We have hardly entered the new year and Netflix did not abstain from taking the hard decision of canceling shows that have been widely loved like 1899. This just shows that no matter how much we are attached to certain things or even people, it’s prudent to end it when it’s not working out. Created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese, the plot of this mystery, historical drama, horror, and supernatural fiction begins “when mysterious events change the course of an immigrant ship headed for New York in 1899, a mind-bending riddle unfolds for its bewildered passengers.”
Despite the show’s incredible performance, Netflix’s decision to cancel the show comes off as a shocker, especially to the show’s fans who were rooting for the second season to get answers to all the loose ends in 1899 season one.
How was the cancellation of 1899 announced?
The announcement of the cancellation was made by the show’s co-creator duo Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar in the form of a joint statement that was posted to Odar’s 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.”
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Based on this statement, although the creators did not mention the cause of the cancellation of the show, it seems that the streaming giant was solely responsible for canceling it in the first place.
How was 1899 received among the critics?
According to Collider:
“1899 was met with rave critical and audience reception and was perceived as a worthy successor to Dark, Friese and Odar’s first project from their Netflix deal.”
Premiered on Netflix on November 17, all eight episodes were a hit on the official streamer, leading the series to climb the coveted Top 10 chart. Its fame and success were almost parallel to Dark, with both shows revolving around common themes, with the viewers reckoning 1899 to be capable enough of competing with its predecessor.
Why was 1899 cancelled by Netflix?
Reasoning out the cancellation of 1899 by Netflix, despite its exponential fanbase and viewership figures, Collider writes:“…it would seem as though the numbers were not enough to break even when compared to the show’s expensive cost – 1899 employed the use of virtual production techniques which does not come cheap; production was done on a newly-built stage at Babelsberg Studios in Germany which is currently Europe’s largest.”
Be that as it may, the announcement of the cancellation was made by the creators of the show. Netflix has not released any official statement regarding the cancellation or renewal of the show.
For those unversed, 1899 is a sci-fi mystery thriller that is set in the titular temporal landscape. It is centered around the lives of the crew and passengers aboard a steamship titled Kerberos and how things turn topsy-turvy when certain inexplicable events unravel on deck, frightening all the passengers to their bones. Featuring an ensemble cast that includes Emily Beecham, Aneurin Barnard, Andreas Pietschmann, and Miguel Bernardeau among many others, 1899 was created by Friese and bo Odar who served as co-showrunners and executive producers as well.