Amazon Cancels The Tick as Fans Rally to Save the Show

Aw spoon it all to hell: Amazon has canceled The Tick after two seasons. The superhero comedy series starred Peter Serafinowicz as the goofy, relentlessly upbeat blue hero The Tick, and Griffin Newman as his nebbish sidekick Arthur Everest aka The Moth. Creator Ben Edlund announced the news on Twitter:

Despite the cancellation, the show’s stars are looking to revive the series on another network, as Newman assured fans that the series was “still alive”:

It used to be that cancellation was the death knell for a series, but in the world of endless streaming options and networks, shows can easily find a second life. Shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine were saved by NBC and Lucifer just premiered its all new season on Netflix. But both shows began their journeys on network television, which affords a massive audience. The Tick doesn’t have the viewership or social media following of either show, which does not bode well for its future.

And that’s a shame, because Amazon’s offbeat absurd series is a hidden gem buried amongst the relentless onslaught of peak television we find ourselves living in. While the first season of The Tick had a slow start (which wasn’t helped by a truncated rollout), the second season has found its footing by expanding the show’s world and introducing fun new characters.

The series currently holds a 95 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, thanks to the committed performances of its ensemble and its deft skewering of superhero tropes. In a sea of grim, gritty superhero tales, The Tick is breath of fresh optimistic air, which is something we all need more of.

After all, what other show boasts characters like Lobstercules or a sentient gay sea vessel known as Dangerboat? The Tick is one of the few series that successfully threads the needle of genre comedy, striking a tone that is tongue-in-cheek while anchored in a sincere love of superhero stories.

In a year where other genre comedies are getting the axe (Santa Clarita Diet, Future Man), The Tick‘s cancellation is a major loss. One can’t help but feel that the series was never given a proper shot, as publicity for the show paled in comparison to Amazon’s juggernaut series like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel or The Man in the High Castle.

Here’s hoping The Tick lands on its feet and lives to save another day.

(via CBR, image: Amazon)

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Chelsea Steiner

Chelsea was born and raised in New Orleans, which explains her affinity for cheesy grits and Britney Spears. An pop culture journalist since 2012, her work has appeared on Autostraddle, AfterEllen, and more. Her beats include queer popular culture, film, television, republican clownery, and the unwavering belief that 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' is the greatest movie ever made. She currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, with her husband, 2 sons, and one poorly behaved rescue dog. She is a former roller derby girl and a black belt in Judo, so she is not to be trifled with. She loves the word “Jewess” and wishes more people used it to describe her.

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