Fans of Shadow and Bone have blasted Netflix for ending the show, despite the fact that it was one of the streaming service’s most popular shows.
For the first time, Netflix issued its first biannual report earlier this week, detailing how many hours more than 18,000 titles had been seen for.
While thriller series The Night Agent was the most popular TV show in the first half of the year, fantasy series Shadow and Bone was not far behind.
The first season, based on the books by Leigh Bardugo and starring Ben Barnes and Jessie Mei Li, began in 2021, with a second season following in March of this year.
It was, however, terminated entirely last month.
Despite the fact that it was Netflix’s 26th most popular show from January to June, according to its What We Watched report.
From its March 16 debut to the end of June, the programme had 192.9 million hours of viewing, making it the most watched English-language scripted series to be cancelled in the first six months of 2023.
Fans have been appealing to have it rescued since its demise, with their appeals now highlighting the fact that it was such a hit for the platform.
Many people expressed their dissatisfaction with the show’s lack of a third season on social media.
‘I opened the report that Netflix shared with the intention of perhaps justifying the cancellation of S&B with the numbers, literally S2 is the 26th most viewed series (and that only counts until June),’ user NathsStar shared on X, formerly Twitter.
‘Just renew Shadow and Bone. It doesn’t matter what this report says shows will be cancelled even if they’re loved!’ someone else shared.
Another added: ‘Just renew Shadow and Bone. It doesn’t matter what this report says shows will be canceled even if they’re loved!’
Other fans expressed dissatisfaction with the report’s findings.
‘Are you digging your own grave or what? Because if you wanted to prove to us that Shadow and Bone was not popular, you just did the very opposite thing. I’m very frustrated and angry.’
Many others continued to urge Netflix for the series to be picked up again.
‘Thanks for this list now we can see that our show was actually popular and the cancellation STILL makes no sense whatsoever! So please rectify and renew it and greenlight the spin-off. Thanks,’ one person begged.
Despite having completed scripts for a spin-off, Netflix shelved the series a week after the Hollywood actors’ strike ended.
Soon later, Bardugo addressed the show’s cancellation in a social media message.
‘Friends, by now you’ve probably heard that there will be no season 3 for Shadow and Bone and no Six of Crows spinoff,’ she began.
‘The news hit me hard. I’m heartbroken and deeply disappointed, but I’m also trying to hold onto my very real gratitude. Most authors never get to see their work adapted.
‘Many who do end up regretting the experience. I’m one of the lucky few who can look at an adaptation with pride and tremendous joy.’
She went on to thank the show’s writers, crew, cast, and fans.
Shadow and Bone is streaming on Netflix.
