After two seasons and 14 episodes, Netflix has formally closed the case on The Recruit. The mega-popular spy dramedy was anticipated to be renewed for a 3rd season, with creator Alexi Hawley prepping plot factors and story beats for the subsequent chapter in Owen Hendrick’s (Noah Centineo) private {and professional} profession. Until it finds a brand new residence, that won’t occur.
As a substitute, the streamer has sided with Shawn Ryan’s similar-themed thriller, The Night time Agent, which has been renewed for Season 3 after boasting greater viewership than The Recruit in Season 2. With different contributing components enjoying a job, it is value attending to the underside of Netflix’s determination to ax one among its most-watched TV collection on the platform previously three years. Between the manufacturing prices, aggressive streaming choices, and waning viewership, it is time for The Recruit‘s post-mortem.
The Recruit
- Launch Date
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December 16, 2022
- Community
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Netflix
- Administrators
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Doug Liman
‘The Recruit’s Premise & Attraction, Defined
Alexi Hawley created The Recruit for Netflix, a comedic spy drama that lives and dies with the charms of its lead, Noah Centineo. Centineo performs Owen Hendricks, a inexperienced CIA lawyer who uncovers an unlimited worldwide conspiracy whereas studying the each day routines of his job. As Owen grapples together with his quotidian protocols, he’s met by Max Meladze (Laura Haddock), a useful CIA “asset” who will get into bother after fatally battering a person in jail.
Max contacts Owen and coerces him to assist her clear her identify, threatening blackmail if he would not comply. The 2 cooperate and uncover an internet of worldwide intrigue stuffed with advanced geopolitical maneuvering that Owen hasn’t the chops to decipher alone. Regardless of the intense topics, The Recruit presents its story with lighthearted flashiness and a foolish humorousness.
But, the breeziness caught on with Netflix subscribers, making for a fun-filled, simply bingeable program that requires little considering to take pleasure in. Most critics and viewers agree that Noah Centineo’s humorous, fish-out-of-water dynamic marked the present’s major attraction. All the things else feels unoriginal and referential to rather more compelling spy tales.
Following its eight-episode first season in December 2022, Netflix renewed The Recruit a month later in January 2023. When The Recruit lastly returned with a truncated six-episode second season in January 2025, an excessive amount of curiosity was misplaced and the price of manufacturing may not justify making extra episodes. After all, that is only one a part of the story.
Why ‘The Recruit’ Was Canceled
On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, The Recruit star Colton Dunn introduced on Threads that Netflix had canceled the present after two seasons, telling his followers:
“‘The Recruit’ has been cancelled y’all. Such a bummer. I’ll share some pics and enjoyable recollections on IG however simply needed you to listen to it from me. Thanks if you happen to watched. I’m AVAILABLE NOW! Rent me for you television story!!”
The cancelation was confirmed by Selection, which, in February, referred to as The Recruit probably the most anticipated TV reveals of 2025. The commerce additionally posted Season 2 viewership numbers for The Recruit, which grossly paled in comparison with Netflix’s The Night time Agent. Though The Recruit attracted sufficient eyeballs to take second place for a Netflix scripted program, Season 2’s debut drew almost 10 million fewer viewers than The Night time Agent Season 2.
The Recruit drew 5.9 million viewers in its Season 2 debut, whereas The Night time Agent garnered 15.2 million viewers in its Season 2 debut. In comparison with The Recruit‘s Season 1 opening with 7.3 million viewers, a considerable decline pressured Netflix’s hand.
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Contemplating how comparable The Recruit and The Night time Agent are — each espionage tales coping with the FBI and CIA — Netflix opted to resume The Night time Agent for Season 3 whereas canceling The Recruit. From an financial standpoint, the choice makes excellent sense. Netflix rewarded the collection that gained considerably greater viewership. In line with Deadline, The Night time Agent Season 2 gained 3 billion viewing minutes from Netflix customers, in comparison with lower than half of The Recruit, which drew 1.2 billion minutes considered in Season 2.
Regardless of being outperformed by the similar-themed The Night time Agent, The Recruit remained one among Netflix’s hottest reveals throughout its 14-episode run. One other contributing issue to Netflix canceling the present could also be the price of abroad manufacturing. As Owen and Max proceed to globetrot to untangle a global conspiracy, Netflix would theoretically proceed to doll out extra money with every passing season. With the potential for greater prices and fewer viewers, Netflix minimize bait earlier than it was too late.
Response to ‘The Recruit’ Vs. ‘The Night time Agent’
By canceling The Recruit in favor of The Night time Agent, Netflix has doubled down on its fame for amount over high quality. For instance, whereas The Night time Agent gained extra viewers than The Recruit, followers and critics rated The Recruit greater. On Rotten Tomatoes, the previous holds a 79% critics’ rating and a 58% viewers rating. The latter is loved by each teams equally, boasting an 80% approval ranking from critics and audiences.
Due to this fact, Netflix has sided with a present considered extra however praised much less. Each reveals have been rebuked for lack of originality, however Centineo’s flashy efficiency in The Recruit is extra satisfying than Gabriel Basso’s straight-faced FBI (Night time) Agent, Peter Sutherland.
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Regardless, The Recruit began effectively sufficient for Netflix to think about a long-running TV collection. As soon as viewership dipped in Season 2 together with an enormous spike in The Night time Agent‘s second season, Netflix selected one over the opposite. It is a pure enterprise determination for the streamer, siding with a extra common collection regardless of The Recruit incomes higher evaluations. Such is the fickle destiny of Hollywood.