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Netflix has formally canceled the spy-adventure series The Recruit after two seasons, putting CIA lawyer Owen Hendricks, portrayed by Noah Centineo, to a close. The cancellation is less than six weeks after the second season's debut on January 30, 2025.
The Recruit, created by Alexi Hawley, debuted on December 16, 2022, and exposed audiences to the existence of a novice CIA attorney who becomes entangled in international espionage. The series received mixed to positive reviews; the first season holds a 68% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics stating, “The Recruit may not be the freshest chip off the old block, but it puts Noah Centineo’s considerable charms to very watchable effect.”
The second season, comprised of six episodes, continued to delve into Hendricks’ troubled career in the CIA. Though two years had lapsed between seasons, partly due to production interruption from the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, the show managed to retain audience attention. The second season carries a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which indicates positive reception from critics.
The cancellation was first hinted at by Colton Dunn, who played the role of Lester Kitchens, Hendricks’ co-worker, on social media. Netflix wasn’t far behind with the confirmation, and it came as a surprise to many fans and industry insiders alike considering the show’s success. The Recruit debuted at No. 2 on Nielsen’s streaming charts and Netflix’s own ratings in its debut week with 5.9 million times viewed and 31.8 million hours watched. It grew in its second week to 6.1 million views and 33 million hours watched. Despite these impressive numbers, the show was up against other Netflix shows, specifically the second season of The Night Agent, which may have impacted the decision not to renew The Recruit. The two-year wait between seasons may also have had an impact by losing audience retention and momentum.
Maker Alexi Hawley had previously talked optimistically regarding a third season. In a January interview, he stated, “We’re waiting for Netflix to officially do their thing with it. There’s a lot of goodwill inside Netflix towards the show and towards Noah; I think they very much feel like Noah is a homegrown star, which he is. So I’m feeling super positive about it, as positive as you can feel in this town at this time.” The ensemble cast, led by Centineo, also featured Laura Haddock as Max Meladze, Aarti Mann as Violet Ebner, Fivel Stewart as Hannah Copeland, and Vondie Curtis-Hall as Walter Nyland. The ensemble cast’s performances were well-accepted, contributing to the show’s popularity.
The Recruit's cancellation adds to the growing number of Netflix series ending after short series runs, which is all part of the streaming giant’s evolving content strategy. While the ending will no doubt be sad news for fans, the show remains available to stream, and new viewers can tune in to Hendricks’ action-filled escapades at the CIA.
As the streaming environment ongoing to shift, The Recruit’s cancellation serves as a reminder of the difficulty even well-received shows face in finding longevity in an increasingly crowded market.
