Netflix Fan Petition Nears 100k Signatures For Cancelled Sci-Fi Show
Netflix might want to pay attention to a fan petition going around that is asking the streamer to put back on a canceled sci-fi series.
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After years of production delays due to injuries and the global pandemic, Netflix finally released the live-action reboot of Cowboy Bebop in November. But the series was canceled less than a month into its debut season. The show’s premature axing disappointed viewers who were looking forward to Cowboy Bebop season two. And fans aren’t willing to accept the decision without a fight.
A petition to save the defunct Netflix show has been created by Cowboy Bebop fans. They are asking for the series to be revived for a second season. “For people who want or more of the live-action Cowboy Bebop. It wasn’t a direct copy of the anime, but the world they put together was amazing and deserves a second season,” the petition reads. At the time of writing 101,341 people had signed the petition.
Netflix hasn’t given an official reason for Cowboy Bebop’s cancellation. But its poor reception and negative reviews probably contributed to its downfall. Critics maligned the show’s pacing, cheap-looking sets, and costumes. The writing, special effects, editing, and action scenes were also slammed. And despite the first episode earning almost 74 million views, the show’s viewership numbers declined sharply in the following weeks.
To make matters worse, Cowboy Bebop’s 10-episode run only managed a 46 percent positive critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes (via The Hollywood Reporter). While critics’ opinions don’t always determine the success of a series, this time some viewers seemed to agree. Failing to capture the essence of what made the anime version so successful, the Netflix show only earned a 56% positive audience score on the site.
Based on the popular 1998 Japanese anime television series from writer Cain Kuga, Netflix first started developing the show back in 2018. The anime series incorporated a wide variety of genres throughout its run. Cowboy Bebop was heavily influenced by science fiction, westerns, and noir films. Its most prominent themes include adult existential loneliness, and the inability to escape one’s past.
André Nemec served as showrunner for the Netflix live-action series, with original anime series director Shinichirō Watanabe working as a consultant. Christopher Yost handled writing duties. Cowboy Bebop stars John Cho as Spike Spiegel, Mustafa Shakir as Jet Black, Daniella Pineda as Faye Valentine, Elena Satin as Julia, and Alex Hassell as Vicious.
Set in the year 2071, Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop series tells the story of three bounty hunters as they troll the galaxy for their next big score. But each of them comes with some pretty heavy baggage that will be unpacked throughout their adventures. Like the anime, the series blended various genres like noir, crime, slapstick, and more.
The original Cowboy Bebop was a critical and commercial success both in Japanese and international markets. It earned several major anime and science fiction awards upon its release and received unanimous praise for its style, characters, story, voice acting, animation, and soundtrack. Since its release, critics have hailed Cowboy Bebop as one of the greatest animated television series of all time. Although it hasn’t been renewed for a second season, the series is still available to stream on Netflix.
