Prime Video has canceled the spy comedy series "Ride Or Die," starring Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer, despite its strong performance in viewership and critical reception. The series, which premiered in July, was the number one most-watched Prime Video original series globally for its first three weeks. It also holds a 96% score with critics on Rotten Tomatoes and 85% with audiences.
Paramount Television Studios, the production studio behind the show, is reportedly seeking other buyers for "Ride Or Die." While the exact reasons for the cancellation remain unclear, reports suggest that the show's focus on middle-aged women may have been a contributing factor. According to Deadline's editor-in-chief, Nellie Andreeva, executives might perceive this demographic as less desirable for attracting new subscribers, as many middle-aged women may already have Amazon Prime for shopping purposes.
The decision has sparked a furious response from fans on social media, with many urging other streaming services to pick up the show. Comedian and writer Katy Brand expressed that she was not surprised by the cancellation, citing what she described as a pervasive level of misogyny in the film and television industry. Brand, who has written for similar demographics, noted that scripts are sometimes rejected for content like menopause jokes or for featuring female characters deemed too funny.
"Ride Or Die" follows the lives of Judith Burton (Waddingham) and Debbie Claybourne (Spencer), long-time best friends whose lives are disrupted when a botched operation reveals Judith's secret identity as an international assassin. The series consisted of eight episodes.
In the United States, "Ride Or Die" garnered nearly one million views within its first two days of release, reportedly doubling the viewership of Prime Video's "Legally Blonde" prequel "Elle" and significantly outperforming its teen hockey romance series "Off Campus."
Critical reviews were largely positive. The Telegraph awarded the show four stars, highlighting Waddingham's charisma and energy. The Guardian also gave it a four-star review, describing it as a "perimenopausal comedy thriller caper" and praising the casting of two fifty-something actors in roles that allowed them to be both funny and action heroes. The Wall Street Journal called the series "compelling," noting Waddingham's ability to portray both action and comedic elements.
The first season concluded with several cliffhangers, leaving fans disappointed about the prospect of unresolved storylines. Viewers have voiced their frustration online, with comments expressing a general weariness of investing in series that are subsequently canceled, regardless of their success.