Devotees of a critically acclaimed spy thriller are outraged following its cancellation after a mere eight episodes. The series, set in the 1970s and centring on two secretaries who become CIA operatives, made its debut in January with an impressive roster of talent.
Game of Thrones icon Emilia Clarke, The White Lotus favourite Haley Lu Richardson, and seasoned actress Harriet Walter all feature in the show, which follows the secretaries after their spy husbands perish under suspicious circumstances.
Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes recorded a remarkable 96% approval rating upon its release, yet the Peacock series was nonetheless axed after a single season.
The show in question is Ponies, and the cancellation, arriving five months after its premiere, appears to be attributable to disappointing viewership figures.
Despite being warmly received by both critics and audiences, the espionage drama never managed to break into Nielsen’s Top 10 streaming charts.
The spy thriller stars Emilia Clarke(Image: PEACOCK)
With Season 1 concluding on several significant cliffhangers, viewers flocked to X to voice their dismay upon learning of the show’s fate.
One fan wrote: “Wtf noooooooooo! Because I looked it up all the time, I read a Tweet at some point, that they already talked about Season 2, so this was probably just a rumour and I was already too happy.
“#Ponies was so great! I loved them so much! I hate all these cancellations with passion.”
Another vented: “#Peacock is a joke, it’s like the rest of the streaming apps now, all the good shows cancelled.
“Maybe put more ads out there, I never heard of #PONIES until I scrolled thru then they cancel the 1 great show they have on now, they cancel the best, use ads.”
The spy saga was well-received by critics(Image: PEACOCK)
A third fan added: “Well that really sucks. Totally enjoyed it and such a cool if obvious cliffhanger.”
A fourth commented: “They actually had a good show on their hand and fumbled.”
Threatening to boycott the streaming service entirely, a final fan fumed: “Never watching @peacock ever again.”
Following the programme’s release, viewers had flocked to Rotten Tomatoes to voice their enthusiasm, with one praising it as “excellent”, explaining: “Excellent series. Excellent script, plot, cast, direction, and setting. One of the best series of the year, in my opinion. I hope there’s a second season.”
Another fan had shared: “This show is incredible. I just looked and see it’s not renewed yet, but it better be. It’s honestly the best show I’ve seen in a long time, just give Haley Lu Richardson the Emmy now.”