The writers’ strike is still going ahead at full steam, halting the creation of new content unless their justified demands are met. But not everyone agrees with their rightful appeals, especially Disney’s Bob Iger – who finds that the writers and actors going on strike in Hollywood are not being sensible and are not acknowledging the “very, very damaging affect” it is having on the market. Well, a former Disney show writer, who barely has had any time to process the cancelation and complete erasure of an acclaimed series he worked very hard on, would like to not-so-politely disagree.
It has now been weeks since Disney first kickstarted its decision to purge — which it will halt temporarily next month — shows and films. Since then, the Mouse has dumped content without so much as a warning, which affords the shows deleted in the first announced wave a weird label of dignity, probably the only one they got.
Disney Plus’ The Mysterious Benedict Society was one such series whose fate was publicized before being doled out — canceled after two excellent seasons that earned 11 Emmy nominations (of which it won two) and getting removed from the only streamer it was exclusively streaming on.
While Disney has put forward its one repeated reason for deleting his show and cruelly shelving multiple individuals’ hard work, Iger casually calling out the ones on strike for not being “realistic” understandably rubbed The Mysterious Benedict Society’s screenwriter, James Rogers III, the wrong way.
At this point in time, there is no way — at least no legal way — to watch The Mysterious Benedict Society’s episodes, a show that earned the streamer high fame. But this tragic irony of beloved and lauded shows getting canned and dumped doesn’t end here as this year’s Emmy nominations have glorified the injustice by picking titles that no longer have a home.
As Hollywood continues to disappoint the brains and passion behind its success in new ways, is it really okay for someone who is probably a safe distance away from feeling the effects of the strike to review whether those demanding their rights are justified in doing so?