Netflixhas decided not to move forward with an additional season of the supernatural horror-thrillerArchive 81, canceling the series after just one season on the platform. The eight-episode series ended with a significant cliffhanger that laid the foundation for another season to continue the narrative. The mystery, however, will remain unresolved as the series finds its place on the shelf next to other housed projects.
Netflix’sArchive 81comes from the concept of a supernatural horror podcast bearing the same name, centering around Dan Turner, played by Mamoudou Athie. In the series, Dan takes a job restoring a collection of fire-damaged videotapes from 1994 and finds himself reassembling a documentary by Melody Pendras. The collected footage, however, opens an unsuspecting door, propelling Dan into the thick of Melody’s investigation into a problematic cult. Dan shares a deep connection with Melody despite their distance across time, which motivates him to discover the hidden secrets behind her supposed death 25 years ago. Dan believes he can save her but must confront his bouts with terror before springing Melody from her own.
RELATED:Why Archive 81 Deserves A Second Season
Deadlinefirst reported the cancellation, which surprised many because of how wellArchive 81performed. Throughout its initial release, the series was a consistent staple on Netflix’s weekly Top 10 list and briefly held the coveted title as the top-performing show on the platform before giving up its seat onceOzarkmade its long-awaited return. While many viewers question the cancelation, Netflix has indicated that decisions around such moves stem from the viewership a series can generate versus its overall budgetary cost.Archive 81undoubtedly drew a lot of attention, but it’s unclear if the engagement was in line with what Netflix envisioned in its early projections.
Reviews around the series have also been relatively positive, sparking additional questions around the cancellation. The series earned an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many praising the supernatural adventure for creating an addictively entertaining thriller that balanced the critical elements of the genre well. While reviews are not necessarily the driving factor dictating most decisions for studios and streamers,the receptionArchive 81receivedseemed to open an optimistic lane for more content to appear. Unfortunately, the fate of Mamoudou Athie and Dina Shihabi will remain yet another supernatural mystery left unsolved. The two leading stars have yet to comment on the recent cancellation, but no one would fault them for having negative feelings about the streaming platform’s decision to axe the project.
However, this is not the first time the streaming platform has made a surprise cancellation to a well-received project. The most recent cancellation of itslive-actionCowboy Bebopadaptationsparked many questions, especially since the series was one of the most-watch on the platform after its release. The decision to cancel may have stemmed from similar issues associated withArchive 81, but it robs audiences of good content and leaves compelling stories unresolved. Additionally, it frustrates audiences when series that are not well-received obtain additional seasons, but it ultimately comes down to the correlation between viewership and budget. From the outside looking in, it’s incomprehensible to see a well-received series get shelved, but beneath the surface, it may be the right decision based on information not readily available to audiences.
Despite the cancellation, there are a number of good options currently available on the streaming platform.Archive 81was an enjoyable supernatural thriller, and it will be difficult for some to accept the unresolved nature of the finale’s cliffhanger. It’ll be interesting to see if the disappointment sparks the streaming platform to reconsider the cancellation, but for now the series remains an eight-episode journey without a fitting end.
Archive 81is currently available to stream on Netflix.
MORE:10 Thriller Series To Watch If You Love Netflix’s Archive 81
