(CNN) "House of Cards" and "Orange is the New Black" both premiered in 2013, almost instantly putting Netflix on the map as an original-programming option, awards contender and pop-culture powerhouse. While the company hasn't outgrown them, exactly, as these signature series come to an end, it's clear that its remarkable growth has rendered each a bit of an afterthought.

Netflix confirmed Wednesday that the upcoming seventh season of "Orange is the New Black" will be the final one, an announcement that comes a few weeks before "House of Cards" begins its last season. While the circumstances are quite different -- the latter had its lifespan truncated by the scandal that engulfed star Kevin Spacey , triggering his exit -- the fact that such a twin loss represents a mere blip is a sign of just how far the streaming service has come in a relatively short time.

As it happens, the "Orange" news came after Netflix disclosed that it had added 7 million subscribers during the most recent quarter, bringing its global tally to 137 million. Earlier this year, the company broke HBO's stranglehold on the Emmy Awards -- first by ending its 21st-century-long streak as the most-nominated network, then by tying in terms of awards overall.

'House of Cards'

Notably, that milestone came without help from one-time nominees "House of Cards," which didn't air during the eligibility window; and "Orange," which did, but having lost several steps creatively, no longer garnered much recognition.

Other shows, however, filled the void, as Netflix has added series at a dizzying pace. HBO, in fact -- the longtime award kingpin -- actually characterized itself as a plucky underdog, citing the sheer volume of contenders that Netflix generated as evidence of HBO's qualitative advantage.

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