A Canceled Horse Racing Series Is Finding New Life on Netflix

Adding an old show or movie to Netflix can be as exciting as getting that new release or original everyone has been talking about; Netflix’s trending charts are often dominated by old classics or films that are finding new appreciation now that they are on the streaming giant. This can sometimes be bittersweet, as with the recent addition of the teenage drama about horse racing, Wildfire, which was canceled in its fourth season much to the outcry of a dedicated fandom.

For those new to the show, we will highlight why you should check it out, and for existing fans, we will go over the series’ legacy, including the infamous campaign to keep the series afloat. It is, undeniably, the perfect time to revisit Wildfire.

Wildfire Plot and Cast

Wildfire follows troubled teen Kris Furillo, who, after being released from a juvenile detention center, is given a second chance working at the Raintree Ranch when her innate talent with horses is recognized by Pablo, the head trainer. The show primarily focuses on Kris, her struggles, and her relationships with the Ritter family, specifically Jean, a compassionate single mother, and her sons Matt and Todd. The show draws its name from the horse that Kris bonds with, Wildfire, and her quest to rehabilitate him into a champion racehorse to help save the family’s struggling ranch from financial ruin.

Wildfire was created by Michael Piller and Christopher Teague. Piller, who sadly passed away in 2005, was best known for his work on Star Trek, having acted as writer and showrunner on TNG, Voyager, and Deep Space Nine. The series starred Genevieve Padalecki, an accomplished actor in her own right. She is best known as the wife of actor Jared Padalecki and has appeared across from him in both Supernatural and Walker. With an expansive cast over its four-season run, other actors who appeared in all 52 episodes include Nicole Tubiola, Nana Visitor, Greg Serano, Micah Alberti, and Ryan Sypek.

Still, the show was a highlight for Genevieve Padalecki (then Genevieve Cortese). The young actor embraced the rancher lifestyle to conquer her role and cement her as the perfect fit to play Kris. She had to learn how to ride and interact with the horses, a fact she said she loved in an interview with Horse Illustrated, where she talked about her bond with one of her favorite horses, Houdini.

Alyssa (Jessica Barden) and James (Alex Lawther) on the run

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Why Was Wildfire Canceled?

Considering that a four-season run is an impressive feat for any show in the competitive TV space, Wildfire got canceled due to declining ratings. Still, the show had an interesting trajectory, with the first season having decent viewership but then seeing a 50% increase for its second season, averaging around 1.56 million viewers. The third season saw a drop back, putting it comparable to the first season at just over 1 million, only to be announced to be canceled shortly after season four’s premiere in 2008. However, ratings dropped significantly in season three, returning to the first season’s numbers of just over a million weekly viewers. When season four premiered in January 2008, ABC Family announced the show’s cancelation soon after.

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This news was met with much sadness from the dedicated fanbase, leading to one of the most humorous campaigns that saw the fans sending hay, horseshoes, apples, rope, and carrots to ABC Family’s media relations manager, Amy Maloney, in a bid to keep the show going. Wildfire did garner a deserved audience, with many drawn to its heartwarming storyline about a troubled teen, Kris Furillo, and the relatable struggles and triumphs that the character faced.

The romance between heartthrob Junior Davis (Ryan Sypek) certainly did not hurt the appeal to the young teen audience as well. For others, how the show connected nature’s healing power with an authentic portrayal of horse rearing added intrigue. It was a show that captured a wide teen audience.

Sadly, the campaign and fan appeal were not enough to save the show, with the final episode of the series, the 13th episode of Season 4, titled “The Ties That Bind: Part 2,” airing on May 26, 2008. Though bittersweet for long-time fans, the episode offered Kris one last chance to race on Wildfire, giving the finale an apt ending to the struggles and triumphs the character faced.

Wildfire has Found New Life on Netflix

Wildfire

Release Date: June 20, 2005
Cast: Genevieve Cortese , Micah Alberti , Nicole Tubiola , Nana Visitor , Greg Serano , James Read
Seasons: 4

While it has been over a decade since the cancelation of Wildfire, the show has seen a resurgence in popularity as fans get a chance to revisit it on the largest streaming platform, Netflix, with old fans coming back to experience the show and new audiences checking it out for the first time. You can stream Wildfire on Netflix, but for those looking to stream the TV series for free, you can also find it on Tubi, Plex, and Netflix’s own ‘free with ads’ streaming service, ensuring, no matter what you are subscribed to, you can check out the fan-favorite series for yourself.