1 Year After Cancelation, An MCU Star’s 6-Episode Drama Is A Surprise Netflix Hit

Giancarlo Esposito became a highly sought-after actor after his memorable performance as Gustavo Fring in Breaking Bad. He’s since appeared in major franchises like Star Wars—playing Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian—and recently joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Sidewinder in Captain America: Brave New World. Given his consistent success in high-profile projects, many would expect anything he leads to do well. However, one of his recent starring roles was unfortunately canceled after only one season.

The AMC crime drama Parish debuted in March 2024 but was canceled by the network after its first season in October. However, the show recently became popular on Netflix, quickly landing in the platform’s Top 10 most-watched shows. This jump in popularity after cancellation demonstrates a trend in streaming: shows that don’t initially succeed on traditional TV can find an audience with a new platform and wider reach. For Parish, it shows that a show sometimes just needs more time to find its viewers, and canceling it too soon can mean missing out on its potential.

Why Parish Deserves Your Time

I just finished watching Parish, and it’s a compelling thriller. The film centers around Gray Parish, played brilliantly by Giancarlo Esposito, a man who’s really trying to go straight. He’s built a new life for himself in New Orleans, running a fancy car service and being a good father and husband. But his world gets turned upside down when tragedy strikes – his son is murdered, and his business falls apart. Desperate and in debt, he’s reluctantly drawn back into his old criminal life by a former friend who offers him a dangerous job as a getaway driver. This one decision plunges him into a conflict with a ruthless Zimbabwean crime organization, and he has to dust off his old skills to protect the family he’s worked so hard to build. It’s a gripping story about a man trying to escape his past, and the lengths he’ll go to for those he loves.

The main reason to watch Parish is definitely Esposito’s captivating performance. Though some critics found the story moved too quickly or felt familiar, almost everyone praised Esposito’s ability to portray a good man struggling with his inner demons – he really grounds the series. He gives a deeply emotional performance as a character caught between what’s right and the harsh realities of the criminal world. Beyond that, Parish is a gripping, modern noir thriller, and the show brilliantly uses the distinctive culture and atmosphere of New Orleans. Even though it didn’t last long on AMC, it’s now getting a second chance on Netflix, letting more viewers discover this hidden gem.

All six episodes of Parish are now streaming on Netflix.

I just finished watching Parish on Netflix, and wow! I’m really eager to hear what others thought. If you’ve seen it too, let’s chat about it over on the ComicBook Forum – come join the discussion!

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/essential-netflix-originals-stranger-things-narcos-ozark/embed/#

Read More

2025-10-27 14:11