Netflix Cancels New ‘Yellowstone’-Style Series After Just One Season

The merciless axe of Netflix falls again, this time on the Yellowstone-esque series, Territory . The Australian neo-western has been cancelled after just one season (adding itself to the streamer’s ever-growing list), with the outlet C21 Media confirming the news. Unfortunately, the series will now not return for its planned second season, despite Territory Season 1 earning an impressive score of 86% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Created by Ben Davies and Timothy Lee, and starring an ensemble cast that includes Anna Torv (Mindhunter, The Last of Us), Michael Dorman (Daybreakers, Patriot), Robert Taylor (Focus, The Meg), and Sam Corlett (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Territory was one of the many current attempts to match the success of Paramount’s Yellowstone, with Territory telling the tale of the world’s largest cattle station, Marianne Station, which, when left without an owner, sees the most powerful factions in the Australian outback, including miners, landowners, cowboys and gangsters, start preparing their weapons.

In a joint statement, Easy Tiger CEO Rob Gibson and Ronde Media CEO and co-creator of the series, Ben Davies, said of the sudden cancellation, “We’re incredibly proud of the series and its success, and grateful to the amazing writers, cast, and creatives.” Meanwhile, Que Min Luu, Netflix’s director of content for Australia and New Zealand, added:

“We are incredibly thankful to have had the chance to work with the wonderful cast and production team to bring Territory and the stunning Australian outback into the homes of millions around the world. Although we won’t be continuing with another season, we eagerly anticipate working with all of them again in the future.”

Cast & Crew Were Confident ‘Territory’ Would Get a Second Season

The cancellation of Territory is likely to do with viewership as, while the series did find itself in the global top 10 thanks to 87.10 million viewing hours, it didn’t stay there for very long. The show performed best in its native Australia, as well as New Zealand, with sources close to the production feeling “confident that the series would be renewed for a second season, with the narrative ending season 1 on a cliffhanger. It is understood that the significant ensemble cast and available returning crew and creatives were in place and poised for the second season to be greenlit.” Sadly, that cliffhanger is unlikely to ever be resolved.

While Territory was well-received by critics, landing a score of 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, the show proved far more divisive among audiences, earning just 53% on the Popcornmeter. “A down and dirty neo-Western set Down Under, Territory’s outlandish twists and cultural specificity make for compulsively watchable television,” the critics’ consensus reads. From an audience perspective, the Yellowstone comparisons didn’t help. “Yellowstone is aus? Nah was complele rubbish. Disjointed and unbelievable and as an Australian this is completely super fiction. Don’t waste your time,” said Rotten Tomatoes user Tim T, who awarded the series just one star. Another one star review comes courtesy of Andreas R, who said, “Aussie copy of Yellowstone, not half as good.”

A more favorable three stars was awarded by Godzilla T, but the show still paled in comparison to Taylor Sheridan’s western hit. “Yes… no. It’s a kind of pseudo Yellowstone. The picture is somehow always too dark, the family story even more clichéd than in Yellowstone, but nowhere near as well written and overly cool,” they said. Some did love the series, with Margurite L giving Territory five stars and saying, “This is a must watch show. It is the down under Yellowstone version! Hoping to see a second season next year!” Our sympathies to whoever has to break the news.