Two Great Science Fiction TV Shows Cancelled by Amazon in 2022

Arguably one of the hardest genres to get just right, science fiction shows often meet with a mixed reception. Sometimes, there can seem to be no rhyme or reason to explain why great TV shows get cancelled, much to the frustration of their fans. After all, there’s nothing more annoying than when a show definitively ends on a cliff-hanger, or does a great job of world-building only to be cut short before it really gets going.

This can create even more angst when subscribed to the various online streaming services, such as Amazon Prime Video, previously regarded as being more patient with TV shows compared to network TV channels. But online entertainment is even more diverse these days, with streaming shows competing against other activities including online gaming, which has become entirely more mainstream.

Interestingly, gaming was once regarded as the realm of nerds just a couple of decades ago, yet these days there is greater choice than ever before, reaching a much broader audience. For example, many gamers look for the best online casinos via expert review sites like Arabian Betting, which provides in-depth reviews and information covering all things gambling. Casino gaming in particular has enjoyed massive growth in recent years.

Speaking of gambling, this is the kind of competition TV executives face when deciding where to pump their funding, even for the most popular shows aired via powerful streaming services. These are the sci-fi shows that producers decided to stop backing in 2022, either because of their high cost or to focus budgets on upcoming alternatives, albeit without any guarantees they will be any more successful.

Night Sky

There was plenty of excitement generated when Amazon Prime Video announced Night Sky, promoted with an intriguing story and interesting characters. After all, this was a new sci-fi show backed by the streaming giant, led by two Academy Award winners in the cast. All the right ingredients were there for this to be a huge success, although Amazon pulled the plug on a second season, just six weeks after the first was released.

We’re letting you in on a little family secret. Night Sky is coming May 20. 💫 pic.twitter.com/RxEVixXxhw

— Prime Video (@PrimeVideo) April 22, 2022

In the lead roles, Sissy Spacek and J.K. Simmons were excellent as the elderly couple, who just happen to have a portal to another planet in the basement of their workshop. While the first and only season did provide some closure for the initial story, the main plot lines were left wide open for continuation, resulting in more questions and possibilities than answers.

As for why Night Sky was cancelled, regardless of solid ratings from viewers and critics alike, audience numbers were below Amazon’s expectations, which is typically the deciding factor. This means that fans will not get any closure when they watch all eight episodes of Night Sky, which is a great shame given the huge potential the show offered.

The Expanse

Unfairly called ‘Game of Thrones in space’ by some critics, The Expanse originally appeared on our screens via the SyFy channel, airing for three seasons there before production became too expensive. Thankfully, such was the demand for continuation amongst fans of the show, it was picked up by Amazon Prime Video after a successful social media campaign, backed with the kind of budget it needed to continue.

Brace yourselves for a hard burn. #TheExpanse final season is almost here! pic.twitter.com/P6yS4mCN9H

— The Expanse (@ExpanseOnPrime) November 16, 2021

Set a couple of hundred years into the future, mankind has colonised most of the Solar System, although factions have formed with Mars declaring independence from an Earth governed by the United Nations, Meanwhile, the Outer Planets Alliance is on the brink of revolt, setting the stage for war, just as an alien biohazard is discovered that threatens everyone. The Expanse was a brilliant sci-fi space opera that hit all the right notes, mixing the sweeping scale with intimate character interactions and linked stories.

Budgetary constraints led Amazon to decide on a shorter final season and conclusion, despite reportedly high viewer numbers and intense fandom, although we were also left wondering whether there would be more to come. The show had been based on a popular series of books, and the final sixth season coincided with the sixth book, before a thirty-year time jump that would have made the show format challenging to continue.

Conclusion

As most viewers are only to keenly aware, audience numbers balanced against budgets are usually the deciding factor, whenever production companies decide to pull the plug on our favourite shows. Likewise, it also seems as though Amazon is hedging their bets on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power being a huge success, which is set to become the most costly TV show production of all time.

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