1899, a science fiction collection from Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese, creators of the hit TV present Dark, premiered on Netflix in November 2022. TV producer Ruairi Carroll loved the present’s mysterious characters and storyline.
“No matter manner Netflix algorithms work, it was being pushed on my display screen on a regular basis,” Carroll says in Episode 562 of the Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy podcast. “And I used to be seeing lots of trailers on YouTube, as a result of I comply with the Netflix channel on YouTube. And I type of burned by way of it to start with, and had a good time, I’ve acquired to say.”
Regardless of the fanfare, 1899 was shortly canceled, concluding the collection on a painful cliffhanger that left the present’s many mysteries utterly unresolved. Geek’s Information to the Galaxy host David Barr Kirtley was dissatisfied that Netflix would finish the present in such a irritating manner. “It’s been greater than a 12 months for the reason that present got here out, and I’m nonetheless simply continually seeing individuals grousing on social media like, ‘How may Netflix fund this silly present or this silly present? Why don’t they offer us extra 1899? That’s what we actually need,’” he says.
Fantasy writer Erin Lindsey loved 1899, however understands why the present was canceled, given the numerous indications that the story was spinning uncontrolled. “There was some severe storytelling entropy happening,” she says. “I believe it was going fairly nicely for the primary few episodes, after which every episode acquired exponentially weirder after that, to the purpose that I had misplaced endurance by the top.”
So is there any hope that 1899 followers will ever discover out what all of it means? TV author Andrea Kail hopes the solutions can be forthcoming in a single kind or one other. “Right here’s my proposal for Netflix, or no less than the producers,” she says. “Might you please simply inform me what occurred? Clarify it to me. I don’t care, write it out. I simply wish to know. I simply wish to know what occurs subsequent.”
Hearken to the entire interview with Ruairi Carroll, Erin Lindsey, and Andrea Kail in Episode 562 of Geek’s Information to the Galaxy (above). And take a look at some highlights from the dialogue under.
Andrea Kail on mysteries:
Does all of it need to make sense? I’ve been having this dialog with my pal currently. She doesn’t like mysteries. She desires every part defined to her as you go, and I’m identical to, “Effectively, let it go within the second. Ultimately perhaps you’ll get an evidence, and typically not getting an evidence remains to be passable.” That’s most likely simply me as a reader/viewer. It doesn’t trouble me … I like not having all of the questions answered. I’m very a lot a “let it wash over me” particular person, particularly if my first impression, once I’m doing that, is that it’s nice.
Ruairi Carroll on Mystery Box exhibits:
I don’t thoughts the Thriller Field factor. Effectively, I can take it to a sure extent. I type of fell out of Lost. I loved The Leftovers from a few years in the past, and Darkish. However then typically I do run out of highway with it. And I’ll be sincere with you, there are days the place I used to be fairly blissful to skip over one thing that was a Thriller Field and simply placed on Reacher on Amazon, and simply watch an enormous man hit individuals … Simply go together with it, that’s the one factor I can say about these Thriller Field issues. Simply go together with it. You’ll both bang your head off the wall for the remainder of the evening fascinated by it, otherwise you’ll be like, “OK, I’m firing up Jack Reacher.”
David Barr Kirtley on Darkish vs. 1899:
What occurred to me with Darkish is that on the finish of Season 1, I used to be like, “There’s no manner they will probably wrap this up. There’s no manner this all is smart.” After which on the finish of Season 2, I used to be like, “OK, they did a surprisingly good job—manner higher than I used to be anticipating—of constructing this all make sense, so I’m hopeful that in Season 3 every part will truly make sense.” After which with Season 3, I used to be like, “Eh, I nonetheless have a listing of like 100 issues that they by no means answered that had been type of vital.” So if this had adopted the identical sample, I’m certain lots of issues would have been answered in a passable manner, however I’m nonetheless left with the overwhelming impression that on the finish of Season 3 there would have been a listing of 100 issues that no one can reply.”
Erin Lindsey on Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese:
I believe if anybody’s going to drag off [a Mystery Box show], it may nicely be these guys. We’ve picked it aside. That’s our job, somewhat bit, on this present, however this was an pleasurable present. It was flawed, for my part, however it was pleasurable, and I believe that even when I most well-liked Darkish to this, I proceed to be impressed by the eye to element and simply the pure ambition of what these guys are placing out, they usually may nicely nail it at some point. I’d suggest this present as pleasurable if flawed, and I’ll watch the subsequent factor they put out, and the subsequent factor after that, as a result of I’ve a sense that one in all nowadays they’re going to hit it out of the park.