seth MacFarlane and the original creator, Norman Lear. However, the trailer sparked immediate criticism for portraying a baby involved in drug dealing and for relying on crude humor that many felt didn’t honor the original show. Viewers also took issue with the new series’ use of offensive stereotypes, arguing it lacked the insightful and socially aware comedy of the original live-action version. The show received largely negative reviews when it was released.

‘The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder’ (2022)

This live-action follow-up to the well-known animated series featured the original character’s cousin taking the lead role. However, many fans disliked the change to live-action and felt the show’s comedy relied too heavily on current internet fads. After just one year, it was taken off Paramount+ and is now considered lost media, meaning it isn’t available to watch legally on any major streaming service or platform.

‘Roswell, New Mexico’ (2019–2022)

The second TV series based on the Roswell High books shifted its focus to immigration issues, blending them with the original alien romance storyline. Although it attracted a dedicated fanbase, ratings remained low during its run on The CW. Viewers of the first series often felt that the show prioritized political themes over the romantic connection and intriguing mysteries that defined the original. After four seasons, the network cancelled the show as part of a larger cutback on scripted programming.

‘The Winchesters’ (2022–2023)

This prequel to Supernatural told the story of the original show’s parents. While some fans appreciated the new take, others disagreed with changes to the established story and the show’s different feel. Ultimately, it didn’t attract the same large audience as Supernatural and had poor viewership. After one season, the network decided to move in a different direction and cancelled the series.

‘Murphy Brown’ (2018)

The reboot of the beloved sitcom brought back the original actors, but this time focused heavily on politics during the Trump years. Many viewers felt the show became too biased and wasn’t as funny as it used to be, leading to declining ratings. Ultimately, CBS cancelled it after just one season.

‘Promised Land’ (2022)

I was really disappointed when ABC pulled that show about the Latino family in Sonoma Valley after just five episodes. It just didn’t seem to find an audience – the ratings were really low. They ended up putting the remaining episodes on Hulu, but it was pretty clear it wasn’t going to last. Honestly, it was a shame, because it felt lost in a sea of other shows about powerful families; it just didn’t quite manage to stand out from the crowd.

‘Monarch’ (2022)

Fox heavily advertised this country music drama, hoping it would become as popular as Empire. While the show included a non-binary character which generated some discussion, it was mostly criticized for being overly dramatic and relying on tired tropes. Although initial ratings were good, they quickly declined, and Fox ultimately cancelled the series after only one season.

‘Everything’s Trash’ (2022)

The comedy series followed Phoebe Robinson, who played a podcaster living in Brooklyn. While critics gave the show positive reviews, it didn’t attract many viewers on cable television. Its unique brand of humor and cultural references didn’t appeal to a wide audience, and Freeform ultimately cancelled it after a single season.

‘Single Drunk Female’ (2022–2023)

This funny and heartfelt show followed a young woman’s recovery from a very public struggle with addiction. Despite positive reviews, it didn’t attract many viewers on the Freeform channel and was canceled after just two seasons. Later, it was taken off streaming platforms as part of a cost-cutting move by the studio, which removed many shows to save money.

‘Rutherford Falls’ (2021–2022)

Ed Helms helped create this sitcom, which centered on the connection between a small town and a nearby Native American reservation. While the show received positive attention for its portrayal of Indigenous people, it didn’t attract many viewers on Peacock. Many found the comedy too mild and the show moved at a slow pace, leading to its cancellation after just two seasons.

‘Little Demon’ (2022)

The animated series, starring the daughter of Satan and featuring the voices of Danny DeVito and Aubrey Plaza, didn’t last long despite its initial buzz. While it drew criticism from some religious groups, the bigger issue was a lack of viewers. Many felt the show prioritized shock value over a compelling story, and FX ultimately cancelled it after just one season.

‘The Irregulars’ (2021)

Netflix reimagined the classic Sherlock Holmes stories, centering the narrative around a group of young, streetwise kids with supernatural abilities. In this version, Sherlock and Watson were depicted as flawed and less capable, designed to highlight the importance of the teen characters. While some dedicated Sherlock Holmes fans disliked these changes and the addition of supernatural elements to the detective genre, the show initially attracted a good number of viewers. However, it was ultimately cancelled after just one season.

‘Jupiter’s Legacy’ (2021)

The superhero series, despite its large budget, focused on the tension between veteran heroes and their children. However, it received criticism for its low-quality costumes and a slow-moving, drawn-out family storyline. Many viewers also found its attempt to critique American values to be unoriginal. Ultimately, Netflix canceled the show less than a month after it premiered.

‘Cursed’ (2020)

This series offered a fresh take on the Arthurian legend, centering around Nimue, the Lady of the Lake. However, it received criticism for relying on common young adult story elements and for a storyline that felt unfocused. Many fans of the original Arthurian stories felt the changes weren’t needed and that the show moved too slowly. Ultimately, Netflix cancelled it after just one season.

Let us know in the comments which show you think deserved another season, or which one really didn’t live up to expectations.

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2026-01-02 22:20