Did Hulu make a big mistake by cancelling Zoë Kravitz-starrer High Fidelity? Maybe. The television landscape is a vast horizon where shows need to keep up the pace, including acting, script, influence, critical reception, and whatnot. But, despite topping the charts with an 86% RT rating, Hulu needed to walk past a comedy show, which has now become a cult-classic. Why?
On one hand, the reasons can be many, but on the other, despair of not living up to the streamer’s expectations or vice versa, The Batman star, Zoë Kravitz, spoke about this in an interview (via Esquire). The actress called out the streaming platform, saying,
“It’s cool. At least Hulu has a ton of other shows starring women of colour we can watch. Oh wait.”
This promptly shows the actresses’ disapproval of Hulu, though the show had much scope to do better and continue streaming. But what led to the cancellation of High Fidelity?
Why Was Zoë Kravitz’s High Fidelity Cancelled After Season 1?
A gender-bent modern re-imagination of Nick Hornby’s 1995 novel of the same name and its film adaptation in 2000, Hulu’s High Fidelity, aired in 2020, lasting just ten episodes. Zoë Kravitz portrays the role of Rob, a record store owner in Brooklyn who revisits her top five heartbreaks.
Analysing the show from a reviewer’s point of view, High Fidelity has a good ranking amongst the audience for its wit, emotional depth, and fresh take on the source material.
Hulu never stated the exact reason for the show’s scrapping, but only noted that it was ‘not easy and came after lengthy deliberations’ (via Independent). Several presumed reasons behind High Fidelity’s cancellation came along, including the show being niche-specific.
While her role in The Batman was a factor in why the show’s revival would have been delayed, the cancellation happened before any significant scheduling conflicts became insurmountable, and a show of its quality could have waited.
The actress took to her Instagram four years ago, after the day the show got cancelled, saying,
“I wanna give a shout out to my #highfidelity family. Thank you for all the love and heart you put into this show. I’m in awe of all of you. And thank you to everyone who watched, loved, and supported us. #breakupssuck.”
Following this, she commented, pointing out the streamer’s mistake, saying,
“The amount of letters, DMs, people on the street, and women that look like us – like, that love for the show, it meant something to people. It was a big mistake.”
High Fidelity didn’t even have any budget constraints to be observed to not run the show any further. The show was all about a female-led narrative that brought a fresh and relevant perspective to the classic story, exploring modern romance and self-discovery through a woman’s lens.
With such a stellar acting cast, including Primetime Emmy Award-nominated Kravitz in the lead role, Jake Lacy, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Kingsley Ben-Adir, the show could have easily been revived and enjoyed a cool status amongst modern society.
High Fidelity Now Enjoys a Cult Classic Status
Despite its cancellation, High Fidelity has managed to be out there and become a cult-classic following its influence as a women-centric show. It found new viewers and developed a fan base that likes the show for its take on modernism.
Following its unique blend of comedy and drama, its exploration of universal themes of love and heartbreak, and its distinctive aesthetic, the show captivates a section of the people and significantly resonates with the audience.
Many viewers are looking forward to the show being revived or being shifted to another streaming service, allowing it to have its own space amidst Hulu’s content library (which Kravitz believes is not diverse).
Therefore, it seems to be Hulu’s oversight for not reviving such an acclaimed show that has a proper fanbase, attracting coming-of-age viewers. This valuable content might have gained a significant viewership for the platform, leading to the success of both the streamer and the show.
What is your take on Zoë Kravitz’s starrer High Fidelity? Let us know in the comments below.
High Fidelity is available for streaming on Hulu (USA).
