Apple TV+ has recently become known for offering a quality service packed with original productions that delight all types of users. However, it wasn’t all good.
The Californian company has decided to remove Mythic Quest from its Apple TV+ catalog , which until now was its longest-running comedy and one of the most beloved series by the service’s subscribers.
Changes to the Apple TV+ catalog
The announcement came as a surprise to fans of the platform, as the series not only enjoyed good reviews but also had a spin-off in the works. However, everything indicates that neither the quality nor the charisma of its characters has been enough to ensure its continuation.
Mythic Quest premiered in February 2020 as a satire of the world of video game development, combining humor, workplace conflicts, and absurd situations in a fictional multiplayer game studio. Led by Rob McElhenney, Charlotte Nicdao, and David Hornsby, the series evolved over four seasons, building a solid, if not very large, fanbase. And that seems to have been the problem.
Although Apple never publishes official viewership figures, the internal rankings and popularity lists within the Apple TV+ app spoke for themselves: during its fourth season, the series was not among the most-watched content. A bad sign, especially considering it shared an airing window with the second season of Severance , one of the platform’s star titles.
Will Apple axe its spin-off?
The cancellation has been confirmed by the creators themselves in a joint statement, but it’s not all bad news. Although it’s a definitive cancellation, Apple has given the green light to modify the final episode of the fourth season and turn it into a true conclusion, with a planned ending that allows for a more dignified farewell. The updated version of that episode will be available this week, and will mark the official farewell to a show that, while not a best-seller in terms of viewing, has been key to consolidating Apple’s original catalog.
This case once again highlights an increasingly common reality on streaming platforms: competition is fierce, the margin for error is minimal, and even a quality production, well-regarded by critics and with years of experience, isn’t guaranteed to last. Apple TV+ has shown that it doesn’t hesitate to cut corners if the data doesn’t support it.
At the moment, there’s no confirmation of what will happen to the spin-off Side Quest, which had barely begun its run. It’s logical to think it’s also in danger, although Apple could surprise with a different strategy to take advantage of the universe created by the original producers.
In any case, the departure of Mythic Quest marks the end of an era for Apple TV+. The series was not only one of the service’s longest-running series, but also one of the few ongoing comedies in a catalog dominated by big-budget dramas and thrillers. Now, with its disappearance, a new gap opens up that Apple will have to fill if it wants to continue investing in variety.
