Comedy-drama Insatiable has become the latest Netflix show to be canceled. Starring Debby Ryan as a formerly overweight teenager who becomes thin after an accident results in her jaw being wired shut, Insatiable debuted its first season in August 2018 and returned for its sophomore outing in October 2019.
Insatiable actress Alyssa Milano confirmed Insatiable's cancelation on social media, and the most likely explanation for Netflix's decision is that the viewing figures simply didn't support renewing it for season 3. Insatiable's first season made waves for the wrong reasons; after the release of the trailer, the show was criticized for what many saw as a fat-shaming premise. A petition to have the show canceled reached almost a quarter of a million signatures. While the controversy might have given the show enough publicity to get people watching it out of curiosity, the interest didn't carry over to Insatiable season 2.
New seasons of Netflix shows are generally released with minimal promotion and tend to sink or swim largely based on word of mouth. Even allowing for the impact of the controversy, reviews of Insatiable season 1 were terrible. Insatiable season 2 came and went last year with virtually no buzz, either good or bad. While Netflix is famously secretive about its viewing figures, this cancelation means it's pretty safe to assume that Insatiable season 2 didn't get the numbers needed to warrant a renewal.
As Netflix continues to exponentially increase its original content output, there's more and more competition for subscribers' attention and it's harder for shows to stand out from the crowd. Other noteworthy cancelations this year include Spinning Out, a figure skating drama that premiered its first season on New Year's Day, and musical drama series Soundtrack. Psychological thriller Chambers was also canceled after one season, as was supernatural series The Innocents.
Insatiable's season 1 viewing figures may have been helped along by the negative press, but after the furore died down it seems that few people had enough interest in the show to return for season 2. While other show cancelations, like Anne With An E and The OA, have spurred passionate social media campaigns from fans begging Netflix save them, the same kind of fire doesn't appear to be there for Insatiable.
Netflix content spending is expected to top $17 billion in 2020, and with new competition from services like Disney+ and Apple TV+, the current titan of streaming may only become more ruthless when it comes to cutting TV series that don't perform.