Scavengers Reign
While I’ve been trying to recommend the brilliant and animated Scavengers Reign to anyone and everyone now that it’s on Netflix after its Max cancellation, the idea that it could grow with enough viewership to spark a second season on the new services seems like a bit of a stretch. a longshot, based on what we see so far.
Scavengers Reign arrived on Netflix on May 31st, but in the few days since, it still hasn’t made it onto Netflix’s top 10 list. Other new shows have entered the list in short order, Eric, Your Honor, Geek Girl and Raising Voices are all new. Scavengers Reign just didn’t cut it. Yes, it may be early, but it’s uphill if it doesn’t make a bigger impact. Animated shows on Netflix may rarely be at the top of the charts, but you at least want to be on the list to get started.
One of the problems is simply the nature of the show. It’s a bit hard to recommend (although I do) because you can’t fit it into a descriptive box. It’s not an action-packed or dramatic anime, it’s not one of Netflix’s exciting video game adaptations, it’s not an “adult animated” comedy. It just doesn’t feel much like the low-key sci-fi adventure set on the most creative alien planet I’ve possibly ever seen on screen.
Scavengers Reign
Scavengers Reign has its high-profile fans, including the creature-making god Guillermo del Torowho tweeted:
“Oh beauty! Look this! The future of animation is NOT 100% industry dependent. It’s already here – the artists are already ahead of it – it’s a tragedy that those who run into the production markets are blind and excited by security to look back.”
Well, the problem is that is they are still dependent on industry. While Scavengers Reign was actually greenlit in the first place, which is progress, Max canceled it, and Netflix, while it seemed open to possibly renewing it, may not if the ratings for Season 1 aren’t there. Again, I think they should just rely on the quality of the series, which sits at a 100% review score Rotten tomatoes, but this is often not enough. If this doesn’t hit whatever viewership milestone Netflix wants to see from it, I don’t think there’s a chance for a season 2.
If it never ranks on Netflix’s weekly top 10 review chart, we won’t know its numbers, and that will be a bad sign. Fingers crossed it can make it that far and make enough noise for a second season. But I’m not terribly optimistic either.
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