Goodbye, Cognito, Inc.! ‘Inside Job’ Canceled at Netflix After Season 2 Renewal

The world of Cognito Inc. and its employees, Reagan Ridley and Brett Hand, is no more. The animated series Inside Job has been canceled by Netflix after receiving a season renewal.

The action left showrunner Shion Takeuchi, known for her work as a writer on Gravity Falls, “heartbroken.”

Sharing the news in a statement via social media, Takeuchi wrote, “I’m heartbroken to confirm that Netflix has decided to cancel season 2 of Inside Job.”

“Over the years, these characters have become real people to me, and I am devastated not to be able to watch them grow up. Reagan and Brett deserved to get their ending and finally find happiness, and I would have loved to been able to share what was in store with you all,” she added.

Takeuchi continued to thank those who have supported the show, giving a shout-out to those who “cared just as much about these characters.”

At the time of reporting, the post has gathered over 9 million views on Twitter and currently has over 19K quote tweets, 17K retweets, and 140K likes, with many fans expressing disdain over Netflix’s decision.

“One of my fav shows of recent memory! VERY UPSET. Sending love!” one fan wrote to the showrunner.

Another wrote, “What?? This doesn’t make any sense? Inside Job skyrocketed in popularity and had objectively higher ratings than a majority of the shows currently on Netflix. Literally what logic is there behind this?”

The first season of Inside Job, which was released in two installments, received high approval from critics and audiences. The show garnered a 76% approval rate on Rotten Tomatoes. Part 1 spent one week in Netflix’s Top 10 TV in 28 countries and Part 2 reached Top 10 in 11 countries. Decider’s Joel Keller wrote in his review that the series has “enough gags to make sharp-eyed viewers laugh their butts off.”

The show follows socially awkward genius Reagan Ridley (voiced by Lizzy Caplan) and her dysfunctional team at Cognito Inc. as they work to keep the world’s conspiracies and shadow government under wraps. Alongside Caplan, the series boasts an all-star cast including Christian Slater, Clark Duke and in Season 2, Adam Scott.

Inside Job was renewed in June 2022, nearly eight months after the release of the first installment and far ahead of the release of the second installment, which didn’t air until November 2022; it is this readiness that has makes this cancellation particularly brutal.

In the age of HBO Max admitting to unabashedly removing and canceling content under the guise of tax cuts, many television viewers are aware, more than ever, about the disrespect networks are directing toward creators. Last week, AMC canceled the series 61st Street after initially giving it a two-season order. Entertainment Weekly reported that the second season was already filmed and was therefore likely a victim of AMC’s cost-cutting measures, which see the company seeking $400 million in write-downs.

Also part of AMC’s initiative was the cancellation of Pantheon and Moonhaven, both of which had already been promised a second season. Popular casualties of HBO Max’s plan, which sees them incurring between $2.8 and $3.5 billion as a result of content impairment and development write-offs, include Minx, The Gordita Chronicles and Made For Love.

While Netflix hasn’t made a statement about canceling their programs for the same reason and (knock on wood) hasn’t been accused of mass-removing shows from their platform (like HBO Max), this callous cancellation seems to be indicative of the changing television landscape – especially in regards to streaming. Inside Job wasn’t the first series to be canceled by the streaming giant after a season renewal. The streamer walked back on their final season renewal of the wrestler comedy GLOW after nearly a year (citing COVID-19 for production delays) and The Irregulars was said to get a two-season order, but was canceled after the first.

Nowadays, there isn’t even the hope that show’s will find a new life on another streamer as Netflix and HBO Max squashed those dreams with the transfer of Tuca & Bertie and its quick cancellation. What gives, Netflix?