7 YouTube Originals That Deserve a Revival After YouTube Premium Price Hike

In June 2026, many YouTube Premium subscribers opened their emails and discovered they would soon be paying more for the service. The individual plan has risen to $15.99 per month, while the family plan now costs $26.99 per month. YouTube says the increase will help support creators and improve the platform.

That conversation got me thinking about something else entirely. Years before streaming became crowded with endless subscriptions, YouTube quietly experimented with premium scripted television. Some shows flopped. Some were strange. A few were genuinely excellent. Yet when YouTube shut down its Originals division in 2022, many promising series were left behind. If subscribers are being asked to pay more today, perhaps it is time to remember some of the projects that once made Premium feel special. 

Here are seven YouTube Originals that still deserve another shot.

7 Cobra Kai

Image Credit: Netflix

Before it became a Netflix phenomenon, Cobra Kai belonged to YouTube. The continuation of The Karate Kid surprised nearly everyone by turning Johnny Lawrence into one of television’s most compelling redemption stories. The series helped drive attention to YouTube Premium and became the platform’s biggest original success.

Of course, Cobra Kai already received its proper continuation elsewhere, but its success proved YouTube could compete with traditional streaming services when it invested in strong storytelling. If there is one show that justified YouTube’s entire Originals experiment, this was it. 

Where it ended up: Netflix.

6 Wayne

Ciara Bravo and Mark McKenna in Wayne (2019) | Credit: YouTube Premium

I will never understand how Wayne did not become a larger hit. Created by Shawn Simmons and starring Mark McKenna and Ciara Bravo, the series followed a teenage vigilante who stole back his late father’s prized car and traveled across the country with the girl he loved. It was funny, heartfelt, violent, and surprisingly emotional. Yet despite strong reviews, it became one of the casualties of YouTube’s changing strategy.

Even today, fans continue asking for a second season. And, they have a point.

5 Impulse

Impulse | Credit: YouTube Premium

Based on Steven Gould’s novel, Impulse took the teleportation concept from Jumper and transformed it into a darker, more character-driven story. The show followed Henrietta “Henry” Coles as she discovered extraordinary abilities while struggling with trauma and isolation.

Unlike many science-fiction dramas, Impulse focused more on emotional consequences than flashy spectacle. Critics praised its performances and mature storytelling, yet YouTube canceled it after two seasons. This one still feels unfinished.

4 Origin

Hiromoto Ida in Origin (2018) | Credit: Left Bank Pictures | YouTube Red2018

Long before every streamer was chasing science-fiction franchises, YouTube launched Origin. The series trapped a group of strangers aboard a spacecraft heading toward a distant planet. As secrets emerged, trust became increasingly difficult. The cast included Tom Felton and Natalia Tena, both familiar faces from major fantasy franchises.

The premise was simple, but the execution kept viewers guessing. Unfortunately, YouTube never renewed it despite strong audience interest. A revival could work remarkably well in today’s streaming landscape.

3 Liza on Demand

Liza on Demand (2018) | Credit: YouTube Premium

Not every YouTube Original tried to be prestige television. Sometimes people just wanted something fun. Starring creator Liza Koshy, Liza on Demand followed a young woman juggling bizarre gigs and increasingly absurd situations while trying to build a future for herself.

The comedy embraced internet culture without feeling trapped by it. The show earned multiple seasons and became one of YouTube’s more recognizable scripted successes. Given how much creator-led content dominates modern entertainment, a revival feels surprisingly plausible.

2 Step Up: High Water

Step Up: High Water (2018) | Credit: YouTube Originals

Many viewers forget that Step Up: High Water started on YouTube before eventually moving elsewhere. The dance drama expanded the Step Up universe with strong choreography, compelling rivalries, and a cast filled with rising talent. The show later found a home at Starz, but its YouTube years remain an important chapter in the platform’s original programming experiment.

If any franchise could still attract a passionate audience today, it is this one. Dance stories never really go out of style.

1 Weird City

Dylan O’Brien in Weird City (2019) | Credit: YouTube Premium

Perhaps the strangest show YouTube ever produced, Weird City came from Jordan Peele and Charlie Sanders. Set in a futuristic society divided by wealth, each episode explored a different corner of this bizarre world. Some stories were hilarious, others were unsettling and a few were surprisingly thoughtful.

The anthology format gave creators enormous freedom, and that willingness to take risks is exactly what made the project memorable. Not every episode worked, but very few streaming comedies have been this willing to experiment. That alone deserves respect.

With YouTube Premium becoming more expensive for subscribers in 2026, some viewers are naturally asking what additional value they are receiving. Bringing back one or two beloved Originals would certainly get people talking. Will it happen? Probably not but if streaming has taught us anything, it is that canceled shows rarely stay buried forever.

Which YouTube Original would you revive first? Let us know in the comments, and follow FandomWire for more streaming features and entertainment coverage.