Zombie apocalypse stories were hugely popular in the 2010s, with many movies and TV shows exploring the theme. While shows like iZombie, Z Nation, and Santa Clarita Diet found dedicated audiences, none reached the level of success as The Walking Dead. By the late 2010s, though, the genre began to feel overdone, particularly as The Walking Dead increasingly focused on the darkness within people rather than the zombies themselves. Then, in 2019, a new release on Netflix revitalized the genre by bringing the horror back to the zombies and their flesh-eating nature.
Created by the team behind Z Nation, Black Summer is a gritty, two-season spinoff that takes place three years before the events of that show, right at the beginning of a zombie outbreak. The series follows a small group of people who band together to survive the fast-moving chaos while searching for family and a secure location. Black Summer arrived when many zombie fans were feeling burnt out by The Walking Dead, and its second season earned a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, proving it was a welcome change.
Sometimes, a Zombie Show Just Needs to be a Zombie Show
Respectfully, The Walking Dead was a game-changer for the zombie genre, bringing it back to life. The show did a fantastic job of exploring the characters from Robert Kirkman’s comic, revealing their histories and showing how they coped with terrifying and desperate situations. However, after many seasons, the show started to drag with unnecessary episodes, and the zombies themselves became less of a threat to the main characters for long periods.
Instead of lengthy backstories, the story immediately throws the characters into the action, revealing who they are through their reactions to the present crisis. We learn about their pasts, their strengths, and their weaknesses solely through how they cope with the immediate challenges – including any emotional or physical scars they carry from past traumas or losses.
Even with dangerous people causing problems, the show Black Summer mainly focuses on the fast-moving, zombie-like creatures, much like in 28 Days Later. While each episode features threatening humans, the story jumps between different groups of survivors, preventing any single enemy from becoming the central focus.
Netflix’s Black Summer revived the fast-paced, terrifying zombie action seen in films like 28 Days Later. Unlike the slower, more atmospheric style of classic zombie movies by George Romero and The Walking Dead, Black Summer embraced a frantic pace, which was a strong point for the series.
Once Again, Netflix Unceremoniously Cancels a Fantastic Show
It wasn’t a surprise when Netflix cancelled Black Summer in 2021, shortly after a well-received second season that critics loved. Two years later, the show’s creator confirmed the series wouldn’t be back, even though the season ended with unresolved storylines. Despite fans desperately wanting a continuation to resolve key character arcs and plot threads, Black Summer appears to be another show lost from Netflix’s catalog.
Netflix has a history of cancelling popular shows, and this situation is no different. Despite receiving perfect scores from critics, this series suffered the same fate as Santa Clarita Diet, which was cancelled after a highly-rated third season. These decisions leave subscribers frustrated, feeling like their time invested in the shows was wasted.
Fans who hope Black Summer comes back generally expect it to be an anthology series with a new cast of characters. There’s concern that a continuation could lose the intense, realistic feel of the first two seasons, which stood out from the original SYFY show. While Jaime King (who plays Rose) is eager to reprise her role and explore the character further, a revival appears increasingly unlikely as time passes. For now, it seems the show won’t be returning.
Black Summer is available for streaming on Netflix.
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2026-03-31 19:10