Netflix’s Forgotten Sci-Fi Epic Was Cancelled Over Its $6M Episodic Price Tag

The best science fiction shows excel at creating believable worlds, even when what’s happening seems distant from our own reality. The most exceptional series also ground their plots in human drama, making them tangible despite how alien the larger circumstances are. Netflix’s Away was one of the great examples of such a feeling. With a strong ensemble cast and intriguing story, viewers were engrossed by the 10-episode series, but even impressive streaming numbers weren’t enough to secure the series a renewal for Season 2, largely due to a hefty episodic price tag.

What Is ‘Away’ About?

Created by Andrew Hinderaker, Away is led by two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank as Commander Emma Green, who is on the world’s first international crew mission to Mars. With said mission intended to take three years, the show explores the realities of living in an enclosed space with strangers from different cultural backgrounds for that span. Her husband, Matt (Josh Charles), is a former astronaut who isn’t able to join the mission as a result of a cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) diagnosis. He and their teenage daughter, Lex (Talitha Bateman), are forced to say goodbye to Emma with the hope that they’ll see her again after three years have passed.

Alongside Green, the mission team includes Chinese chemist Lu Wang (Vivian Wu), Russian cosmonaut Misha Popov (Mark Ivanir), the most experienced of the group, British botanist Kwesi Weisberg-Abban (Ato Essandoh), who is in space for the first time, and Indian second-in-command pilot and medical officer, Ram Arya (Ray Panthaki). One of them has an estranged daughter, another is in a loveless marriage, while others bring different personal struggles. Each of their individual baggage hangs over the mission, but they have to put aside all their differences and work together; Away does an excellent job of intertwining the complex, developing relationships among the crew members.

At times, characters in projects like these can seem one-dimensional to prioritize a more robust sci-fi storyline or vice versa, but Away balances both elements well. Its grounding in scientific theory is all courtesy of the series’ writers consulting with scientists on what could be possible in futuristic explorations. The cherry on top is the experience of watching such completely different crew members come together and find common ground. The bonds that form among them are unique, making Away a great watch.

Why Was ‘Away’ Cancelled?

In addition to having a strong cast and writing, Away was a streaming success upon its release on Netflix. It spent several days at #1 and was streamed over 2.7 billion minutes in its first two weeks, ranking as the third most-watched original on the streamer during that period. All signs were pointing to Away being renewed for a second season, but surprisingly, Netflix canceled the series only six weeks after its initial release.

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Why? Each episode reportedly cost $6 million, making Away one of the most expensive shows on Netflix at the time, and the series didn’t justify its cost after analyzing viewership versus expense. Moreover, Away was released at a difficult time during the COVID-19 pandemic, when production costs were skyrocketing, which likely made the already expensive series even more expensive. The series was also produced by Universal Television and licensed to Netflix, which may have contributed to the decision.

Even though Away was quality television, it became the latest victim of streaming churn. The series had strong viewership and a story that resonated with audiences, but it also met a fate shared by other Netflix shows in 2020, like GLOW and Teenage Bounty Hunters. The silver lining is that the 10-episode season does offer some closure, but the potential for more stories remains a disappointment. If you’re looking for a thoughtful, character-driven space drama that actually respects its audience’s intelligence, Away deserves a watch.