The Coronavirus pandemic saw Netflix cancel a substantially higher number of shows than usual, including a couple that had already been renewed for additional runs, and in the case of GLOW, the season 4 premiere had even been filmed, as a combination of poor viewership numbers and increased costs due to the required COVID-19 health and safety protocols found the company wielding the axe ruthlessly.
It looked as though the platform had turned a corner, though, with several major episodic projects being confirmed for new outings, so it came as a major surprise yesterday when it was announced that supernatural Sherlock Holmes spinoff The Irregulars had been canned. Admittedly, a lavish period piece with a heavy reliance on visual effects can’t have been cheap to produce, but it looked as though the numbers were there to make it worthwhile.
Not only did it crack the Top 10 most-watched list all over the world, including several of Netflix’s biggest markets including the United States and United Kingdom, but it even topped the Nielsen streaming ratings at one point, beating out Disney Plus’ The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to do so. Needless to say, fans are not happy at the news, and you can check out some of the reactions below.
https://twitter.com/metastable11/status/1389902036473290759
@netflix why did you cancel such an incredible show??? The Irregulars was awesome! Gothic supernatural Sherlock Holmes where not only do we see a gay Watson, we have a BIPOC cast with an Asian woman as lead!! WHY WHY WHY DID YOU CANCEL ONE OF YOUR BEST SHOWS??? #TheIrregulars
— Sam (@sammstormborn) May 5, 2021
https://twitter.com/darlingmaximoff/status/1389701366570962944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1389701366570962944%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcomicbook.com%2Ftv-shows%2Fnews%2Firregulars-fans-mad-netflix-cancellation%2F
Dear @netflix, Please reconsider cancelling The Irregulars. I loved that show enough to watch it twice and was one of the shows I was most looking forward to all year. Having it cancelled makes me sad.
— Wakeah Vigil (@wakeah_99) May 4, 2021
https://twitter.com/daisybarnes_/status/1389697147671560201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1389697147671560201%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcomicbook.com%2Ftv-shows%2Fnews%2Firregulars-fans-mad-netflix-cancellation%2F
https://twitter.com/blamskline/status/1389693324630667272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1389693324630667272%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcomicbook.com%2Ftv-shows%2Fnews%2Firregulars-fans-mad-netflix-cancellation%2F
https://twitter.com/watchmeinacrown/status/1389690200473878540?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1389690200473878540%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcomicbook.com%2Ftv-shows%2Fnews%2Firregulars-fans-mad-netflix-cancellation%2F
@Netflix Excuse me but what is this BS about The Irregulars not being renewed for a second season? That show was outstanding.
— Laura K (@LizeK316) May 4, 2021
https://twitter.com/exhalewylie/status/1389687213148065794?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1389687213148065794%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fcomicbook.com%2Ftv-shows%2Fnews%2Firregulars-fans-mad-netflix-cancellation%2F
I can't believe The Irregulars was cancelled, why Netflix keep cancelling good shows??? 😭😭😭😭😭 I'm not gonna be okay for a while after this
— nicole (@nix_fs) May 4, 2021
https://twitter.com/celestialsadie/status/1389804479831216128
https://twitter.com/Warnermaxwell_/status/1389887093829246977
Dear @netflix,
Why the hell did you cancel The Irregulars!? Please tell me this is a really bad joke and you're giving us a second season!#TheIrregulars— Venni (@soulless_hunter) May 5, 2021
Wtf @netflix why did you cancel The Irregulars?? It was one of the best shows you’ve created!! The cast was phenomenal, the story incredible, why the hell would you cancel it?? Why do you make incredible shows and then fuckin cancel them??? #TheIrregulars
— Sam (@sammstormborn) May 5, 2021
@netflix please please renew the irregulars! How can you cancel a top ten show with such an amazing, charismatic cast?? Season 2 needed!!
— Jessica Satiroff (@thesatiroffsix) May 5, 2021
@netflix you can’t cancel the irregulars please wtf
— tatiyaʕ⁎̯͡⁎ʔ༄ (@theaYeoh) May 5, 2021
https://twitter.com/PositiveMA8/status/1389861233235533824
Ummm…Netflix cancelled The Irregulars. They better cancel Hype House, too. Why do I get too invested in certain Netflix shows when they always get cancelled?!
— Jo Flo (@josieflo7) May 5, 2021
There were rumors making the rounds before The Irregulars had even premiered that it had been picked up for season 2, but obviously we know now that was a little premature and very wide of the mark. It was a solid reinvention of the Sherlock Holmes mythos, but Netflix still have Enola Holmes, Sherlock Junior and Sherlock’s Daughter in the works, so the great detective won’t be gone for too long.