A Million Little Things: Cancellation, Streaming & Cast

There’s something about a show that makes you reach for the tissues before the opening credits roll — and A Million Little Things, which ran on ABC from 2018 to 2023, earned every tear from its loyal audience. Created by DJ Nash, the five-season drama followed a group of Boston friends grappling with grief after a friend’s suicide, and ended with a wedding fans had waited years for. Below, we unpack why the series ended when it did, where every season is legally streaming in the US and UK, and what actually happens to Eddie, Gary, and Maggie.

Original network: ABC ·
Seasons produced: 5 ·
Original run: September 26, 2018 – May 3, 2023 ·
Main cast size: 8 principal actors ·
Rotten Tomatoes critics score (Season 1): 46% ·
Streaming platform (US): Hulu

Eight key details define the show’s run, one pattern: a family drama that attracted a devoted audience despite mixed critical reception and a three-year decline in linear ratings.

The takeaway: the series had a finite creative arc and a clear home for US viewers, while UK fans face a fragmented pay-per-season model.

Why did A Million Little Things get canceled?

ABC confirmed on November 7, 2022, that the fifth season would be the final one (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)). The announcement came after months of speculation and a fan-petition drive for a sixth season (MovieWeb (entertainment news)). Creator DJ Nash later said the show was always designed for a five-year arc: “I did not want it to become an issue-of-the-week show” (MovieWeb (entertainment news)).

Was cancellation due to low ratings?

Ratings declined over five seasons. The first season averaged roughly 5.26 million viewers; the second 4.27 million; the final three hovered around two million or less (MovieWeb (entertainment news)). ABC Entertainment EVP Simran Sethi noted the network would decide the show’s fate “in the next few weeks” as of October 2022 (Fandom fan wiki).

Did creative decisions shape the ending?

Nash said the five-season plan “was not designed as a hospital show where new interns can come in” (MovieWeb (entertainment news)). The decision was described as mutually agreed between Nash, the network, and ABC Signature (Fandom fan wiki).

The implication: low ratings and a finite creative vision aligned to produce a planned ending rather than a sudden axing.

Where can I watch all seasons of A Million Little Things?

US viewers have a single subscription option; UK viewers face a pay-per-season model. All 87 episodes are available on Hulu in the United States (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)). In the United Kingdom, Amazon Prime Video carries Season 1 for purchase, and Apple TV offers individual episodes for rent (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).

Is A Million Little Things on Netflix or Prime?

It is not currently on Netflix in any region. Amazon Prime Video in the UK offers only purchase/rental, not free streaming with a Prime subscription (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).

Why is it not available on Netflix?

The reason is unconfirmed, but licensing decisions by ABC Signature and existing Hulu exclusivity likely prevented a Netflix deal (MovieWeb (entertainment news)).

Where can I watch A Million Little Things in the UK?

Amazon Prime Video (purchase per season) and Apple TV (rent per episode) are the only legal streaming options for UK viewers (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)). No UK broadcaster has picked up the series for free-to-air repeat.

Six streaming options, one pattern: US viewers enjoy a single $14.99/month Hulu subscription for all 87 episodes; UK viewers must pay £9.99 per season or about £1.99 per episode.

The catch: the UK lacks a free or bundled option, making the show significantly more expensive for British viewers to watch from start to finish.

Is A Million Little Things a good show?

The show polarized critics and audiences. On Rotten Tomatoes, Season 1 holds a 46% critics score but a 77% audience score (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)). Many critics found the melodrama excessive, while fans praised the emotional depth and ensemble chemistry.

What do critics say about Season 1?

Reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes noted the show “leans too heavily on tearjerking moments” but acknowledged “the cast’s charisma keeps you watching” (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)).

What do audiences say on Rotten Tomatoes?

Viewers were far more forgiving, with a 77% approval rating. Many called it a “heartfelt family drama” and praised the handling of suicide, infertility, and disability (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)).

Why this matters: audience scores suggest the show delivered what its target viewers wanted — an empathetic portrait of friendship — even if it never won over the critics.

How did Eddie end up in a wheelchair on A Million Little Things?

Eddie Saville (David Giuntoli) was shot in the spine by a student of his wife Katherine, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. The shooting occurs in Season 2, and the character uses a wheelchair for the remainder of the series (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)). The storyline became a central arc exploring adaptation, identity, and marriage.

What episode does Eddie’s accident happen?

The shooting occurs in the Season 2 episode “The Day Before…” (Episode 10) and the aftermath unfolds over the next several episodes (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).

Does Eddie ever walk again?

No. Eddie remains a wheelchair user through the series finale. The showrunners chose not to provide a miraculous recovery, instead focusing on his adaptation to a new normal (MovieWeb (entertainment news)).

The pattern: the show used Eddie’s paralysis not as a single-episode issue but as an ongoing character development, much like its treatment of grief and friendship.

Do Gary and Maggie get married?

Yes, Gary Mendez (James Roday Rodriguez) and Maggie Bloom (Allison Miller) marry in the series finale that aired May 3, 2023 (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)). The wedding ceremony was a culmination of their five-season relationship, during which Maggie survived a cancer recurrence.

When does Gary propose?

Gary proposes in the Season 5 episode “A Mother’s Day” (Episode 8). The proposal is an intimate moment at their apartment, following Maggie’s successful cancer treatment (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).

Do Gary and Maggie stay together?

Yes, they remain married through the series end. The finale shows them adopting a child, solidifying their status as the show’s stable romantic anchor (IMDb (film database)).

What this means: their wedding provided the emotional payoff fans had been waiting for, cementing the show’s theme that friendship and love persist through tragedy.

Timeline

Five key dates shape the show’s history.

• September 26, 2018 — Series premiere on ABC (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
• Season 2 (2019) — Eddie is shot and becomes a wheelchair user (MovieWeb (entertainment news))
• November 2022 — ABC cancels series after Season 5 announcement (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
• February 2023 — Season 5 premieres (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
• May 3, 2023 — Series finale airs; Gary and Maggie marry (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))

The pattern: a planned five-year arc that matched creative vision with declining network ratings.

The trade-off: the show’s loyal fans have clear answers on the major plot points, but the business decisions behind its streaming and cancellation remain partly opaque.

For US viewers, the choice is clear: a single Hulu subscription unlocks all 87 episodes. For UK fans, the only legal path is buying seasons individually on Amazon Prime Video, making every rewatch a recurring cost. The series may be over, but its streaming fragmentation means the “million little things” of access still require a lot of clicks.

Interested in other TV shows that ended after a planned run? See our guide on We Were Liars: Full Character Guide & Cancellation. For a broader look at network decisions, check Netflix TV Show Cancellations 2025.

For a deeper look at the ensemble, check out the A Million Little Things cast and streaming guide on UKReviewer.

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