Fans of the popular TV show, Yellowstone, as well as those who love the media, are up in arms over the decision of Netflix to cancel its Australian version of the TV series after only a single season.
The heavily marketed series, which had been pitched as an Aussie take on the internationally beloved Yellowstone franchise, was expected to attract a massive audience. However, the streaming giant blindsided the show’s fans by announcing that a second season wasn’t happening.
Overview of the Australian Yellowstone Series
This Australian Yellowstone spin-off is one of many ambitious projects Netflix pursued after the original Yellowstone series (created by Taylor Sheridan) turned into a massive success. The original American series is a neo-western about the conflicts surrounding a powerful ranching family in Montana.
The plot line was similar to the Australian version, but it took place in the rugged Australian outback, where cattle ranchers were trying to protect their land.
The show took as its goal the ambition of making the same business, the same level of drama, family conflict, and power struggle that made Yellowstone a global sensation. Despite being based on a new idea with a distinctly Australian flavor the series failed to have the success of its American cousin.
Why Did Netflix Cancel the Series?
Whether the production of the Australian Yellowstone series was canceled, raised a lot of questions about what was wrong. Although Netflix did not offer an official several important considerations left led to the decision.
Low Viewership Numbers
The low viewership numbers were one of the main reasons for the cancellation. Now, the show did not capture the imagination of Netflix subscribers in Australia and around the world.
Although the Yellowstone franchise became a phenomenon, the localized version did not manage to replicate the ratings success. Netflix has always adopted a data-driven method of renewing or canceling shows, with it relying heavily on viewership statistics, watch time, and user engagement. The series also reportedly failed to make a indent into Netflix’s Top 10 charts critical factor for renewals.
Lack of Audience Connection
The other big factor was that the audience did not feel connected to the story emotionally. Although the American Yellowstone series hooked viewers with its multi-dimensional characters and intense drama, the Australian version felt hollow in comparison.
The character development, dialogue and overall plot pacing were all criticized for being devoid of the emotional depth that is credited as what made the original series one of the best of all time.
High Production Costs
Creating a high-budget drama series set in the remote Australian outback came at a high production cost. Netflix has been trimming expensive projects that do not generate enough return on investment.
The show was already underperforming in viewership, and the high cost of production made it hard for Netflix to justify renewing the series.
Competition From Other Streaming Services
Netflix is under siege from new apps such as Disney+, Amazon Prime and Apple TV+ and is being swamped with app choices. Faced with budgetary limits and the need to prioritize hit shows.
Netflix has gotten choosier about what series it moves forward on. Australian Yellowstone endured an underwhelming performance that is doubtful to be a difficult call to cancel.
Audience Reactions to the Cancellation
The cancellation elicited mixed feelings from the audience. Some fans were also disappointed, but others felt that the series did not meet the standards set forth by the Yellowstone legacy.
Many viewers went on social media to offer their opinions and most were in agreement that the series was lacking the depth and originality of the American version.
Some Australian fans were especially disappointed as they believed the show could’ve showcased Australian culture and landscapes to the world.
Critical Reviews and Ratings
The series received mixed to negative reviews from critics. They praised the gorgeous Australian scenery but often pilloried the storyline and character development.
The series averaged scores of between 5.0 and 6.0 on IMDb, demonstrating a lukewarm reception from audiences. Many of those reviews noted that the show was missing the high stakes and multi-layered relationships that drove people to love Yellowstone.
The show had a weak reception across popular review aggregators, such as Rotten Tomatoes, where it failed to earn 60% positive rating.
What Could Have Been Improved?
The Australian Yellowstone series had a good idea but it could have been better in a few, but key, areas.
Enhanced Character Development
The lack of deeper character development was one of the major complaints. That made it hard for the audience to relate to their struggles, because the characters themselves often felt like one note.
Better Writing and Dialogue
WitThealogues are described often as flat, and lacking emotional quality. The story, in regards to writing, could have been more nuanced and explored deeper with better character arcs.
Faster Pacing
The pacing on this show was much slower than the original Yellowstone series. If you had written a more dynamic and engaging narrative, it would probably have retained audiences more engaged.
Marketing Strategy
Netflix never mounted a big-time marketing campaign for the series. A more robust promo push could have allowed the show to gain more publicity.
What Does This Cancellation Mean for Netflix?
The Australian Yellowstone cancellation is now a symptom of Netflix’s content condition. The platform has been turning towards high-performing, cost-effective content.
Key implications include:
Netflix will be more judicious about greenlighting big-ticket overseas productions.
Vikram Malhotra, the CEO of Abundantia, points out that the platform is likely to focus on shows that have a more global appeal and less on region-specific adaptations.
This makes it clear that Netflix is more interested in what viewers are watching and how well their shows do than taking creative risks.
The Future of Yellowstone Franchise
Even though the Australian version has been shelved, the original Yellowstone series is arguably one of the most popular TV franchises in the world today. The franchise will only expand with several upcoming series, such as 1883 and 1923.
Finally, the streamer behind the Yellowstone franchise, Paramount+, will likely be greenlighting more spin-offs in the years to come. But the failure of the Australian version raises questions about whether adaptations of such popular shows can come across over here.
What Can Netflix Learn From This?
From the canceling of the Australian Yellowstone, Netflix has some valuable lessons to learn:
- The power of real storytelling resonates with local and international communities.
- Irrespective of the franchise name they relied on investing in well-realized characters with emotional life.
- A more marketing push to build publicity and buzz for new shows.
- Allocating budget between expensive productions and smaller, innovative projects.
Conclusion
It could be said that cancelling Netflix’s Australian version of Yellowstone after a single season illustrates the increasingly thorny predicament streaming services are in an increasingly cut throat business.
But instead of the emotional depth, character complexity, and audience connection that made the original Yellowstone series a global phenomenon, the show offered little more than hoary clichés and lame humor.
News of Netflix’s choice is yet another sign that the streaming giant is adapting its content strategy to focus on shows with wider appeal that perform reliably well.
For, while this is a blow for localized adaptations, it is also a wake-up call for the one thing that matters, quality storytelling and audience engagement.
Fortunately, and all spinning potential aside, the Yellowstone universe is in good hands as the series’ spin-offs continue and new projects are officially in the works.
But it makes one think, now, about whether the latest round of regional adaptations of international hits can ever match the success of the original.
