Netflix's Head of UCAN Scripted Series, Jinny Howe, is basking in the success of the streamer's 111 Emmy nominations. The highlight of this success is the American adaptation of Harlan Coben's novel, 'I Will Find You', which has amassed 74.1M views in 18 days, potentially cracking Netflix's Top 10 most popular English series list. This success is a testament to Coben's understanding of his audience and Netflix's strategic partnership with the prolific author. With more adaptations in the pipeline, including a show based on the Myron Bolitar books, the future looks bright for Coben's slate expansion.
However, not all Netflix series are faring as well. Over the last six months, several series have experienced a 'sophomore slump', posting steep year-to-year viewership declines in their Season 2 opening weeks. This trend has affected shows like 'Avatar: The Last Airbender', 'The Four Seasons', 'A Good Girl's Guide', 'Beef', and 'A Man On the Inside', with drops over 55%. But Howe remains unfazed, attributing this to the streamer's ability to grow subsequent seasons of shows like 'Bridgerton'.
One of the resilient Netflix series is 'Virgin River', the longest-running original scripted show on the streamer, which is currently filming its eighth installment. Howe assures fans that they will continue to get what they want as long as they want, with the streamer being thoughtful about how to serve and protect the fandom. However, one of Netflix's highest-profile cancellations this year was 'The Boroughs', a Stranger Things-esque series executive produced by the Duffer Brothers. The series, which opened to strong reviews and soft viewership, carried a big price tag, something that factors into Netflix's renewal decisions.
In conclusion, Netflix's success with 'I Will Find You' and the resilience of series like 'Virgin River' bodes well for the streamer. However, the 'sophomore slump' and the cancellation of 'The Boroughs' serve as a reminder that the streaming giant is not immune to challenges. As Howe puts it, the streamer is 'really, really proud' of 'The Boroughs' and thinks they delivered a very entertaining cinematic experience for many, many people who loved it. This reflects Netflix's commitment to quality and its willingness to take risks, even if they don't always pay off.
