Netflix Just Canceled ‘Pulse’ and ‘The Residence’ While ‘No Good Deed’ Gets Ghosted

What’s going on at Netflix and why your new favorite show might be next on the chopping block

If you've been secretly bingeing Pulse, planning your fan theories for The Residence, or waiting patiently for No Good Deed to continue its twisty saga, we’ve got some bad news. Netflix just confirmed what many of us feared. The streaming giant has officially canceled Pulse and The Residence, and No Good Deed has been put on what we’ll generously call “indefinite pause.” In other words, don’t hold your breath.

Let’s dive into what’s really going on, why these shows got the axe, and what this means for the future of Netflix’s original programming. Spoiler alert: it’s complicated, strategic, and just a little brutal.

The Netflix Cancellation Shuffle: What Happened?

Netflix has been on a bit of a rollercoaster lately when it comes to original programming. While the platform continues to crank out new shows like it owns a printing press, only a select few survive past the freshman season. The recent culling includes medical drama Pulse, murder mystery comedy The Residence, and the anthology thriller No Good Deed.

According to an exclusive report from Deadline, these shows didn’t just get quietly ghosted in some dark Netflix backroom. The cast and creatives behind Pulse were notified over a month ago that the show would not be moving forward. The actors? Already lining up new gigs. That’s Hollywood, baby.

Pulse Canceled: Timing Is Everything and This Show Had None

Let’s start with Pulse, Netflix’s stab at the medical procedural genre. It starred Willa Fitzgerald and Colin Woodell and tried to carve out a space in a crowded market. Unfortunately, it dropped just as The Pitt, Noah Wyle’s buzzy Max series, was dominating the cultural conversation. As The Pitt was serving penultimate-episode fire, Pulse was quietly uploading all eight

episodes with very little fanfare.

Adding to its struggles, Pulse leaned into weighty themes like workplace harassment, which may have been too heavy for viewers looking for more comfort-food-style drama. In short, Pulse was the last to arrive at the medical drama party and showed up wearing a very serious face while everyone else was dancing.

The Residence Gets the Boot Despite Star Power

Next on the chopping block was The Residence, a high-concept murder mystery set inside the White House. On paper, it had everything, a star-studded cast including Uzo Aduba, Giancarlo Esposito, and Randall Park, and what’s reportedly the biggest-ever recreation of the White House set. We’re talking seven stages, ten miles of molding, and enough working doors to open a small city.

So what went wrong? Timing again. The series dropped just one week after Netflix’s megahit Adolescence launched. That cultural juggernaut steamrolled everything in its path, leaving The Residence to quietly fade into the background. When you’re competing with a zeitgeist-level hit, even an elaborate political whodunit can’t catch a break.

No Good Deed Is Not Quite Dead but Definitely Not Alive

While Pulse and The Residence are officially canceled, No Good Deed is floating somewhere in streaming limbo. Premiering back in December, the anthology series had potential but never quite broke through. According to sources, there are no current plans to move forward with a second season. The kicker? If it does return, it will likely be with an entirely new cast and storyline. So… a reboot in everything but name.

Netflix hasn’t ruled it out completely, but let’s be honest, if your show’s future is being described as “theoretical,” it’s probably time to start saying your goodbyes.

Netflix’s Hit or Quit Strategy: Are Any Shows Safe?

While this news is a bummer for fans, it’s part of a larger trend. Netflix is moving quickly when it comes to renewing or rejecting content. Shows like Man on the Inside, Running Point, The Four Seasons, and Ransom Canyon have been renewed. Others, like Pulse, just didn’t perform well enough to survive.

The company seems to be using a mix of viewership data, cultural impact, and competitive timing to decide what lives and what dies. Unfortunately, even decent ratings won’t save a show that’s buried by bigger buzz or bad release timing.

Netflix Giveth, and Netflix Taketh Away

Let’s not sugarcoat it, losing Pulse and The Residence stings for fans. And putting No Good Deed on ice with a “maybe someday” attitude is like getting dumped with the “it’s not you, it’s me” line. These cancellations highlight just how ruthless the streaming world has become.

If you loved any of these shows, you’re not alone. But in the Netflix universe, good isn’t always good enough. Timing, trendiness, and sheer luck often determine whether a show gets another shot.

So pour one out for these fallen freshmen, binge what’s left while you can, and remember, your new favorite show might already be in the danger zone.

Got a favorite canceled Netflix gem? Drop your hot takes in the comments or send us your underrated picks before Netflix wipes them from existence.