The latest axing by Netflix is of the British fantasy series ‘Half Bad: The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself’. The series has been canceled at the streamer after season 1.
Being a success among critics and audiences alike with a 93% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an equally impressive 92% audience score, the cancellation was a shocker for fans. As per reports, it’s assumed that the less-than-expected viewing stats when scrutinized in line with its budget is what led to the decision. And yes, it goes without saying, fans are not pleased.
While the show did start slow, it quickly went on to gain a wide fan following. This has once again brought into the fold the question of whether Netflix should give shows that have potential a second chance to see if they can garner the big first weekend numbers that nowadays ensure renewal on the streamer. And what ‘The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself’ surely had was the potential to be better.
Based on a young adult fiction novel ‘Half Bad’ written by Sally Green, the drama series was created by Joe Barton for Netflix. It tells the story of Nathan Byrne(Jay Lycurgo), an illegitimate son of a dangerous witch, Marcus Edge(David Gyasi), struggling to overcome his odds of following the footsteps of his father as he discovers his true identity alongside his friends.
The news comes a week after we reported that Horror supremo Mike Flanagan’s supernatural teenage drama ‘Midnight Club’ was also canceled by Netflix after one season. While the series ended with a lot of unanswered questions, Flanagan as a show of gratitude for the fans revealed all the plot details in a blog. Even though ‘The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself’ too ended with many questions, since it is based on a novel readily available for reading, the same reveals are not expected for the series.
The series is a slow-burner and was definitely worth a watch. It’s not your typical fantasy drama and that may exactly be the series’ charm. With 8 episodes in season 1, the series may be one of the more engaging fantasy series on Netflix.