The serial killer Netflix can do it differently – and these 10 rescued hits prove it

Netflix is ​​increasingly frustrating series fans with cancellations of popular series, often leaving us with excruciating cliffhangers. The streaming giant has done well in the past not only as a serial killer, but also as a serial savior a name. Netflix has breathed new life into many a series corpse – or made discontinued shows like Cobra Kai and You a real hit on the second try.

Currently he is pushing himself Mystery hit Manifest on the Netflix charts to the top, which makes it clear once again: Resignations are not necessarily the end of a series. Because this series, mercilessly killed by NBC, was revived by Netflix for a new season. Here you will find 10 Netflix rescuesin which the original broadcasters must have been very annoyed about their decision to withdraw.

1. Rescued by Netflix: Arrested Development

Six Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award weren’t enough to start the cult comedy Arrested Development about the Bluth family’s weird adventures on NBC. After three seasons, the cancellation followed and rescue attempts by other stations were unsuccessful. The hope of the fans for a continuation remained. And six years after the cancellation, Netflix surprisingly ordered a fourth season, which premiered in 2013. Another five years later season 5 came out.

2. Netflix Rescue: Cobra Kai

The Karate Kid Legacyquel ran for two seasons Cobra Kai as an insider tip on a streaming service that hardly anyone wanted to subscribe to: YouTube Premium aka YouTube Red. After the production of the 3rd season was completed, YouTube decided that it no longer wanted to publish its own fictional programs. Finally, in June 2020, Netflix bought the rights to Cobra Kai and the completed and unreleased Season 3.

Nothing better could have happened to Cobra Kai. On Netflix, the martial arts dramedy experienced the success that was not granted to it before. Meanwhile, fans are eagerly awaiting the start of Season 5, and the Miyago-verse is far from ready to say goodbye.

3. Netflix Rescue: Designated Survivor

In the political thriller series Designated Survivor Kiefer Sutherland as academic Thomas Kirkman finds himself in the role of US President after a terrible tragedy. After two seasons and 43 episodes, the broadcaster ABC prematurely pulled the plug due to falling ratings and constant showrunner changes. The production company behind Designated Survivor eventually convinced Netflix to order a 10-episode third season. But after that it was finally over.

4. Netflix Rescue: Longmire

The modern western crime series Longmire ran for three seasons on A&E from 2012 to 2014, until it announced its cancellation. One of the reasons: The series is said to have been popular mainly with older viewers, which meant lower advertising revenue for the station.

Three months after the cancellation, Netflix snapped up the series. Longmire ran there for three more seasons until 2017 – but unfortunately not in Germany. Due to existing license agreements, Longmire was published in this country on Fox Channel and Nitro. The series is currently not available to stream as a subscription anywhere.

5. Netflix Rescue: Lucifer

Lucifer Morningstar is a charmer, an adviser to the LAPD, and the devil. Based on the DC character of the same name ran the fantasy crime series Lucifer three seasons on NBC. When NBC announced the cancellation in May 2018, the loyal fan base was shocked. This launched the online campaign #SaveLucifer and just a month later Netflix announced the Lucifer rescue.

Not only a 4th season was realized thanks to Netflix, but also a 5th and a final 6th season, which brought the story about Lucifer, Chloe and their comrades-in-arms to an emotional conclusion. In Germany, however, Lucifer is not available on Netlfix, but can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.

6. Netflix Rescue: Manifesto

The Mystery Series manifest about the puzzling events surrounding the passengers on flight 828 almost met their worst fate. Originally designed for 6 seasons, the NBC series was canceled halfway through and a massive cliffhanger. Luckily, Netflix had just launched the first two seasons in the US, where they topped the charts in no time.

Salvation came two months after the cancellation: Netflix saved Manifesto and ordered a fourth season in XXL format. Series creator Jeff Rake can now complete his vision in 20 episodes and still give fans all the answers to their nagging questions. Manifest Season 4 is slated to begin streaming on Netflix in the coming months.

7. Netflix Rescue: The Killing

The crime series was made twice The Killing discontinued. The broadcaster AMC canceled the American remake of the Danish series Inspector Lund – The Crime for the first time after 2 seasons. Netflix entered into negotiations for a Season 3 renewal, which eventually went back to AMC (thanks to Netflix’s share of the production costs).

Then came the next dismissal. But Netflix once again came to the rescue to produce a final fourth season. A small drop of bitterness: None of the four seasons can currently be streamed on Netflix in Germany. You can find them on Disney+ instead.

8. Netflix Rescue: Trailer Park Boys

The Canadian Mockumentary Trailer Park Boys originally ran on Showcase from 2001 to 2007. An 8th season did not materialize – but several feature films did. It wasn’t until seven years later that it was announced that the Trailer Park Boys were getting a second series chance on Netflix. The series ran there for five more seasons and a comedy special until 2018. In 2019, the animated spin-off Trailer Park Boys: The Animated Series followed.

9. Netflix Rescue: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is a special case. Because the shrill comedy series about a young woman who, after 15 years in a bunker captivity, gets to know life in the big city, was sold to Netflix by the US broadcaster NBC before it was broadcast. Because: NBC had problems finding a suitable slot for the show.

Netflix stepped in and the episodes already filmed were recut for streaming release after the deal. Created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, the sitcom was in good hands on Netflix. There it ran for 4 seasons and an interactive film special from 2015 to 2020.

10. Netflix Rescue: You

The psychological thriller series You – you will love me about the romantic, stalker, and killer Joe Goldberg not only causes troubled feelings among fans, but is also a hit on Netflix. That was not always so. You originally ran on Lifetime, where it was canceled after one season due to poor ratings and the second season, which had already been ordered, was cancelled. Fortunately, Netflix jumped into the breach and gave You a second chance – with success. A fourth season is already in the works.

Of course there is other series revived by Netflix. This is how Netflix brought us, for example revivals finished series with Gilmore Girls: A New Year, Fuller House or the Breaking Bad sequel El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. Even the cult comedy That ’90s Show will soon be continued on Netflix. However, the reverse is also true, as evidenced by One Day at a Time and Tuca and Bertie. These were made after the Netflix cancellation of saved other TV stations.

Podcast for series fans: The 22 best series so far on Netflix in 2022 and more

The series year 2022 brought us a lot of binge fodder in the first half. But what was really worth it? We look back at the 22 best shows of 2022 so far that you shouldn’t miss on offer from Netlfix, Amazon, Apple TV+, Disney and more.

The six-month top 22 includes new series such as Heartstopper and Severance, as well as new seasons of The Boys and Stranger Things. From comedy, drama and thriller to horror, fantasy and science fiction, there is guaranteed to be something for everyone.

Which Netflix rescue are you most excited about?