Netflix has once again randomly decided to cancel a popular show, ‘The Recruit’. Despite its strong following and a solid two-season run, the Noah Centineo-led spy dramedy has been scrapped.
Fans of the show are both disappointed and confused. What makes this cancellation particularly frustrating is that The Recruit still had so much potential. Additionally, the Season 2 finale left the door open for a thrilling continuation.
How ‘The Recruit’ Season 2 Ended
‘The Recruit’, created by Alexi Hawley, followed CIA lawyer Owen Hendricks as he stumbled into high-stakes espionage, often finding himself in life-threatening situations he was completely unprepared for. The show was a unique blend of action, humor, and legal drama that separated it from the usual.
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Moreover, it was about a regular guy struggling to stay afloat in a world that eats people alive. Season 2, which premiered in late January, expanded the action to South Korea and introduced Past Lives star Teo Yoo in a key role. So, fans were eager to see how his character would play into Owen’s journey. However, now that the show has been abruptly cut short, those lingering questions will remain unanswered.
Colton Dunn, who played Owen’s sarcastic and reluctant ally Lester Kitchens, broke the news on Threads, calling the cancellation “such a bummer.” “I’m AVAILABLE NOW! Hire me for your TV story!!” It’s clear the cast had a great time making the show, which only makes the abrupt ending more frustrating for those who invested in its world,” he added.
Why Netflix Pulled The Plug On ‘The Recruit’
On the surface, ‘The Recruit’ looked like it had a strong case for renewal. In its second season, it ranked second Streaming Top 10, generating nearly 1.2 billion minutes viewed in one week. That’s not small numbers by any means. However, a deeper look at the data tells a different story.
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Season 1 had a strong start, pulling in 7.3 million views in its first week. So, by contrast, Season 2’s debut brought in only 5.9 million views which is a notable decline. While the views were still respectable, it wasn’t much of a rise, and Netflix has become notoriously cutthroat when it comes to renewals. Even shows that perform well are getting axed.
It’s also worth noting that ‘The Recruit‘ was already considered a smaller success story. Its first season barely scraped by to get a renewal. Add in the fact that Season 2 involved international filming (which significantly increases production costs). So, it’s easy to see why Netflix made the call.
