Why was A Million Little Things canceled? Reasons explored

A Million Little Things, created by DJ Nash, ended its run on ABC with its fifth season. It left its characters on a note that made sense to him. The show followed a group of friends who were hoping to understand what they meant to each other after experiencing a tragic incident. It was a slice-of-life melodrama that made many laugh and cry along with the characters.

Despite an overall mixed reception from TV critics at the time, the audiences were charmed by it. Fans hoped for A Million Little Things to continue for a longer time. However, the showrunner had a different plan in mind. He discussed it with Variety shortly before the final season premiered on the Network.

Here's what he said:

“We’re not a hospital show where new interns can come in. We’re about a group of friends that are real, and a lot of things have happened to this group of friends. I didn’t want us to become the issue-of-the-week show.”

He added:

“I knew from the beginning it was five years. I wasn’t as public about it because people want it to go longer, but this is the right time.”

The end of A Million Little Things left many fans wanting more

A Million Little Things began as a show about a group of friends trying to process the loss of their close friend. It became an inciting incident for these characters to reconnect and find new meaning to their lives.

However, unlike Friends or similar shows, it was not about young characters with seemingly their whole lives ahead of them. In A Million Little Things, most of them were working professionals. So, the choices and consequences were more complicated than before.

Its melodrama may not have appeased the TV critics, but it touched so many hearts that fans believed it warranted some more time to flesh out some of its characters or narratives in a different setting or context. That is not surprising, with a show with similar emotional resonance.

In the past, many shows were cut short, leaving some of their narrative threads feeling open-ended. HBO's Westworld is one such example, where fans were hoping for the story to be explored after its fourth season. Even the cast has spoken about this topic.

In the case of A Million Little Things, season 5 was supposed to wrap up its storyline, according to DJ Nash. So, its ending may not be as abrupt as it may have been for another show. While ABC announced that the show would be ending with its fifth season, it wasn't a cancellation.

Speaking about its ending, DJ Nash said:

“I know seeing this show end may be sad for many people (especially my mom, who watches live every week), but I always knew I wanted to follow these friends for 5 seasons and leave them when the time was right.”

He added:

“When we started making our show, I never could have imagined this incredible community of ‘Millionaires’ who would come together and not only watch, but also share with each other their personal struggles, their pain, and ultimately their true grit. I am both honored and humbled by all of it and am so in awe of the incredible actors, writers, directors, and crew who lend their talent to make our show. I am also so grateful that ABC now makes mental health awareness one of the top issues for which it advocates. Terrence and I can’t wait for the Millionaires to watch what we have planned for our final season.”

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A Million Little Things is available to watch on Hulu.

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