Spinning Out won’t be hitting the ice again at Netflix. The streamer has canceled the ice skating drama after just one season on the service.
The decision to cancel the series comes after its January 1 premiere date on the streamer. This is typical of Netflix in a sense because they evaluate a series after a month worth of viewership data before making a renewal decision on shows that are on the bubble. Netflix doesn’t typically release viewership figures but whatever data they looked at most likely didn’t look too promising to justify a season two renewal.
Spinning Out was created by former competitive figure skater Samantha Stratton and starred Kaya Scodelario as Kat Baker, a high-level figure skater who is about to turn in her skates after a disastrous fall takes her off the competition track. When Kat seizes an opportunity to continue her career as a pairs skater with a talented bad-boy partner, Justin Davis (Evan Roderick), she risks exposing a fiercely kept secret that could unravel her entire life. She splits her time between the ice rink, working as a waitress and living with her family in the nearby working-class town of Hawkley, Idaho. Kat’s mother (January Jones) is a former figure skater who has raised Kat, and younger sister, Serena (Willow Shields), on her own. Fueled by a desire to prove that she can cut it as a pairs skater, Kat keeps her eye on the prize – facing daunting odds to realize her Olympic dream.
Spinning Out gained some headlines before it went to series because Emma Roberts was originally cast as Kat Baker before Kaya Scodelario took on the role when Roberts and the creators parted ways over creative differences. Once Spinning Out premiered, it was clear it lacked the buzz of some of the other Netflix series and I think that’s why they made the series a one and done endeavor. Netflix examines viewing (and awards recognition) vs. cost for each show when making a renewal decision and it appears that Spinning Out was lacking in both areas.
