Apple TV cancels "The Last Frontier" after one season (Apfelpatient)

Apple TV regularly reviews series, even those that launched with high expectations. Now it's the thriller series "The Last Frontier" that's been canceled. After just one season, it's over. This brings to an end a project that initially garnered a lot of attention but couldn't maintain it until the season finale.

Apple has pursued a clear quality strategy with Apple TV for years. Many productions are ordered directly as complete seasons and heavily promoted. At the same time, it has repeatedly become clear that even solid reviews and well-known names don't automatically guarantee a second season. "The Last Frontier" is another example of this.

No second season for "The Last Frontier"

As reported by the industry magazine Variety, Apple has decided to cancel the series after one season. It began airing in October and was initially met with a largely positive reception. However, interest noticeably waned towards the end of the season. The finale aired on December 5th and marked the end of the story, at least for now.

The rating curve on IMDb illustrates this trend. The first episode scored 7.7, while the finale received the lowest rating of the entire season at 6.2. Overall, the series failed to maintain its initial momentum.

Plot and main characters

The series centers on U.S. Marshal Frank Remnick, played by Jason Clarke, known from the film "Oppenheimer." The plot begins when a prisoner transport plane crashes under mysterious circumstances near a remote Alaskan town. A massive manhunt ensues for dozens of violent inmates. The gritty setting and thriller approach were initially considered key strengths of the series.

Direct bulk order through Apple

Apple had already given "The Last Frontier" the green light in February 2023. The series received a direct series order, meaning no pilot episode was produced. Instead, Apple committed to immediately producing a full season. This approach underscores the high level of confidence initially placed in the project.

Part of a long list of cancelled series

With its cancellation, "The Last Frontier" joins a growing list of Apple TV productions that have been canceled after just one season. These include Mr. Corman, Constellation, City On Fire, Suspicion, Shantaram, High Desert, Sunny, Time Bandits, Still Up, Dear Edward, and Amber Brown. Apple TV is thus demonstrating its policy of consistently ending series, regardless of name or budget, if they fail to meet expectations.

Apple TV demonstrates a consistent strategy in its series decisions

Despite this cancellation, Apple TV remains an attractive streaming service. For €9.99 per month, the platform continues to offer successful series and films such as "Severance," "The Studio," "The Morning Show," "Shrinking," and "Silo." However, the decision against a second season of "The Last Frontier" makes it clear that even a promising start on Apple TV is no guarantee of a long-term future. (Image: Apple)