Freeform has spoken and their sci-fi series Beyond will not continue beyond its second season. The series centered on Holden Matthews (Burkely Duffield), a young guy who wakes up from a 12-year coma. Not only does he get a new lease on life, he soon discovers he has superpowers. As is the case with many people in sci-fi series that realize they have newfound abilities, the novelty wears off pretty quickly as danger rapidly escalates. So not only does this guy have to manage missing 12 years of his life, but he also has to combat ominous, hidden threats. TV characters' lives can be so unfair!
The cancellation news broke courtesy of Deadline. The ratings for Beyond Season 2 only registered half the ratings from folks who watched Season 1. Ratings tend to be a factor in a network's decision to pull the plug. There is currently no word on whether Beyond will seek a new home. Streamers such as Netflix or Hulu have historically stepped in when a big enough cult audience has demanded the continuation of a beloved series.
For Beyond fans, the cancellation is disappointing, especially for a series that began on such a promising note. It premiered on January 1, 2017, and was renewed for a second season only nine days later. One of the possible contributing factors to Beyond's short run could have been the distance between Season 1 and Season 2's premieres. Season 2 aired almost a year after Season 1 finished up. That's a considerable loss of momentum for a new series with no previous fan base to manage. Previous Freeform series such as Pretty Little Liars have found tremendous success with half-seasons that air throughout the year. It's a formula that helps keep audiences invested, in between breaks. Could the same system have improved Beyond's chances of survival? With each of its seasons only lasting ten episodes a piece, it would have been next to impossible to have split them up throughout the year.
While Beyond may be over, the cast's careers will continue. Series lead Burkely Duffield can be seen next in the upcoming sports drama The Miracle Season. The movie is based on the true story of a high school volleyball team, who had to unite following the devastating passing of their star player, Caroline Found, with the goal of winning their state's championships. The movie hits theaters April 6. Next up for actress Dilan Gwyn, who portrayed Willa on Beyond, is the supernatural thriller Heretiks.
Making the cancellation news all the more bitter for fans is that Season 2 ended on a cliffhanger. How Freeform plans to handle that is unclear. Will there be an opportunity for closure? In light of a cliffhanger cancellation, a series' showrunner will sometimes share the endgame for a series with a media outlet. This gives the fans closure without the network having to air any more episodes. While fans would undoubtedly prefer the show to end where it began, on-screen, it is a compromise that some may be willing to take. Hopefully, Beyond fans get the chance. For what you can watch now that Beyond has come to an end, check out our midseason TV premiere schedule and our summer TV premiere guide.
