Renewals and Cancellations: 'Last of Us,' 'The Recruit,' 'Mosquito Coast'

By Dustin Rowles | TV | January 27, 2023 |

By Dustin Rowles | TV | January 27, 2023 |

The big news today is that, unsurprisingly, HBO has renewed The Last of Us for a second season. The premiere episode scored over 22 million viewers, marking the second-highest debut for the network behind only House of Dragon. Assuming that the first season covers the first video game, and the second season covers the sequel, that might be all there is, though do not put it past HBO to try and squeeze some more out of what is clearly a very successful franchise.

Elsewhere, The Recruit is the first exception I’ve seen to the 100 million hour cancelation formula. Since Netflix began tracking hours, every hour-long debut scripted series that scored fewer than 100 million hours in its first full week was canceled. The Recruit hit 95 million hours, although it is worth noting that it had good legs over the holiday season (it was in the top ten for five weeks) and the streamer may feel some affinity for its homegrown star Noah Centineo. Being on creator Alexi Hawley’s good side is not a bad thing, either.

In case you missed it, Netflix also renewed Cobra Kai for a sixth and final season. Here’s the trailer for it.

It’s not all good news. Peacock canceled Vampire Academy and One of Us Is Lying recently, as that streamer continues to try and find an identity beyond wrestling. Traitor feels like its first genuine hit, although Poker Face should be even bigger. It’s worth noting that the two seasons of One of Us is Lying, like the YA novels upon which they are based, are slight but entertaining.

Finally, Apple TV+, which rarely cancels its series, has nevertheless canceled Justin Theroux’s Mosquito Coast after two seasons. I watched the first season, but I’ll admit that I lost interest a couple of episodes into the second season. It was a movie-long premise, not a multiple-season series.