Two cancellations on the same day
Netflix announced the cancellation of two series that premiered in spring (our autumn) in the Northern Hemisphere: “Assassinato na Casa Branca” (The Residence) and “Pulso” (Pulse). Both conclude their run after just one season, despite appearing for four consecutive weeks in the platform’s Global Top 10.
The decision follows the company’s traditional model, which conducts cost-benefit analyses based on engagement and international viewership. “Murder at the White House” performed slightly better, accumulating 177.4 million hours watched globally on Netflix—equivalent to approximately 22.9 million complete views of the season. In the United States, the series remained on the Nielsen ranking for six weeks, amassing a total of 98.6 million hours watched.
“Assassinato na Casa Branca” would become an anthology
Created by Paul William Davies from the “Scandal” franchise, the crime comedy set in the White House starred Uzo Aduba (“Orange Is the New Black”) as detective Cordelia Cupp. The plot revolved around a murder behind the scenes of an official dinner. Produced by Shondaland, Shonda Rhimes’ (“Bridgerton”) production company, the project planned to become an anthology series, with the character solving new cases each season.
The star-studded cast included Giancarlo Esposito (“The Boys”), Randall Park (“WandaVision”), Susan Kelechi Watson (“This Is Us”), Isiah Whitlock Jr. (“BlacKkKlansman”), Mary Wiseman (“Star Trek: Discovery”), Ken Marino (“Party Down”), Jane Curtin (“Could You Please Be Quiet?”), Jason Lee (“Alvin and the Chipmunks”), and Bronson Pinchot (“Beverly Hills Cop 4: Axel Foley”), along with singer Kylie Minogue in a special guest appearance as herself.
“Pulse” did not react in the face of competition
“Irmandade” (“Pulso”), the first original medical drama from Netflix, accumulated 162.1 million hours viewed in four weeks, resulting in 20.2 million complete viewings. However, the show had a more modest performance in the U.S., where it remained in Nielsen’s ranking for only two weeks.
The plot revolved around Dr. Danny Simms, played by Willa Fitzgerald (“Scream: The TV Series”), a third-year resident who took over the department’s leadership following the suspension of her romantic partner, Dr. Xander Phillips, portrayed by Colin Woodell (“How to Sell a Moon”). The hospital’s emotional and structural collapse served as the backdrop for the interpersonal conflicts and medical dilemmas that unfolded throughout the season.
Created by Zoe Robyn (“Hawaii Five-0”) with Carlton Cuse (“Lost,” “Bates Motel”) as co-showrunner and executive producer, the show followed the classic formula of medical dramas, especially “Grey’s Anatomy,” relying on a mix of romance, adrenaline, and ethical dilemmas to build its narrative.
The cast included names such as Jack Bannon (“Pennyworth”), Jessie T. Usher (“The Boys”), Chelsea Muirhead (“Warrior”), Daniela Nieves (“Vampire Academy”), Jessy Yates (“Law & Order: SVU”), Justina Machado (“One Day at a Time”), Néstor Carbonell (“Bates Motel”), and Jessica Rothe (“Happy Death Day”).
Another production indefinitely postponed
In addition to the cancellations, Netflix has also indefinitely put on hold the series “No Good Deed,” released in December 2024. Created by Liz Feldman (“Dead to Me”), the show could potentially return as an anthology, but there have been no confirmed developments regarding a second season.
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