The cancellation of The Society left many fans puzzled about Netflix’s decision. The show often likened to William Golding’s classic 1954 novel, Lord of the Flies, revolves around a group of teenagers left to fend for themselves in a deserted town after the disappearance of all adults. Unfortunately, Netflix chose to discontinue The Society series after just one season.
The storyline follows the high school students of West Ham, Connecticut as they grapple with their newfound reality and inevitably divide into factions, each with their ideas on how to navigate their predicament. The show delves into gripping narratives like Becca Gelb’s unexpected pregnancy, and the precarious heart condition of Cassandra Pressman. Moreover, the 10-episode inaugural season keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with several shocking deaths that add to the suspense and drama.
The abrupt cancellation of The Society before its second season left a multitude of lingering questions, chief among them being the enigmatic disappearance of the adults. Frustrated and eager fans even initiated a Change.org petition, rallying for the revival of the series, while expressing their fervent longing for another season across various social media platforms.
Why Netflix Canceled The Society Due To COVID-19
Only two months after the debut of The Society’s first season, Netflix announced in July 2019 that it would be renewed for a second season. The production for Season 2 was scheduled to start in Massachusetts in March 2020. However, the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, also known as COVID-19, caused a delay in the filming schedule.
Plans were in place to kickstart filming for The Society in September 2020, but a few weeks before the resumption date, Netflix disclosed that the show would not be making a comeback after all.
The cancellation of the drama occurred simultaneously with the axing of another new series, I Am Not Okay With This. In August 2020, a Netflix spokesperson told Deadline that the pandemic’s restrictions rendered it unfeasible to proceed with the production of these two series.
The spokesperson’s statement was clear: “We’ve made the tough decision to not proceed with second seasons for The Society and I Am Not Okay With This.”
The highly anticipated season 2 of The Society was originally scheduled to resume filming in the fall of 2020. However, Netflix’s decision to cancel the series was primarily attributed to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, as reported by Deadline.
Netflix also pulled the plug on the teen series “I Am Not Okay With This” after just one season, and the popular show “GLOW” met a similar fate after three seasons. The root cause for these cancellations lay in the escalating production costs associated with implementing stringent health and safety protocols in the wake of the pandemic, as revealed by Deadline.
Adding to the intrigue surrounding The Society, the culmination of season 1 in episode 10, titled “How It Happens,” left viewers with a tantalizing revelation. It hinted that the parents were still present in the actual West Ham, suggesting that the teenagers had found themselves in an alternate universe. The series had built up a fervent following, and fans were eager to witness the unfolding of this complex narrative, which unfortunately remains unrealized with the cancellation of The Society.
What Would Season 2 Have Been Like?
Gordie (played by Jose Julian), a standout character in The Society, begins to ponder the possibility of the teenagers existing in a parallel world as early as season 1, episode 2, titled “Our Town.” This intriguing concept is subtly alluded to in the season finale.
Notably, Christopher Keyser, the creator of the series, expressed his ambitious desire for The Society to span a total of five seasons. Such a prolonged run would have provided ample opportunities to unravel the mysteries behind why the teenagers were the sole inhabitants of their small town.
With the central question of why the youth were the only remaining residents looming large from season 1, the prospect of a season 2 promised to be a riveting continuation, as viewers eagerly anticipated the unveiling of answers and the further exploration of this captivating storyline.
Keyser also revealed intriguing details about the planned storyline for The Society in its second season, which would revolve around a place referred to as “the outpost.” This significant location was discovered by Grizz, portrayed by Jack Mulhern, in the gripping season 1 finale. “The outpost” represented a crucial area where the characters could cultivate crops and engage in farming activities.
Given the surreal nature of the town in The Society and the limitless possibilities it offered, Keyser’s vision for season 2 promised to delve into profound themes. He explained that the upcoming season would delve into the intricate dynamics of creating caste systems and an underclass within their unique society. This narrative had both substantial political implications and the potential for the development of new relationships among the characters. Furthermore, it aimed to resolve lingering questions about who held power and who did not, as reported by Variety.
The Society Season Cast
- Kathryn Newton as Allie Pressman
- Gideon Adlon as Becca Gelb
- Sean Berdy as Sam Eliot
- Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Helena Wu
- Jacques Colimon as Will LeClaire
- Olivia DeJonge as Elle Tomkins
- Alex Fitzalan as Harry Bingham
- Kristine Froseth as Kelly Aldrich
- Toby Wallace as Campbell Eliot
- Rachel Keller as Cassandra Pressman
Conclusion
As the conclusion of The Society season 1 tantalizingly hinted at the possibility of a lone dog acting as a bridge between the youthful protagonists and the missing adults, anticipation for the next chapter was at an all-time high. The show’s creator and executive producer, Christopher Keyser, had mapped out intriguing plans for season 2, but unfortunately, these creative ideas remained unrealized due to the unfortunate cancellation.
Read Next Blog:
