The Living And The Dead is a supernatural drama from the BBC but will it receive a second season? While the genre isn’t quite as prolific as crime procedurals, the supernatural procedural has proven to be a sturdy genre in recent years. After being pioneered by the likes of Kolchak: The Night Stalker or Twin Peaks, The X-Files is the show that really nailed the formula. This classic series followed FBI agents Mulder and Scully as they investigated cases of supernatural or extraterrestrial origin, and it featured some memorably creepy images and monsters.
Supernatural will end its incredible fifteen season run in 2020, with the show following two brothers who hunt and kill supernatural creatures and demons. Other popular examples include Grimm, Sleepy Hollow, and Fringe. The Living And The Dead never quite reached their heights in terms of ratings or popularity, but this BBC series received solid reviews for its rich, gothic atmosphere and performances when it aired back in 2016. The show is set in the 19th century and finds a family haunted by various spirits when they move into an old family estate.
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The series ended on a major cliffhanger, but what are the chances of The Living And The Dead season 2 actually moving ahead?
The Living And The Dead Was Cancelled By The BBC In 2016
In spite of closing out the show on a big tease, the BBC announced shortly after it finished airing that The Living And The Dead season 2 wasn’t happening. The ending found Nathan Appleby (Colin Morgan, Humans) coming to terms with the death of his son and the finale split the narrative between the Appleby’s in the past and Nathan’s great-great-granddaughter in the modern-day, with the two timelines occasionally intersecting.
The Living And The Dead seemed poised to give (most) of the family a happy ending until Nathan learns in the final scene he’s destined to kill his wife Charlotte (Charlotte Spencer, Watership Down) at some point in the future.
The Living And The Dead Season 2 Won’t Happen On Another Platform
While cancelled shows can be picked up by other networks or platforms, such as Designated Survivor season 3 landing on Netflix, there’s been no talk of The Living And The Dead season 2 being picked up elsewhere in the years since it ended. This is a pity since the show had an eerie, Hammer Horror vibe to it and featured great central performances.
Sadly, The Living And The Dead just didn’t click with a big enough audience, so it’s destined to remain a cult miniseries with an unresolved cliffhanger.
