1899 is a mystery-horror series by the same people behind the German sci-fi series Dark. It tells the story of a lone steamship traveling through a suspenseful journey filled with diverse characters. Netflix inexplicably canceled 1899 after only one season running. The German creators Baran do Odar, and Jantje Friese announced the news on Instagram in a joint statement. This news came to the disappointment of many fans. Here are some of the many reasons why the decision to cancel 1899 was a mistake by Netflix
It Takes a Unique Approach to World-Building
The show takes its time to establish its world and characters, but it is unafraid to break its own world's rules. 1899 has a unique dynamic where it takes pleasure in establishing rules and then introducing a plot device that ignores them. This is a perfect approach to a mystery show because it always keeps the audience guessing what happens next. 1899 utilizes this formula to deliver relentless revelations and legendary cliffhangers enthralling the audience. This show also takes its plot and story elements seriously. It eschews comic relief and filler plot lines to ensure everything happening is part of the story's momentum, even if you can't figure out where that story is going. The additional characters in 1899 compared to Dark also makes it more accessible to audiences new to the German creator's style.
It Has Great Reviews From Both Critics And Its Audience
After 1899 was announced, it became a highly anticipated show. The creator's previous show, Dark, was met with a positive reception from both critics and audience members. In fact, it received near-universal praise and went on to produce several seasons since it launched on Netflix in 2017. The same pattern held true when 1899 came out, receiving a fresh rating on rotten tomatoes and a 75% audience score. Audiences loved the way it combined sci-fi, horror, mystery, and thriller genres all into one. Critics liked the avant-garde filmmaking style on display that differentiates it from the rest of the mystery catalog. With its diverse cast of characters making an excellent ensemble cast, it also received several comparisons to the hit show Lost. With such excellent critical and audience responses, it is baffling why Netflix would cancel it, especially since their last hit, Dark, needed several seasons to expand on its story.
The Visual Design is Incredible
Many reviews of 1899 sing the praises of its atmospheric visual style. The show is gorgeous to look at, and every frame is dripping with visual storytelling. The sets are opulent and create a memorable atmosphere that makes it easy to get lost in. You get shots of luxurious cabins and beautiful shots of the surrounding environment. There is also a visual contrast between the richer passengers and the poorer passengers on the ship, which helps highlight its themes of class division and multiculturalism.
A Slower Pace Is Appreciated
1899 is a great example of what shows accomplish when they take their time. The show's pacing is slow, which may turn off some viewers, but the payoff and revelations in the story make it worth it. It can feel cheap in a show with so many twists and turns if they are thrust in quick succession. Since 1899 takes its time with the pacing, those moments feel earned. The slower pace allows you more time to feel immersed with the characters, which is important since the show is multilingual. Different characters will speak various languages, including English, French, German, Japanese, Cantonese, and others. The language barrier creates an atmosphere of mistrust as the secrets of the Prometheus ship start to get revealed. This combination of aspects benefits greatly from a slower pace.
It Is Creative and Strange
The show makes a habit of showing you one thing and then peeling back a layer to completely change the context of what you had thought. There is a great use of visions and flashbacks that introduce context and backstory to the character's actions in a simple but effective way. 1899 intentionally plays with red herrings to ensure that the puzzle and mystery never have a clear solution. This can make the show confusing to follow at first, but the show does a good job of converging its multiple plot lines to give the audience a thorough line to follow. It is similar in that way to the show The Peripheral that came out in 2022 that has a different premise, but ties together plot lines seamlessly.
There are nods to Greek mythology in the names of the ships called Kerberos and Prometheus that have parallels to the Greek stories their names are based on. Yet, these connections may only be red herrings for the audience to get lost in, much like how the show's cast is lost at sea. Without saying any spoilers, it takes bizarre and interesting turns for a period piece. It jumps through time a bit to explore different stories.