The Real Reason Netflix Canceled Kaos After One Season

A completely unique take on the world of Roman mythology, "Kaos" transports familiar figures like Zeus and Persephone to the modern era, pitting them against humanity in a stylish bid for the future. While it seemed destined for success, "Kaos" ended its Netflix run after a single season. Low awards season buzz and just-decent ratings seem to have doomed it, and critical acclaim was not enough to prevent the show's demise.

In the show, three human beings are connected to one another via a prophecy by Prometheus (Stephen Dillane), who plans to break his imprisonment at the hands of Zeus (sci-fi veteran Jeff Goldblum). Prometheus intends to enact revenge upon Zeus by unleashing the titular time of Kaos, which will end the rule of the Gods and free him. Zeus realizes his time is at hand and his family's lives also soon spin out into, well, chaos. 

With a star-studded cast that also included Janet McTeer and Suzy Eddie Izzard, the show was initially a top 10 streaming hit for Netflix, spending four weeks near the top of the chart. It racked up 22.8 million hours of total viewing during this period, which might make its cancellation seem shocking at first. But while it peaked in its second week with 39.2 million hours viewed, the show swiftly dropped off from there. The series' overall cost — reportedly more than $58 million — might have been a major factor as well, along with the streaming numbers. But while audiences may not have stuck with "Kaos," critics enjoyed it.

A good Netflix show desperately needs critical buzz to keep it afloat, and "Kaos" did fairly well with critics, landing a 77% "Certified Fresh" score at Rotten Tomatoes. Critics who loved the show appreciated its aplomb and style, with Hannah Giorgis from The Atlantic calling it "a darkly funny, visually rich saga that highlights the enduring relevance of these moral quandaries and character studies — without taking itself too seriously."

The few negative reviews that "Kaos" garnered lambasted it for its failure to find its own identity. "The series doesn't have a consistent enough internal logic to succeed as a grown-up fantasy series," said Slant Magazine's Ross Mcindoe. The Hollywood Reporter was the most dismissive of all, stating, "The world of 'Kaos' becomes smaller and less rich — much too adult for young viewers, not really mature enough for grownups."

It's always unfortunate when a show dies soon after it premieres, and there's always the slim chance that "Kaos" might see a revival someday. But as it stands, if viewers remember it at all, it will go down in TV history as an ambitious, fascinating flop.