Another day, another brutal cancellation. This time, the bad news comes courtesy of the streaming service Disney+
, which has made the shocking decision not to continue a unique superhero series with a perfect score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Beginning back in 2023, Extraordinary drops audiences into a world where everyone develops superpowers once they hit 18. Well, everyone apart from Jen, who, six years after her 18th birthday, is still waiting for her superpowers to show up.
Both the first and second seasons of Extraordinary were well-received but, sadly, the superhero show will not return for a third. The cancellation of Extraordinary comes alongside another ax dropping, with this one landing on the historical drama Shardlake, which itself has an impressive 81% “certified fresh” score, after just one season. As per Variety, a Disney+ rep thanked the creative teams on both shows, saying:

“Disney+ Original series ‘Extraordinary’ will not be returning for a third season on the service. We’re so proud of the hilarious, award-winning series brought to life by the incredibly talented British and Irish cast and crew, our production partners at Sid Gentle Films, and the exceptional writing talent of creator Emma Moran.

Disney+ Original series, ‘Shardlake’ will also not be returning for a second season on the service. We’d like to thank Stephen Butchard who adapted the late C.J. Sansom’s beloved novel for the screen, the entire cast – led by the outstanding Arthur Hughes – and crew, and our production partners The Forge and Runaway Fridge. We hope to work with all of our partners across these shows again in the future.”

Created by Emma Moran, Extraordinary debuted on Disney+, Star+, and Hulu back in January 2023. Led by Máiréad Tyers as Jen, the now-25-year-old inhabitant of this superhero universe, and seemingly the only person with no powers, the rest of the cast includes Sofia Oxenham, Bilal Hasna, and Luke Rollason. You can check out the official synopsis for the series below.

“Jen continues her powers journey as she enrolls as a client at the Power Clinic but quickly discovers that the process isn’t as easy as she’d hoped; she’s dealing with a new level of adulting that she’s not ready for.”

Both seasons of Extraordinary hold a perfect score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, with Season 1 achieving 89% and Season 2 getting 94% from audiences on the Popcornmeter. While the series doesn’t sound especially different to other superhero outings, Judy Berman of TIME Magazine praised the series for being “true to its title” and tweaking “familiar tropes into something genuinely unique. That it also makes Deadpool look about as audacious as The Incredibles is just a bonus.” Benji Wilson of The Daily Telegraph agreed, calling the series “funny, naughty, and full of the highs and lows of a writer given leeway to try some stuff out… Extraordinary’s superpower is its freshness. It’s not always extraordinary, but it’s never dull.”

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Andrew Murray of The Upcoming, meanwhile, called Extraordinary “a wonderfully creative and heartfelt snapshot of friends trying to find their way in life,” with Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian adding, “The sillier the powers and the dafter the events that transpire as a result of (almost) everyone being slightly magical, the more profound its emotional core turns out to be.” Finally, Lacy Baugher of Paste Magazine awarded the second season a near-perfect 9.5/10, saying, “While the eight-episode second season displays plenty of signs of growth and maturity, narratively speaking, don’t worry — Extraordinary’s trademark brash humor remains as offbeat, raunchy, and genuinely funny as ever.”

Extraordinary

Release Date

January 25, 2023

Genres

Superhero, Comedy

Creator(s)

Emma Moran

Cast

Siobhán McSweeney, Luke Rollason, Bilal Hasna, Sofia Oxenham, Máiréad Tyers

Seasons

2