Image source: What’s On Netflix
1899: The most recent Netflix series to be canceled was 1899, which had just got released.
Unlike its predecessor Dark, 1899 will not receive a second season, disappointing fans.
The announcement
Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese were the showrunners of both Dark and 1899; Dark was given more time and eventually rewarded with a cult following.
Bo Odar, however, made the following announcement 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 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 adventure. We love you. Never forget.”
The premise
The convention of having the characters speak in their native tongues was adopted by both Dark and 1899.
An alumnus of Dark, Andreas Pietschmann, who had a significant role in the program, also appeared as another important character.
However, those are the only links between the two shows.
1899 can be summarized as follows:
“A migrant steam heads west to leave the old continent.”
“The passengers, a mixed bag of European origins, united by their hopes and dreams for the new century and their future abroad.”
“But their journey takes an unexpected turn when they discover another migrant ship adrift on the open sea.”
“What they will find on board will turn their passage to the promised land into a horrifying nightmare.”
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Cancellation
Netflix gave Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar the chance to make 1899 in exchange for a deal after the completion of Dark.
The program was initially planned to run for three seasons, but its discontinuation dashed expectations for another story-driven odyssey in the vein of Dark.
Low viewership numbers primarily influenced the decision.
However, an official justification has not yet been given.
It might not be as easy as it first seems to produce a show of the caliber of 1899.
The initial trailer had eight million views, a record high for other Netflix trailers at the time.
The Young Royals season two teaser received a feeble one million viewers.
With five million views, Wednesday came in second place after 1899.
Viewership
Fans were keen to see 1899, as shown by the number of people who watched the trailers.
The program did well even though it didn’t meet Wednesday’s record-breaking ratings.
1899 ranked second among the top 10 Netflix lists after receiving over 79.27 million viewing hours in its first four days, according to Variety.
The latest season of The Crown beat out the show for the top slot.
According to Deadline, 1899 had accumulated 87.9 million viewing hours by the end of the week.
Beyond the US, the show peaked in every country’s charts.
Season 2: what could have been
Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar hoped to wrap up 1899 after three seasons.
“For us, it was important that in the first episode, really from the get-go, you feel unbalanced,” said Friese.
“It does feel a little bit like an 1899 historical drama piece, but something is off.”
“What we constantly do is play with expectations,” she teased.
“You read a code and you expect something and you feel safe in that. You think you figured it out.”
“We’re breaking that expectation, and then hopefully giving you a satisfactory answer.”
“At least, at the end of season three, but hopefully already during the very first season.”
The producers of the show acknowledged they had the 1899 conclusion ready, while keeping it under wraps from the audience.
“We always like to have an ending before we start,” explained Jantje Friese. “We want to know where we are going.”
“We’re moving through a story, and we want to know how it will be resolved in the end.”
“In the middle, there may be some ideas that are more loosely thrown in,” she continued.
“And as we go through the process, the ideas can shift and move into a different position.”
“You’re just trying to be flexible, to really allow the process to surprise you while you’re going through it, but still kind of knowing where you’re sailing to.”
References:
Netflix’s 1899 cancelled after one season
Why 1899 was cancelled – and the chances of season 2 or a spinoff
