Picture: NetflixGypsy is officially the shortest-running show on Netflix, having been canceled just weeks after the first season debuted. There are many reasons that contributed to its swift cancellation, as we’ll explore below. A fan revolt, similar to that for Sense8, has emerged, which is asking for a full second season.
Before we delve into the details, let’s have a quick recap of the show Gypsy. For the longest time, all we knew was that Naomi Watts would be starring in her own Netflix Original series. Once the director of “50 Shades of Grey” came on board, the direction of the show seemed clear. What we actually got was a low-key series about a psychiatrist who is ultimately bored with her life and seeks new excitement, often involving her clients.
Gypsy Season 2 Renewal Status
Official Renewal Status: Cancelled after one season (last updated: 08/11/2017)
The show has been officially cancelled by Netflix after one short season. Although an official reason was not given it is expected to be a multitude of issues regarding the show. For one, the show wasn’t well received by critics with an average rating among most outlets. Secondly, the general buzz around the show felt pretty flat (our traffic numbers also confirm this to be the case) and thirdly, it’s expected that Netflix is reigning in on spending for underperforming originals.
Gypsy Cancellation Reasons
Pacing
The biggest problem with the show was its pacing. It was very slow to start, and for the first few episodes, it felt like you were stuck in a time loop with the same scenarios repeating. It did pick up later in the series, but by that point, most viewers had likely given up.
Not as Punchy as “50 Shades of Grey”
Sam Taylor-Johnson, who was involved in the “50 Shades of Grey” movie, was brought on board for the project. Although that movie had plenty of issues, Gypsy could have looked to the “50 Shades of Grey” source material to understand why the book series was so popular. Naomi’s character is a bit more complex than those in “50 Shades of Grey,” but a deeper exploration of the sexual themes might have engaged more viewers and sparked more conversations.
Lack of Viewership
All signs point to the show having exceptionally low viewership figures, which were the downfall of several Netflix shows, including Sense8. The buzz surrounding Gypsy was drowned out by virtually everything else at the time. A flawed marketing strategy that failed to effectively describe the show also played a part in its demise.
Cost
Producing shows is expensive, especially when involving a Hollywood heavyweight like Naomi Watts, which comes with a substantial price tag. Additionally, four production companies were involved in making the show, each likely demanding a significant cut. When you combine a high budget with the low viewership mentioned earlier, the show becomes financially unviable.
Can Gypsy Be Saved?
Since the show’s cancellation, many fans have been hopeful that protesting online will help get the show back on the air. As Sense8 demonstrated, it’s not impossible to garner Netflix’s attention through social media, which led to the production of a concluding episode for the disappointed fans.
There are several ways you can let Netflix know you want the show back. Firstly, there are several petitions circulating that plead with Netflix to renew the show. There are also Facebook groups coordinating efforts to revive the show, and on Twitter, many fans are using the hashtags #GypsyNetflix, #RenewGypsy, and #SaveGypsy.
Are you disappointed to see Netflix cancel Gypsy? Let us know in the comments below.
