‘1899’ is Netflix’s First Cancellation of the Year
The parade of shows Netflix has canceled after one season has gotten longer – 1899 is the first cancelation of 2023.
1899 was ambitious. It was the first Netflix show to use a virtual studio. The characters spoke multiple languages and required audiences to really tune in to keep track of the plot and the clues. The series had a built-in fan base thanks to the creators’ previous series, Dark – but not enough to save it from the ax.
via Netflix
Creators Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese mentioned they were hoping for a second season during the press tour last year. They released a statement about the cancellation on Instagram.
“With a heavy heart, we have to tell you that 1899 will not be renewed. We would have loved to finish this incredible journey with a 2nd and 3rd season as we did with Dark. But sometimes, things don’t turn out the way you planned. That’s life. We know this will disappoint millions of fans out there. But we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts that you were a part of this wonderful adventure. We love you. Never forget.”
View this post on Instagram
If you were waiting on news of the show’s future to watch, you have your answer. Still want to dive in? Season one has an open ending that provides solutions, but it opens a new chapter for a season that isn’t coming. There isn’t a lot of hope that it will get saved by another service like The Expanse.
via Netflix
Netflix’s Cancellation Habit
The streamer has created this loop for new shows due to how they develop new content. In their quest to have the newest content, they use a ‘throw things at the wall to see what sticks’ approach. Viewers don’t want to invest for fear a show will be canceled, but if a new show doesn’t get viewers it will get canceled. Many of these shows end with rushed/weird wraps or unresolved cliffhangers.
Streaming has brought on an accelerated development process that’s all about more new content constantly. Sure, there’s always something new to watch, but that doesn’t mean it’s worth the churn. The method comes with costs – lowered quality, cancellations, and an overwhelming number of choices. The deluge of new titles (there were over 500 new shows last year) makes me miss the limitations of network and cable a little bit.
