The Society: A Fan Favorite
Ever since the Society was cruelly canceled after the first season, fans have been crying out for it to somehow return – and our hopes could possibly get answered soon. The beloved series premiered on Netflix in May, 2019, and followed teenagers who were displaced from their hometown while on a school trip – and thrown into an identical version, without any adult supervision. They were forced to take things into their own hands and created their own community, but things quickly got out of hand and spiraled into a Lord of the Flies-style situation with an almighty cliffhanger.
Fans’ Continued Support
Five years on, fans’ calls for more episodes have not quietened, with creator Christopher Keyser touched by the huge response – teasing that those behind the camera are always trying to come up with ways to move the story on. In fact, we were almost close to getting new episodes in the form of a graphic novel before the publishing company went bust.
Creator’s Insights
‘This wasn’t a normal cancellation. This wasn’t about not having the audience or we didn’t believe in it anymore. There was a global crisis that changed all of our lives in the one year we were able to make it,’ he insisted to Variety. ‘I have consistent conversations with a bunch of the writers and Marc Webb [executive producer] about how we might bring this back in some way. We don’t have an answer yet, and I wouldn’t count on it, but I don’t do that with every show that gets canceled. The audience still wants to talk about it. They are still moved by it and want answers to the questions and then new questions are posed. I just don’t know whether the world is going to work in a way that aligns for us, but we’ll keep trying for a while because it’s gotten under my skin as well.’
Fan Reactions
Kathryn Newton, Gideon Adlon, Olivia DeJonge, Toby Wallace, and Jacques Colimon led the cast of youngsters as they desperately tried to understand their plight, and how their lives had changed in the blink of an eye. The first series ended on a huge cliffhanger as viewers learned that the parents of the teens were still alive and well back in ‘normality’, and believed that their children had somehow died.
- Viewers’ Questions:
- Where did the school buses transporting the students actually go after vanishing?
- Would the two timelines ever merge again?
Netflix’s Decision
Netflix bosses announced the decision to cancel The Society – as well as I Am Not Okay With This – in August, 2020, in the middle of the global Covid-19 pandemic. Remaining coy about what could happen next – in case their plans for a revival or a graphic novel ever come to fruition, Christopher vowed that they had the storylines already mapped out.
Fans’ Pleas
Right on cue, fans began dissecting his comments on social media, begging Netflix to pick up more episodes once again for some much-needed ‘closure’.
- Fan Reactions:
- Elise: ‘Bring the entire cast back and continue on, we as a society will ignore the fact they’ve aged.’
- Ashley: ‘OH MY GOD?! please I’m begging, I’ve literally never wanted a show to return more than The Society. I need closure!!!’
- Kathy: ‘We were robbed. This show was renewed then cancelled when it should have been placed on delay. We deserve another season.’
- Nowwhyami_innit: ‘Even if it’s one more season FINE! Just tell us wtf happened in that town.’
- Kat Pettibone: ‘When I say I would sell my soul for this! It would be my biggest win.’
The Society is available to stream on Netflix now.