The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself (aka Half Bad) was cancelled by Netflix after one season, but there is still a chance that fans could lobby for a revival.
What Is It?
Based on the Half Bad books by Sally Green, this show follows a young man who is the bastard son of a notorious witch who was responsible for a terrible massacre. He tries to find his place in the world and deal with his powers while caught between two warring clans.
Aired: Netflix, 2022, 1 Season Totaling 8 Episodes
Starring: Jay Lycurgo, Nadia Parkes, Emilien Vekemans, Isobel Jesper Jones, Karen Connell, and Paul Ready
Created By: Joe Barton
Why Was It Cancelled?
The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself is one of several YA-leaning supernatural dramas that Netflix has put out over the last few years like Lockwood & Co., Fate: The Winx Saga, and Warrior Nun which had a short run and was cancelled too soon. Also known as Half Bad after the book series, it arrived with little in the way of promotion in Fall 2022, though it did manage to creep into the Netflix Top 10 for two weeks (it did not make it into the Nielsen Streaming Rankings). It also received very good marks from critics and viewers, currently holding a 93% Fresh Rating and 91% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes. But it did not have the “completion rate” that Netflix execs were looking for (which tracks the number of people that watch all of the episodes of the current season within a set amount of time), and the show was cut short after its eight-episode run. The show’s studio The Imaginarium announced the cancellation on Twitter, and showrunner Joe Barton confirmed it.
Sadly, yes, Netflix have cancelled this. Very proud of it and really liked the people I got to make it with. Sorry not to be able to finish the story… https://t.co/HUGi13R6Ow
— Joe Barton (@JoeBarton_) December 9, 2022
Fans made an effort to save the series after the cancellation, hoping to convince Netflix execs to change their minds or to interest another venue in picking it up. And they proved that the show has a notable following by getting it trending on social media. But despite their efforts, the show remains cancelled.
Can It Be Revived?
At this point, it may seem like The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself is dead in the water, but an important milestone is coming up which may present an opportunity to revive the series. Netflix generally owns the streaming rights to a property for a minimum of two years. So unless it has an extended hold on the show, the rights should revert back to The Imaginarium by the end of 2024. If fans were to get this one trending on social media again, perhaps that could interest another venue in picking it up for a second season. This show is likely not one of the more expensive streaming productions, so it may be attractive as an affordable scripted property that already has a built-in audience.
The Roku Channel recently enjoyed some success after picking up the cancelled Spiderwick Chronicles from Disney+. And AMC’s horror-focused streaming service Shudder might also be a good landing spot for the show. I don’t know if they have the budget for a property like this, but it is worth trying or possibly targeting some of the bigger services as a budget addition to their scripted lineup. It has been less than two years since the show was cancelled, so picking up where the first season left off is still a very real possibility. And if the rights do indeed go back to The Imaginarium by the end of the year, now is a good time for fans to start building some momentum to interest another streamer in taking a flyer on the show when it is available.
Did you watch The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself and would you support fan efforts to bring it back? Chime in below in the comments.
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Sorry, @half_save, not @savehalfbad
MAKE THIS SO!
Fans, please, we must unite. There’s a Half Bad/Bastard Son Discord if you’re not on Twitter. Please follow @savehalfbad @1MagicallyMandy or @halfhearted23 to collaborate – we need NUMBERS.