Netflix's Luna Nera: Why the Witchy Drama Needs to be Renewed

Spoiler Warning: Luna Nera Season One

Luna Nera, the Italian Netflix original, gave us a captivating first season, and we've heard nothing since. Released January 2020 and based on the historical fantasy novel titled Luna Nera: Le Citta Perdute (Black Moon: The Lost Cities) by Tiziana Triana, the show follows a group of witches in the 17th century who, as expected, live in exile and are persecuted for who they are. Who they are, however, are humans despite their gifts, but their humanity fails to protect them from being blamed for every misfortune that arises.

The series focuses not only on the struggles of being different in a time when uniqueness meant isolation but a young woman, Ade (Nina Fotaras), who discovers she's a witch. Thrown into a world, she knows nothing about our shy protagonist's struggles to protect herself and her little brother Valente (Giada Gagliardi).

Season 1 ended on a surprising cliffhanger, and with such an ending, it's only natural for viewers to assume they’ll be getting a follow-up season. The series was praised for having an all-female production crew, but because Netflix hasn't canceled the series or announced a renewal, Luna Nera has been left in suspension.

Despite gaining rave reviews from some viewers, the series received a less than excellent 5.9/10 rating on IMDb, and with the streaming giant, Netflix, giving its attention to more highly rated shows, that may be a contributing factor to Luna Nera being shoved to the back burners. The series was also released during the pandemic's peak, and with the global shutdown recently lifted, filming for all movies and series is back in business.

Netflix has never been shy about canceling shows, so for now, no news is good news.

Luna Nera Season 1 Was a Good First Run

Season 1 introduces Ade, a young midwife who, while helping her grandmother deliver a baby for an upper-class woman, has a dark premonition about the unborn child. The second the baby enters the world still-born, Ade's grandmother warns her they will be accused of killing the child and being witches. Rushing to get ahead of the impending danger, Ade’s dragged home to collect a sacred book and Valente, who’s ill. Although Ade's confused by what’s happening, her grandmother reassures her that everything will be okay and that she and Valente must escape the village. She instructs Ade to find a group of women who protect the world by keeping the portal between the dead and the living closed, and they'll take care of her.

With Ade’s grandmother eventually captured and Ade and Valente on the run, Ade becomes a prime target for witch hunters. Meanwhile, Pietro (Giorgio Belli), a young man from a family of witch hunters called the Benandanti, is called home from studying abroad due to his mother's illness. When he's told that his father believes his wife was hexed by a witch, Pietro, who doesn’t believe in witchcraft, objects against his father’s belief.

Pietro later runs into Ade, who is scavenging for food, and learns of her dilemma. So when Ade’s grandmother is set to be burnt at the stake, Pietro defends her, claiming all magic can be explained by science and that the umbilical cord strangled the baby. That didn’t win him any favors with anyone, but a mysterious woman appears in time, casting a spell that frees Ade's grandmother, which only angers Pietro’s father further, forcing him to stab Ade’s grandmother to death.

Ade’s finally introduced to the secret coven of witches since they were the ones that attempted to save her grandmother. However, Ade soon learns that her grandmother was, in fact, her mother when her grandmother's body reverts to its youthful appearance after death. Between learning the truth about her mother, her new place among witches, and being hunted, Ade also finds comfort and blossoming love with Pietro.

While learning to control her abilities, Ade's revealed to be highly gifted. The coven thinks she might be a special witch, someone that would help them protect the human realm, but as the series progresses, lies are unfolded, bonds are formed and broken, Ade discovers she's not the chosen one as believed, and it sends her into the arms of darkness.

With a captivating enough storyline, all-around great cinematography, and acting, for some viewers, Luna Nera became somewhat hard to follow, with several characters having their own ordeals to battle. That hasn’t prevented fans from voicing their need for a follow-up season.

Why Season 2 Will Be Better Than the First

Season 1 concluded with Ade not only learning her grandmother was her mother but also that her brother Valente was, in fact, her sister. That was a bombshell no one saw coming. While giving birth to Valente, alone and under a tree, mind you, it was revealed Valente was the chosen one and would be in great danger. Using the last of her power, his and Ade's mother changed Valente’s gender, showcasing the profound love of a mother keen on sacrificing everything for her child.

As for Ade, rocked by this revelation and Valente becoming the new leader of the coven, she spirals after losing everything and turns to the dark side. In all honesty, Ade was dealt a bad hand. She was thrown into a world she struggled to understand. Her heart was broken time and again and especially after Pietro's rejection. She did her best to survive, and in the end, a coven that became her new home was taken like the first.

The first season was an introduction to all the characters and pillar plot, but season two will get to the meat of the matter regarding the battle between the witches and the forces that oppose them now that they have their prophesied leader. Furthermore, we know the story of witches being hunted, but Luna Nera gave us an inside look at what it’s like for those witches and the price of being shunned when innocent. Without a doubt, we'll see a clash between Ade and Valente and Valente’s transition into becoming a witch and a coven leader, not to mention she’s only a child.

Luna Nera offers an intriguing take on the lives of witches, and we’re hoping Netflix will give this gem another chance to be an even bigger hit.