From p*****s to sex gimmicks, why Netflix may cancel 'Sex/Life' after just 2 seasons

Recently, Netflix was criticized by 'Sex/Life' star Sarah Shahi for being too 'gimmicky' with the final season
Adam Demos and Sarah Shahi attend Netflix's 'Sex/Life' Season 2 Special Screening at the Roma Theatre on February 23, 2023, in Los Angeles, California (Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
Adam Demos and Sarah Shahi attend Netflix's 'Sex/Life' Season 2 Special Screening at the Roma Theatre on February 23, 2023, in Los Angeles, California (Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Sex/Life, a Netflix original drama series, has been canceled, according to a report by Deadline on Friday, April 7, 2023.  Only five weeks prior, the second season of the show had its streaming debut.  A source for the streaming service told the magazine that the show's second season, which contained six episodes instead of the first season's eight, had brought it to a logical conclusion. They continued by saying that the streamer was "proud" of the show and the effort its cast and crew had put into it.

Showrunner Stacy Rukeyser stated to The Hollywood Reporter shortly after the start of season two, "The episode was never intended to be a series finale, that's for sure. I hope we get the opportunity to convey the further stories that these characters in the Sex/Life world have to offer. This season, it was crucial that we reach a significant conclusion with each character." Recently, the streamer was criticized by the actress Sarah Shahi for being too "gimmicky" with the final season.

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Sarah Shahi's remarks on the show

'Sex/Life' star Sarah Shahi recently criticized Netflix and the show for what she perceived as a "gimmicky" approach to the second season, thus, the cancellation came at a strange moment. Shahi said that there had been a noticeable change behind the scenes from the first season to the second during an interview on the 'Not Skinny But Not Fat' podcast earlier this month. She admitted, "I absolutely did not receive the support that I did the first season. I'm not trying to knock the show, but I definitely didn't get the same amount of help from the cast and crew as I did in the first season."

The show's creator, executive producer, writer, and showrunner was Stacy Rukeyser. Jordan Hawley and Oscar-winning producer J Miles Dale were also executive producers. Long-running rumors suggested that Season 2, which Netflix released last month, would be the series' final season.

Shahi was recently revealed as the lead of the ABC pilot 'Judgement', created by Joey Falco, the former showrunner of 'Charmed' and 20th Television. As previously mentioned, Shahi has been in talks for the show with producers and ABC since January while they attempted to resolve her commitment to 'Sex/Life'. If 'Sex/Life' had been renewed, she could have been able to repeat her part, depending on availability as she now has a good role in 'Judgement'.

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