25 TV Series That Got Review-Bombed Into Oblivion

Review bombing has become a prevalent phenomenon in the digital age where audiences flood aggregate sites with negative scores to lower a rating. This practice often targets projects based on casting choices or narrative deviations from source material rather than production quality alone. Streaming services and networks continue to grapple with how to interpret audience metrics when these coordinated campaigns occur. The following series faced significant backlash and disproportionate negative ratings from viewers shortly after their release.

‘The Acolyte’ (2024)

This Star Wars series faced an immediate barrage of low audience scores upon its debut on Disney Plus. Critics generally praised the show for its fresh perspective on the Jedi Order but a segment of the fanbase took issue with the lore changes and casting decisions. The disparity between professional reviews and user ratings highlighted a deep divide within the fandom regarding the direction of the franchise. Disney eventually cancelled the series after just one season despite the high viewership numbers for the premiere.

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ (2022–Present)

Amazon Studios invested heavily in this prequel series that explores the Second Age of Middle-earth. A massive wave of negative reviews hit the show immediately as some viewers criticized the compression of the timeline and the diverse casting of elves and dwarves. The platform suspended user ratings for a brief period to filter out bot activity and ensure legitimate feedback. High production values could not shield the series from an intense culture war surrounding the adaptation of Tolkien work.

‘Velma’ (2023–2024)

This adult animated reimagining of the Scooby-Doo franchise removed the title character’s dog companion and altered the personalities of the Mystery Inc gang. Audiences rejected the meta-humor and the cynical tone that deviated sharply from the beloved original cartoons. It holds the distinction of being one of the lowest-rated animated series in history due to the sheer volume of one-star reviews. Despite the overwhelming online vitriol the show managed to secure a second season before its ultimate cancellation.

‘Queen Cleopatra’ (2023)

The casting of a Black actress to portray the Egyptian ruler in this docudrama sparked an international controversy involving the Egyptian government. Viewers flooded review aggregators with negative scores to protest what they perceived as historical revisionism. The low ratings made it one of the most poorly received releases on Netflix according to audience metrics. The director defended the creative choice by citing the ambiguity of Cleopatra’s heritage but the backlash remained severe.

‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ (2022)

Marvel Studios introduced Jennifer Walters in a legal comedy that frequently broke the fourth wall to address toxic fandom directly. This self-aware approach antagonized certain viewers who felt attacked by the script and subsequently bombarded the show with low ratings. The visual effects for the main character also became a point of contention among those who criticized the CGI quality. The series became a battleground for discussions about female representation in the superhero genre.

‘Batwoman’ (2019–2022)

The CW series faced immediate scrutiny from the moment the first trailer dropped featuring Ruby Rose in the lead role. Negative comments focused on the perceived political messaging of the show rather than its plot or action sequences. The departure of the lead actress after the first season only fueled further instability and criticism from the audience. Reviewers noted a stark contrast between the modest critical reception and the abysmal user scores.

‘The Witcher: Blood Origin’ (2022)

This prequel miniseries aimed to explain the Conjunction of the Spheres and the creation of the first Witcher. Fans of the books and games expressed frustration with how the show disregarded established lore and canon events. The writing and character development received harsh criticism that was amplified by the dissatisfaction regarding Henry Cavill leaving the main series. It stands as one of the lowest-rated entries in the Netflix fantasy franchise.

‘Anne Boleyn’ (2021)

Channel 5 cast Jodie Turner-Smith in a psychological thriller that reimagined the final months of the Tudor queen. The decision to employ color-blind casting for a historical figure led to a coordinated campaign of negative reviews on major aggregate sites. Many of the complaints focused solely on the race of the lead actress while ignoring the performance or the script. The series highlighted the ongoing debate regarding historical accuracy versus artistic interpretation in period dramas.

‘Santa Inc.’ (2021)

Seth Rogen and Sarah Silverman starred in this stop-motion animated series intended for mature audiences. The humor and political commentary centered on the modernization of the North Pole struck a nerve with conservative viewers. The show received a rare localized aggregate score near zero as users expressed their distaste for the perceived anti-Christmas messaging. Comments sections were filled with accusations that the creators were disrespecting holiday traditions.

‘Masters of the Universe: Revelation’ (2021)

Kevin Smith helmed this continuation of the classic 1980s cartoon with promises of honoring the original fanbase. Viewers reacted negatively when the narrative shifted focus away from He-Man to Teela for a significant portion of the story. Accusations of false advertising and misleading marketing tactics dominated the online discourse surrounding the release. The backlash demonstrated the challenges of updating nostalgic properties for modern sensibilities.

‘Resident Evil’ (2022)

Netflix attempted a new live-action adaptation of the famous survival horror video game franchise using two timelines. Fans of the games criticized the show for deviating wildly from the source material and focusing on teen drama. The writing and the portrayal of the villain Albert Wesker were major points of contention for the established fanbase. The series was cancelled shortly after its release following the poor audience reception and low completion rates.

‘Cowboy Bebop’ (2021)

The live-action adaptation of the legendary anime struggled to capture the style and tone of the original masterpiece. Fans criticized the changes to character backstories and the visual aesthetic that felt like a cosplay imitation. The chemistry between the cast members was a frequent point of complaint among reviewers. Netflix cancelled the show less than a month after its premiere due to the negative reception.

‘Ms. Marvel’ (2022)

Iman Vellani starred as Kamala Khan in this coming-of-age story that explored the life of a Pakistani-American teenager. The series faced review bombing before it even aired as some users took issue with the diverse representation and cultural themes. Others criticized the change to the character’s powers which differed from the comic books. Despite the online hate the show received praise from critics for its energetic visual style.

‘Watchmen’ (2019)

Damon Lindelof created a distinct version of the graphic novel that explored generational trauma and the Tulsa race massacre. A segment of the audience felt the show was too political and deviated too far from the deconstructionist nature of the original comic. The inclusion of masked police officers and racial themes sparked a review bombing campaign on review platforms. Critical acclaim and numerous Emmy wins eventually overshadowed the initial audience backlash.

‘Doctor Who’ (2005–Present)

The casting of Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor marked the first time a woman played the iconic role. While many celebrated the milestone a vocal minority flooded aggregate sites with low scores to protest the gender swap. The writing during this era also faced criticism for being overly didactic regarding social issues. The audience scores dropped significantly compared to previous seasons despite stable viewing figures initially.

‘Troy: Fall of a City’ (2018)

This co-production between the BBC and Netflix retold the story of the Trojan War with a diverse cast. The casting of Black actors in the roles of Achilles and Zeus provoked a strong negative reaction from certain viewers who demanded historical accuracy in mythology. The review bombing was severe enough to drag the audience score down to dismal levels. Discussion about the actual production quality was largely drowned out by the casting controversy.

‘Willow’ (2022–2023)

Disney Plus released this sequel series to the 1988 fantasy film with Warwick Davis reprising his role. Some viewers criticized the show for its modern dialogue and the inclusion of a queer romance between two main characters. The tonal shift from the original movie to a more young adult orientation alienated older fans. Disney removed the series from its streaming library entirely just six months after its cancellation.

‘Halo’ (2022–2024)

The long-awaited adaptation of the Xbox shooter game made the controversial decision to have Master Chief remove his helmet frequently. Hardcore gamers felt this choice betrayed the stoic and faceless nature of the character they knew. The narrative also introduced a human antagonist within the Covenant that confused and angered lore purists. Paramount Plus eventually cancelled the series after two seasons as it failed to win over the core demographic.

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ (2017–2024)

This series launched the modern era of the franchise but faced backlash for its darker tone and visual redesign of the Klingons. Longtime fans complained that the show disregarded the optimistic philosophy of Gene Roddenberry in favor of action and melodrama. The focus on a single protagonist rather than an ensemble cast was another point of friction for traditionalists. It consistently received low audience scores despite running for five seasons.

‘Dear White People’ (2017–2021)

Justin Simien adapted his film into a series that satirized race relations at an Ivy League university. The title alone was enough to trigger a massive review bombing campaign from people who had not seen the show. A boycott movement trended on social media claiming the show promoted reverse racism. The controversy likely helped raise awareness of the show which ran for four seasons on Netflix.

‘The Wheel of Time’ (2021–Present)

Robert Jordan’s massive fantasy series received a high-budget adaptation that made significant changes to the plot and character arcs. Book readers expressed their disappointment with the pacing and the alterations to the magic system known as the One Power. The casting choices also drew fire from those who envisioned the characters differently based on the text. The divide between book purists and casual viewers resulted in a polarized audience score.

‘And Just Like That…’ (2021–Present)

The revival of the hit HBO series reunited three of the original four main characters but struggled to find its footing. Fans reacted viscerally to the introduction of the character Che Diaz and the handling of Miranda’s storyline. The absence of Samantha Jones cast a shadow over the production that the writing failed to dispel. Hate-watching became a common phenomenon as viewers tuned in just to critique the awkward dialogue.

‘Supergirl’ (2015–2021)

The adventures of Kara Zor-El moved to The CW where it embraced more overtly political storylines over time. Viewers who preferred escapist entertainment often flooded the show with negative reviews whenever it tackled social justice topics. The show became a lightning rod for online critics who dissected the scripts for perceived ideological bias. It managed to complete a six-season run despite the persistent tug-of-war in the user ratings.

‘The Last of Us’ (2023–Present)

While critically acclaimed as one of the best video game adaptations ever made the show faced targeted review bombing. The third episode focused entirely on a romantic relationship between two men which caused a spike in one-star ratings. A similar backlash occurred regarding the casting of Bella Ramsey as Ellie due to her appearance not matching the game character exactly. The overwhelming positive reception from the general public eventually balanced out the scores.

‘Moon Knight’ (2022)

Oscar Isaac played a mercenary with dissociative identity disorder who becomes the avatar of an Egyptian moon god. The series was review-bombed by users who denied the historical facts regarding the Armenian Genocide which was mentioned in the show. Turkish nationalists coordinated a campaign to lower the rating on online databases. This political backlash had nothing to do with the quality of the Marvel production itself.

Share your thoughts on which of these series deserved the hate or were unfairly targeted in the comments.