Outer Range: Another Prime Example of Prime Time Cancellation

With the way shows are being canceled these days, it's like trying to hold onto a slippery fish in a sink. You think you've got a firm grip, but swoosh! they're gone. So, it's no surprise that a cerebral neo-Western like Outer Range got the axe from Amazon after its (stellar) second season. But that doesn't make it any less painful.

The Prime Video drama was a cosmic cowboy mystery that kept viewers guessing. Josh Brolin's Royal Abbott, a rancher with a secret darker than the inside of a coal mine, was the center of a universe filled with strange phenomena and even stranger characters. And Season 2 only made things more perplexing.

There's a whole lot we don't know about the world of Outer Range. Is that black hole in the middle of their ranch really a portal to another dimension? Or is it just a really deep well? We'll never know for certain. But unanswered questions aside, there are plenty of reasons why this show deserved to keep riding.

It's like streaming services are addicted to comfort food. They're always looking for the next familiar face or the next rehashed concept. In this landscape, Outer Range was a breath of fresh air, a show that dared to be different. It was one of those rare gems that wasn't based on a comic book, a novel, or a reboot. Sure, you could draw parallels to other shows. The modern Western setting might remind you of Yellowstone, and the mysterious black dust feels like something out of Lost. But Outer Range was so much more than just a mashup of familiar elements; it had its own unique identity, its own quirky charm.

So, why did it get the axe? Perhaps it was too weird for its own good. It was a daring blend of spirituality, supernatural elements, and science fiction. In short, a cosmic cocktail that wasn't for everyone. Some people might have found it a bit too heady, a bit too out there. And these days, with the average viewer's attention span being about as long as a goldfish's memory, if a show doesn't grab them within the first five minutes, they're off to the next shiny object. And Outer Range, with its slow-burn storytelling and complex mythology, might have been a bit too much for some viewers.

The show wasn't perfect, but who is? Its first season was like a slow-moving glacier, taking its sweet time to reveal its secrets. But then, in Season 2, the writers decided to hit the gas pedal and go full-throttle. What started as a simple cowboy drama turned into a mind-bending rollercoaster ride filled with time travel, betrayal, and enough blood to fill a swimming pool. It was like watching a train wreck in slow motion, but in a good way. The show never lost its way, it delivered consistent quality even as it veered off into increasingly bizarre territory. It was a testament to the writers' skill that they were able to keep us engaged, even when the plot was getting more tangled than a ball of yarn. And weird Westerns like this one should be made more often. I'm just afraid that with so many original ideas getting axed after a season or two, creative folks out there might be less and less inclined to take risks.

It's clear that Amazon has a knack for making questionable decisions. Outer Range, The Peripheral, 1899, The Patriot, and Raised by Wolves are just a few examples of shows that were unfairly cancelled. These shows were all unique, original, and deserving of more than a single season or two in some cases. But Amazon, in their infinite wisdom, decided that they weren't worth the investment. It's a real shame, and it's a reminder that even the best shows can fall victim to the whims of streaming giants.

So, let's raise a glass to these cancelled gems and hope that one day, someone will come along and give them the ending they deserve. Or at least, give us a spin-off. And now, allow me to get my weekly dose of horror courtesy of the new season of From. Here's hoping they won't axe this one too.