Two of Netflix’s biggest shows – Master Of None and Arrested Development – have been stuck in limbo over the last few months due to a series of sexual misconduct allegations.
After months of silence, the streaming giant has finally shed some light on the future of both shows, albeit in a really annoying, non-answer answer.
At the Television Critics Association press tour, Netflix VP Cindy Holland said that they’re “happy to make another season of Master Of None“, but only when Ansari is good and ready.
As for Arrested Development, Holland said that she doesn’t know “if season six is a possibility” and that nothing has been discussed about the show at all.
Well, that was uninsightful but not unexpected given the circumstances leading up to it.
An anonymous woman accused Ansari of sexual misconduct in an article published on Babe.net back in January 2018, which drew a polarising response from readers due to its reporting and whether it ultimately harmed or contributed to the #MeToo movement.
Putting the merits of the Babe.net article aside, Master Of None serves as a creative platform for Ansari’s voice but the show ultimately grew to be something that many young people could relate to.
Speaking about the show itself, the intent of Master Of None was always pure and it would be a shame if we don’t get more of it because there’s still value to be found beneath Ansari’s alleged transgressions.
Arrested Development, it is a stickier situation. Arrested star Jeffery Tambor was accused of sexual misconduct on his previous show Transparent and he didn’t do himself any favours when he was his co-star Jessica Walters revealed during an interview that he verbally harassed her while working on the show. The hole just kept getting deeper when all of the other present male actors all seemingly defended Tambor, though some have since apologised for their comments.
It’s probably safe to say that the working environment on the Arrested Development set isn’t always rosy and with cast chemistry being key to an ensemble show like it, it’s hard to see how it can come back from Tambor’s misconduct allegations.
Then there’s also the show’s quality. Arrested Development was an innovative piece of work when it first premiered in 2003, but its qualities don’t shine anywhere near as brightly in 2018 when there are groundbreaking shows everywhere you look. The Netflix-ordered seasons have been pretty average at best, so it is perhaps time to call it a day on Arrested Development rather than have it die an undignified death.
We can wish for Master Of None and Arrested Development to be renewed or canceled all we like, but it ultimately remains to be seen what Netflix decides to do.
So while we wait to see what happens, we might as well binge on G.L.O.W because that show rocks and deserves another season.