Amazon Video premiered a new series, "Good Girls Revolt," based on the book by Lynn Povich chronicling the lawsuit that she and other women brought against Newsweek in 1970 for sexual discrimination. At the time, women were barred from being reporters and never received the byline their work as "researchers" deserved. This is an important story that most of us did not learn in high school but apparently is not important enough to warrant a second season. Roy Price, the head of Amazon Video, decided to cancel the show even after outstanding reviews: the show was one of the most watched of the "Amazon Original" series. The unfortunate cancellation came just a month after the pilot episode premiered, which is a rare move in the world of television streaming.
An article published recently in The Atlantic claimed that Price didn't like the show, although he didn't even watch it, and that there were no women present at the meeting when this decision was made. Scary, huh? In the end, the lifespan of a television show relies heavily upon viewer metrics and overall profits. If this was a political move, Amazon Video should reevaluate their strategy.
Comparing this show to another historical period drama, AMC's "Mad Men," minimizes the larger issues that "Good Girls Revolt" so bravely conquers. Each character has several layers—no one is just a hero or just a villain. Women are not a subplot; they are the plot. The show's narrative lacks the male perspective that would draw in a male audience. The sad truth is that until the fight for equal rights is deemed sexy enough for television, by both male and female audiences, shows like this will continue to fail.
After becoming emotionally invested in each character, it is unclear whether the saga will continue. (Spoiler alert: the last scene was not a good place to end.) Loyal fans have publicly pleaded on social media with the hashtag #savegoodgirlsrevolt. Sony Pictures has until the end of December to find another home for "Good Girls Revolt."