The comedy-drama series “High Desert”, which recently made its debut on Apple TV Plus, has experienced an abrupt end, being axed after its initial season. The show, starring Patricia Arquette, premiered on May 17 and within a mere six weeks, Apple’s streaming platform has decided to call it a day.

A silent cancellation

Apple TV Plus, in line with several prominent streaming services, has not made any official announcement regarding the show’s discontinuation. The disappointing news for “High Desert” fans was instead relayed by Arquette herself via her Instagram account.

Despite the show not being a total flop upon its release and garnering more warmth from audiences than critics, Apple has decided not to renew “High Desert” for a second season. According to the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the show holds a 79% approval rating from viewers. Additionally, it garners a 70% average critical score.

A trend of single-season shows?

“High Desert” is not an isolated case on Apple TV Plus with only a single season under its belt. In April, “Dear Edward” was also dropped after its initial 10-episode run. They join an increasing roster of shows such as “Amazing Stories”, “Roar”, “Mr. Corman”, and “Shantaram” that have been left in limbo after a single season.

Factors like production costs and audience engagement are obvious considerations when deciding to continue a series. However, the trend of ending shows after one season, observed not only on Apple TV Plus but also notably on Netflix, has started to raise eyebrows.

Treading on thin ice?

Netflix has earned a reputation for cancelling shows that don’t meet expectations or that are expensive to produce. However, this practice has recently faced backlash, leading to some users closing their accounts. Apple TV Plus, though currently underrated as a streaming service, doesn’t boast a user base as extensive as Netflix. If Apple TV Plus keeps on prematurely discontinuing its original series, it could push fans away. This could present a major obstacle for the company’s streaming goals.

As always, we are eager to hear what our valued readers think about this development. What are your thoughts on the cancellation of “High Desert” and the trend of single-season shows? Please share your views in the comment section below!