Netflix has canceled 1899 after only one season, which all but proves that no TV series can be the new Lost. From the creators of Dark, Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar, 1899 premiered on Netflix in November 2022, with the ambition for the series to run for three full seasons. The plot involved the mysterious story of a group of European emigrants traveling from the United Kingdom to the United States, who soon realized that all was not as it seemed. 1899 became a quick hit for Netflix but was nevertheless canceled after its first season, leaving many questions unanswered.
Many compared the mystery and international scope of 1899 to Lost, which aired on ABC between 2004 and 2010 and featured an ensemble cast uncovering the secrets of an unusual island over six seasons. Since Lost's final episode in May 2010, many have tried to recreate the success of its addictive mysteries. Though many series have shown the potential of becoming the "new Lost," none have seen the level of success granted to Jeffrey Lieber, J. J. Abrams, and Damon Lindelof. With 1899's sudden and shocking cancelation, it's starting to seem like no series ever will.
1899 Could Have Been The New Lost
At the time of its release, Lost was one of the most expensive television shows due to its massive ensemble cast and on-location shooting in Oahu, Hawaii, with the pilot alone costing roughly $14 million. In 2022, 1899 became the most expensive German television series and harbored many of the same themes introduced to mass audiences after Lost's pilot and early episodes in 2004. Both Lost and 1899 utilized their sizable budgets to deliver remarkable set pieces and debut a diverse crowd of actors and characters from across the globe, making for exciting entertainment.
As well as both shows having a massive budget to work with, both 1899 and Lost leaned heavily into the mystery genre, posing many questions that kept audiences gripped and unraveling the story in small bites. In Lost, this meant each member of the ensemble cast saw tailored episodes that detailed their backstories before crashing on the Island. In 1899, this manifested in the passengers on the Kerberos trying to figure out what was really going on aboard their ship, as well as the mystery behind 1899's missing ship named the Prometheus. Both storylines were intricate and complex, meaning audiences had to watch until the end to understand what was unfolding.
Lost Needed More Than One Season, So Did 1899
During its first season, Lost seemed to detail quite a simple plot involving a group of plane crash survivors who attempt to survive on escape, and escape, a remote island, with only subtle hints at a grander mystery being included. The story only started to be more fleshed-out and thought-through as the seasons progressed, meaning that Lost wouldn't have had the same impact if it had been pulled from production after season 1. To effectively tell the complete story, Lost needed six full seasons, allowing audiences to understand the characters and their motivations and wrap up any loose ends in its final, climactic season.
This same idea caused an uproar over the cancelation of 1899 since one season didn't do the story justice, especially after the cliffhanger ending in the season finale. Many underestimated Lost after its premiere in 2004, but over its duration, the series changed the shape of television, so it's a shame that a repeat attempt at a similarly culture-defining mystery show has been halted at every turn. 1899 was planned for three seasons, so viewers have only seen one-third of the story. It is unclear if 1899 will be picked up by another streaming service or network where it can conclude its three-season arc.
Why Did Netflix Cancel 1899?
Netflix canceled 1899 after just one season and only two months after its November 2022 release, which has prompted the argument the series had little time to prove its success. It has been reported that Netflix canceled 1899 because the series' completion rate (the percentage of viewers who finish the show) was below 50% (via Forbes). Despite this, 1899 sat in the number two spot for Netflix shows for three weeks after its premiere, and the amount of hype surrounding the new mystery series made it apparent the show would become a Netflix staple.
Many have related 1899's cancelation to other popular series that controversially saw their time cut short. It joins the likes of Sense8, which also had a large budget and international cast, The OA, which caused an outcry online after its 2019 cancelation, and Archive 81, which ended on a cliffhanger ending similar to 1899. Even though Netflix has cut ties with 1899, the series' future could still be bright in the hands of another network where it can potentially fulfill its promise as the new Lost. However, until any official confirmation, viewers will simply have to be patient.