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This budgeting strategy suggests that Amazon may be attempting to salvage the franchise’s viability, potentially as a prelude to cancelation if profitability remains elusive. The decision to lower costs midstream indicates a lack of faith in the show's prospects and may signal an exit strategy rather than continued investment.
Manipulation and Cover-Ups
During its troubled rollout, Amazon engaged in efforts to mask the show's poor reception. The platform temporarily disabled public rating systems to prevent negative feedback from influencing perceptions. When ratings reappeared, they appeared manipulated—hiding or discarding unfavorable reviews and skewing the overall rating on IMDb, which Amazon also owns.