Having learned nothing from recent history, Netflix’s new fantasy still decides ending on a cliffhanger is a good idea

Basing the findings on absolutely nothing but facts, the worst thing any new Netflix fantasy series can do is end its first season on a cliffhanger, because the chances are exceedingly high that the axe is going to fall. Infuriatingly, Black Knight has laughed in the face of history and gone ahead and done it anyway, something it may come to regret.

Do you know the last splashy and effects-heavy Netflix original that debuted with a widely-acclaimed first run of episodes and ended with a blatant tease of an unresolved plot point to be answered in the next run of episodes was? That’s right, it was Lockwood & Co., which has since been canned to take the platform up to 26 such properties being ditched in the last three years.

While we won’t dive into the specifics of Black Knight‘s conclusion seeing as the apocalyptic Korean adventure was only added to the library on Friday and is currently riding the crest of a wave in terms of viewership, let’s just say that many of the doors that were opened have not been closed in a satisfying fashion, which is a dangerous game when Netflix is involved.

Of course, not every single fantastical favorite ends up being dragged around the back and shot after its first season, but most of them have been, and that’s the issue. One day, showrunners and creatives will need to get smarter and ensure that every single loose plot thread is tied up in a satisfying fashion, because it’s getting repetitive to hear audiences lament the unanswered questions they have when the latest one bites the dust.