Shadow and Bone proved to be a hit for Netflix out of the gate, but the streamer was unwilling to support it and cancelled the show after two seasons.
What Is It?
Set in a war-torn realm known as Ravka, the story centers on Alina Starkov, an orphaned mapmaker who discovers that she is the long-prophesied Sun Summoner—a rare Grisha with the ability to summon light—capable of destroying the shadowy barrier known as the Fold, which cleaves her nation in two. As word of her powers spreads, Alina becomes the target of sinister forces. She must navigate a treacherous world filled with political intrigue, powerful magic users, and dangerous creatures, all while grappling with her newfound powers and fate. Based on the Grishaverse novels by Leigh Bardugo.
Aired: Netflix, 2021-23, 2 Seasons Totaling 16 Episodes
Starring: Jessie Mei Li, Archie Renaux, Freddy Carter, Amita Suman, Kit Young, Ben Barnes
Developed By: Eric Heisserer
Why Was It Cancelled?
Shadow and Bone premiered on Netflix in the spring of 2021 and became an immediate hit for the streamer. It received a second-season renewal, and when it returned two years later, it spent five weeks in the streamer’s Top 10, averaging 32 million hours of viewing during that time. It also spent four weeks in the Nielsen Streaming Rankings, averaging an estimated 771 million minutes of viewing per week. Later in the year, Netflix released viewing data for all of its shows from January to June 2023, and Shadow and Bone ranked 26th out of more than one thousand shows. With such strong numbers, it certainly seemed like the streamer would want to bring it back for a third year, right? But no—they cancelled it instead.
Netflix went radio silent on the show after its second-season premiere as actors and writers were gearing up for a strike. That hit in the summer of 2023 and took some time to resolve. The streamer then used the strikes as an excuse to cancel several of its shows, Shadow and Bone included. The claim was that it would take too long to ramp up production for a third season and that there were only limited production resources available. The fact that several key cast members actively participated in the strike may also have worked against the show, though, with Netflix possibly using the cancellation as a form of retribution. The series was cut short before covering all three books in the main trilogy, and the planned Six of Crows spin-off was scrapped as well.
How Did Fans React?
Netflix should have known Shadow and Bone had a devoted following from its high viewership numbers, and those fans immediately launched efforts to save the show. An online petition garnered over 120K signatures in just four days, eventually becoming the most-signed renewal petition on Change.org in 2023. Fans also launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund billboards lobbying for renewal or pickup by another venue, raising nearly $14K and resulting in two billboards. But Netflix stood firm, and no other platform stepped up to save the show.
Can the Show Still Be Saved?
It has been over two years since Shadow and Bone last released new episodes, and fans are still trying to save the show. And now just might be the time to step up those efforts, because the property may be available to move to another platform. Netflix usually secures the rights for its originals for at least two years after they have streamed their most recent season. We are past that point now, so the show may be up for grabs. It is rather expensive to produce, and the streamers are trying to cut costs with their production of originals these days (allegedly). But Shadow and Bone brings in a pretty large built-in audience. If one of the existing streamers were to pick up the show, they could get some notable viewership from an encore run of the first two seasons, and then another season or two is possible from the trilogy storyline along with spin-offs like Six of Crows. This one has franchise potential, and the right streaming service could tap into that.
Fans should take this opportunity to start drawing attention to the show again. They can stage watch parties and potentially get it back into the Netflix Top 10. They should also ramp up the social media campaigns to raise its profile. They can also vote for the show in our Summer poll and there are more campaign ideas at this link.
It may be a long shot to bring Shadow and Bone back for a third season and more, but it is not impossible. And with the rights potentially available, now is the time to strike and bring some attention back to the show. The fans put in quite an effort when it was cancelled back in 2023, and if they repeat that now, they may get rewarded with more from this property.
Where Can You Watch It?
Both seasons of this show are still streaming on Netflix. It has not received a DVD or Blu-ray release at this point and it is not available to purchase VOD.
Did you watch Shadow and Bone and will you support fan efforts to save the show? Chime in with your thoughts in the comments below.
Keep up with the status of all the current sci fi and fantasy shows as well as news and updates on new and upcoming shows at CancelledSciFi.com.
Cancellation Watch: Status updates and breaking news on renewals and cancellations
Sci Fi TV Highlights: Listings for the upcoming week along with the latest sci fi TV news and trailers.
Sci Fi TV Production Report: News on which sci fi TV shows are moving into production.
And be sure to follow us on social media: Blue Sky | Facebook | Mastodon | Twitter.