Cancelled: 3 of Netflix's 2023 K-Dramas Won't Be Getting a Season 2

Summary

• Netflix is not afraid to cancel all kinds of shows, even if they have built up a loyal fan base.
• With K-dramas, however, the streaming service does things differently, and fans know in advance whether they should wait for renewals.
• Regardless, three popular series from 2023 will not be getting a second season.

Netflix is notorious for its controversial cancellations of even its most popular shows, and it's rare that fans manage to get them renewed. However, the streaming service is much more reverent of its original projects from foreign productions, especially those filmed in South Korea.

But even there, Netflix, wary of K-drama fans, manages to sneak in 'soft' cancellations. Usually, the service announces whether it intends to continue a show or renews it almost immediately after its release. In the case of the shows listed below, however, Netflix has done something trickier: K-dramas that were originally listed as one-season are now labeled as 'limited series'. Let's see what the fuss is all about.

3. Celebrity

Released on Netflix: June 30, 2023

Rotten Tomatoes score: 80%

What the show's about: A fascinating drama-thriller that exposes the cynicism of the entire Korean influencer industry. The female lead, Seo Ah-ri, played by Park Gyu-young (It's Okay to Not Be Okay, Sweet Home), is a makeup saleswoman who unexpectedly gets caught up in the luxurious world of the rich and famous, uncovering their deceit, harassment, and even murder.

Was it in need of renewal: Considering that Ah-ri had a lot of public support behind her in the finale, and that a whole new cult could form around her, it's possible that the protagonist could still return to her former lifestyle as an influencer. However, it is the open ending that leaves room for interpretation that makes the series quite complete without the need for further storylines.

Netflix may have done the right thing by limiting the series to just one season, but a number of fans who raved about it will still find the news disappointing, as they were hoping for a continuation of the story.

2. Mask Girl

Released on Netflix: August 18, 2023

Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%

What the show's about: A thought-provoking K-drama that follows a young woman with complexes about her appearance, who works as a night streamer, covering her face. However, a series of unfortunate events drastically changes her life, as the Internet is inhabited by sinister people who can reveal a person's identity.

Was it in need of renewal: Although the show was not initially announced as a limited series, leaving the door open for the story to continue, the finale delivered a very clear, if tragic, conclusion that stayed true to the original webtoon: the main character died protecting her daughter from bullets. Fans were shocked by the unexpected twist, but pleased with the ending, which cemented the show's status as a poignant social drama.

1. A Time Called You

Released on Netflix: September 8, 2023

Rotten Tomatoes score: 60%

What the show's about: A Time Called You follows a grieving woman who is mysteriously transported to 1998 in the body of another person. There, she meets a young man who bears an uncanny resemblance to her late lover.

Was it in need of renewal: A Time Called You was one of the most anticipated K-dramas of 2023, so the ambiguous ending did not satisfy everyone. The protagonist faced a difficult choice: sacrifice the relationship with her boyfriend and save the girl whose body she found herself in, or condemn her to death.

She made the first choice – although the finale hinted at their eventual reunion when they bumped into each other on the bus, the story ended on an open-ended note, leaving fans forever wondering what could have happened next.