The Tragically Cancelled Sci-Fi Utopia Would Have Performed Much Better Today

by

The critically acclaimed British sci-fi series Utopia, created by Dennis Kelly, originally aired on Channel 4 in 2013. Though it only lasted two seasons before being cancelled, many believe it would be much more successful if released today. Despite low viewership in its second season, Utopia has since gained a dedicated and passionate fanbase.

The sci-fi show Utopia blends the suspense of a conspiracy thriller with dark humor. It follows five friends who bonded online through their love of comic books. Their lives are thrown into chaos when one of them believes a graphic novel, The Utopia Experiments, foretells real, upcoming pandemics. After he mysteriously dies, the remaining four friends become the targets of a shadowy group called The Network.

2013’s Utopia Would Fit Right In With The Modern Sci-Fi Landscape

Science fiction has been a TV staple for years, but it’s recently changed a lot. Apple TV, in particular, has shown what the genre can achieve, with shows like Severance offering thought-provoking social critiques and thrilling mysteries, all with a dark sense of humor. Other shows like it have been very successful lately, and Utopia would be a perfect addition to this trend.

Utopia has everything modern viewers want in a show. It’s funny, with a distinctly British style, and packed with mystery, action, and twists that will keep you guessing. The show’s story about a dangerous virus also feels surprisingly timely, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a shame it came out in 2013 – it feels like a show that would really resonate with audiences today.

The US Remake Of Utopia Was A Victim Of Unfortunate Timing

Surprisingly, the show Utopia became more popular after it was canceled, which led to talks of bringing it back. Eventually, it was remade for American audiences by Prime Video and released in September 2020. However, the remake wasn’t well-received and didn’t achieve much success.

The American version of Utopia didn’t live up to the original, and it probably wouldn’t have succeeded no matter what. The timing of its release was also unfortunate. While the story of Utopia suddenly felt very timely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the show came out too soon – people were just starting to recover and weren’t ready for it.

Utopia Is Still Completely Worth The Binge

Okay, let me tell you, the original Utopia was a genuinely good show, but it got cancelled because not enough people were watching. It’s a real shame, because if it had come out now, with the way sci-fi is booming, I think it would have thrived. But wishing things were different doesn’t change the past, does it? It stings knowing we’ll probably never see what happened beyond those two seasons. Still, what we do have is a really compelling adventure, and that’s worth revisiting.

You can stream all 12 episodes of the sci-fi series Utopia on Prime Video, making it perfect for a weekend binge. While the show didn’t get to finish its story completely, what’s there is still a fun and rewarding watch. If you’re searching for a great, under-the-radar sci-fi show, Utopia is an excellent choice.

Read More

2026-01-10 03:28