BBC Outcasts Series 2 cancelled, much to my disappointment
Posted by MattyRasker in Other Interests, TV Shows on Mar 16th, 2011 | 287 commentsI don’t rant often on my blog, but I guess there is a first time for everything.
For those who don’t know, Outcasts *was* a BBC Sci Fi Drama Series that was set a few years into the future where mankind migrates to a different planet. Cleverly written and superbly acted, it features a great cast and some great story lines. There were 8 episodes in the first series, and the last episode left us hanging for a second series.
And guess what – there won’t be an second series apparently.
I’m slightly biased here as this was one TV series I actually did watch week in, week out. I normally give up on TV shows as I just don’t have the dedication to watch them (with the exception of Time Team), but Outcasts was different, and I’m sure the loyal fans of Outcasts would agree.
I don’t get drawn into other TV shows that easily, enough to watch them week in week out anyway – I find soap operas crap, American dramas are all the same, and Simon Cowells “I make peoples dreams come alive who then disappear after I’ve made a million pounds” talent shows dire. Outcasts was something different, perhaps maybe too brave.
Or, perhaps, I’m not a TV series fan, and I guess the cancellation of Outcasts Series 2 proves that.
If however the BBC reconsider their decision, then I would very much look forward to another series of Outcasts. But, I guess the chances of that are quite slim. Even if Series 2 ties the loose ends from Series 1 and tells that they end up living happily ever after / dying a terrible, terrible death, that would make me a happy man. If anything, I wanted to watch Burger suffer some nasty, terrible torture.
If you are fan of Outcasts, leave a comment and show your support!
UPDATE – I found a rather cool interview with Ben Richards, the writer of Outcasts, who clears up a few of the rumours and whether series 2 was ever going to be. Read it on Divison 6.
287 Responses to “ “BBC Outcasts Series 2 cancelled, much to my disappointment”
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Also from Aus – & I’m also really disappointed there won’t be another season – great show and had really interesting build happening in season 1. Real shame…
Another from Aus, and I imagine you’ll be getting a lot more in the coming days. Outcasts is a brilliant show, with far more complexity than so many other shows. It is simply rude to leave us hanging on this ending. Who’s in the transporter? Will Jack really lose his life? Who will finally wipe that evil smirk off Julius Berger’s face? So many unanswered questions, so many enticing characters. Please BBC, listen to our plea and let the second series live.
Such a shame. Was great show, I loved it. Hope they reconsider and do season 2.
Our whole family LOVED outcasts and think it’s a really bad decision of the bbc not to have a second series – they should reconsider
Thank you to our Aussie cousins for swinging by and leaving feedback. The BBC are aware of this blog and one hopes that someone will take note!
In the meantime, there is a Facebook petition group, get involved and lets see if we can get a series 2.
I am also from Australia! Outcasts was a fantastically written show, brilliant concept. I am very disappointed / upset that a second series does not seem to be underway. There are so many terrible shows on TV nowadays and Outcasts was one of the few that I enjoyed.
Please reconsider BBC! We love your show!
Outcasts was special. I’d think about it all week until the next episode, which is nothing I can say for any other show. The pacing was different – not Dr Who (thank god) but very intense. Outcasts was like some of the most iconic sci-fi novels I’ve read – flaky ‘science’ but very moving takes on humans living on frontiers.
Though given the vitriol aimed at it by critics like the Guardian hack who just seems to want his sci-fi to be bugfests like Star Trek, maybe his ilk really don’t deserve to be catered for any more by the BBC.
I liked the show although I give it as much praise as everyone here. There were many flaws in the story, some poorly written dialogue and I hope nobody will deny the obvious fact that this is basically “Lost” transformed to SciFi drama.
Still would have been nice to have a 2nd season to wrap things up, but I won’t lose sleep over it not coming back.
This is only one of many canceled shows which left the audience hanging with no resolution.
There should be a law that if you cancel a show, you are required, within a reasonable time frame, to make a movie to tie up loose ends for the fans, or to publish on-line how the story would have played out.
However I suspect the backers would prefer to maintain the option of resurrecting the story at some future time if deemed to be profitable.
In the end profits triumphs over consumers rights.
I am very disappointed to learn that the BBC has cancelled series 2 of Outcasts, it’s such a great show.
Disappointed to learn there will be no Outcasts season 2. After watching episode 8, I went searching for when the next season would air or how I could buy the dvd. Found out it had been cancelled and was bitterly disappointed, particularly with so many plot points left up in the air.
I enjoyed the human interest angle of the series and cared enough about the charactersto want to see more. Would love to see the next series back on track.
American fan here…
As If the cancellation of SGU was not disappointing enough for me here in the states. I recently watched series 1 of outcast. And found it to be a wonderful science fiction show with much potential. As the Author of this blog stated. The acting was superb and the cast was great. One of things I noticed about Outcast, that was similar to the late SGU was the drama twist and the slowly paced endeavor into the Science Fiction aspect of the series.
Like SGU, Outcast had some great stories, actors and potential. But it seems unfortunate, that in recent years a majority of SCI-FI fans are not interested in the slow, complex, dramatic story lines of shows like SGU, and Outcast. Which is sad because I believe that these are good attributes for building a solid series with not only great stories and acting, but the potential to tap into the science fiction aspect on a more intimate and intriguing level after a season or 2 of getting to know the characters.
It seems that the majority of SCI-FI fans are looking for instant gratification when in comes to new series. Like fast paced, action packed story lines from the get go, that show the aliens, monsters, and space battles ect.. With no appreciation for good acting,stories, or since of organization. But less complex stories crammed with goofy plots all over the place every episode, and bad CGA.
The same instant gratification can also be applied to the programmers, and station CEO’s who choose to cancel these types of shows do to low ratings during the first season or two.
Outcast had great potential with the discovery of aliens, and evidence of other hominid lifeforms that once inhabited the planet. There was the potential for more interesting and science based episode to follow in another season (same could be said for the late SGU.)
It’s sad to see that a lot of the more recently successful Sci-Fi programs, are geared toward a more premature, testosterone driven audience. Or the silly shows of paranormal activity like the endless number of ghost hunting, and monster sighting/reality tv shows that have captured the hearts of the average house wife.
This is truly a sad period in history for decent Sci -Fi television programming….
This is one of the best sci-fi series I’ve seen in years. As above even my wife was able to get into it. A terrible pity it has not (yet) been picked up for a 2nd season ..
I too am an Australian viewer who was disappointed with the cancellation of Outcasts. In the Sci-fi world, it was a ray of sunshine amongst the gloom (the monsters, the unbelievable scenarios, the silly acting….). I was engrossed in this series and gave up all sorts of other forms of entertainment to stay home to watch it. Now I have nothing left…..
Seriously, It was a great series and I don’t understand how it rated so poorly..
I too want to see Berger meet his maker…
Its simply not fair if they dont finish off outcasts, there is so much to been seen yet on carpathia and i have to say it has been the best show i have seen in a while.
i just finished watching Season 1 of outcasts.. , you don’t know how i’m disappointed when i found out it was cancelled ..
like many others , i too think acting was superb and writing clever.. and it was very subtle
about revealing some aspect of about Sci-fic factor. and i really liked that
wish bbc reconsider it’s descision really..
I too am very disappointed this series was cancelled. It was BRILLIANT! I didn’t think it was given much of a chance …. I mean 8 episodes? :S Come on….this was a wonderfully fresh show….maybe BBC needed to advertise it more or fiddle with it’s time slot…but to just pull the plug so early seems a bit premature. I guess they needed to run more reality TV and such. BOOOO HISS!! What a disappointment!!
Really dissapointed that Outcasts only lasted 8 episodes. I was really hooked and have been enjoying it here on ABC in Australia, now it’s as dead as a dodo. I thought the BBC was like the ABC here, i.e. pioneer quality drama, gave things a go, didn’t just chase ratings, obviously I was wrong… Real shame…
Seriously!!! why as soon as I there is something of value to watch it is canceled? it is a shame!
It seems, if you have any intelligence you are of no value to the networks.
I would like to point out that we – NOT the ones watching dumb reality shows – are the ones with liquid spending money.
You want to think outside the box BBC – ask us for a donation to keep it on the air, you will surprised. Think of what your advertising companies will think of your viewership?
Put it back on the air.
A shame. I enjoyed the show here in the U.S. on Saturday nights and looked forward to watching it. I guess this nation — or this world — is full of clowns who want to watch “Idol” shows and the insanity of lady (lady? really? not really…) gaga.
Aw man. I’ve just finished watching season 1. This is a crying shame.
How is it that so many of the good series are canned and yet utter tripe continues to be aired?
Love BBC shows and Outcasts is outstanding, I really hope they reconsider. I stumbled upon the show searching for another on my dvr here in California.
Dont buy the series.If we continue to keep buying the cancelled series,they will keep doing this to us .Firefly,stargate universe,caprica,bionic woman,doll house,terminator the series,legend of the seeker,stargate atlantis,farscape,wicthblade,dark angel,surface.How many more must we survive.They must at least have a way to end a series if they want to cancel it.Why must we spend our hard earned cash on unfinished series.would they buy a car without the left rear tyre?
What is really sad about this is how the BBC not only cancels shows without an ending but than they have the nerve to try and sell the series on DVD. Why would anyone buy a series without an ending
How disappointing to watch this series every week, then find out that it will not be continuing for another season. I can’t believe that the ‘reviewers’ (who are they anyway??) gave it such bad reviews!! It was a breath of fresh air in – well rounded characters and an interesting sci-fi twist. Please, please, PLEASE another network, please take up Outcasts and run with it!
Like others have stated, I have really enjoyed this series and would hope that BBC would would give the series a second chance. Loyalty grows stronger with each episope
So the BBC is going the way of American television…this was such a terrific show and you go and cancel it before it has a chance….way to go BBC……
Yes good old BBC have done it again. They cancelled Survivors after only 2 seasons and Outcasts didn’t even get that far. I have bought both shows on DVD and love them. I won’t support the BBC in any future efforts as they are just as likely to axe them mid story.
I live in the US and just finished watching Outcasts. I loved it! Although I am a fan of Doctor Who, I liked seeing a more serious show that was written well. Shame on them for dropping it! I showed three coworkers the show and they loved it, but never heard of it either. It is sad when they drop good shows. I do not just blame just the bean counters who look at a few poles and numbers. I also blame them for not marketing it more to let others know of it, that has everything to do with bad pole ratings, no one will watch it or download it if they do not know about it. I never heard of it till the first of this month and that was because I just happen on it on Itunes. This is to those bean counters… You are payed way too much to be making bad decisions and dropping a show before it really gets out there to be known. You ask 20 people here in the US if they heard of it and you will be lucky to find 1.. But if you show those same 20 people the show, you will find that most of them like it!!! So how can you drop a great show when it is your own fault for not getting it out??? Here is another view, It took to season 2 or 3 of Doctor Who that played there before it caught on over here in the US!! But when it did, it took off!!! Wake up you bean counters!!! Give a show a real chance. You had not even let Syfy channel get ahold of it yet, so most of the US has never heard of it!
As an avid reader and watcher of sci-fi I have to say that I am very disapointed that the BBC has decided to cancel a second series of OUTCASTS. I only recently saw the first series and can say that it is a gripping, well written and well cast series. Yes there is a lack of flashy CGI but that adds to the realism of the show. I would ask that the BBC relaunch the show and advertise in a better way to get the numbers they want. It is not a fault with the series just a failure to generate enough initial interest. I am sure that there are many more people like me who will have seen this series after it was shown on BBC either having reorded it or by other means. I love Doctor Who (and have done since the very first incarnation), but lets face it OUTCASTS feels as if it is real (or could be).
Thank you to everyone across the world for posting here. I was amazed by the response, and as much as we have tried contacting the BBC, the only response I had was the generic ‘template’ one we all recieved.
Actually, I lie – I did have another response. I visited the Outcasts website on the BBC site and noticed that my blog did not come up in their “buzz” section. That is supposed to pick up blogs that discuss BBC Outcasts. I submitted mine and they said they will review it.
It never appeared on the Buzz page. Surprised?
BIG bummer! Watched the full season 1 on On Demand and now I can’t have more! Aaaargh! I’m really disappointed; I really enjoyed that show.
Sure wish it wasn’t so!
Firstly, let me say that I do not write into blogs very much but felt the need to add this. I am from Australia too and my wife and I just finished Outcasts which we purchased on blu-ray. It was a risk but it looked well produced, good actors and I find BBC/English/European shows satisfying as they develop characters better than most.
We both loved Outcasts (more than expected). We found it to be a show that didn’t patronise the viewer (rare in this modern day) and perfectly mixed drama, suspense and the complexity of human beings. The medical and social ethical challenges it presented were wonderful and provoking. It felt like a show produced with maturity and a measure of “out-of the-box” thinking.
Upon finishing season one, I looked on the net to see the status of Season 2 and discovered that there is no status. I am very sorry that the story won’t continue and hope it is not as a result of the lamentable modern appetite for superficiality and action.
I am not a genre addict and am very eclectic in my tastes. This show melded realism and sci-fi very well, it keept CGI to a necessary and complimentary role (as opposed to the Star Wars prequels – but don’t get me started on George Lucas). The modern Battlestar Galactica also dealt more with politics, ethics, realism and personal journeys than with explosions.
Please BBC don’t give up on the ‘thinking audience’ some of us enjoy sci-fi too.
I don’t under stand why make this great sifi and not finish it, its becoming like fast food big big disappointment. the film makers or producers have really nicked me in the head again iam un completed very said ,but i must say i had a feeling about this was going to happen, people the last pomy sifi they done the some thing but they did finish it of when they were ready i waited a long time to see the end the sifi was PRIMEVAL. i beleave they will do the some thing with outcasts it will get completed mark my ward..
Seems the better a SciFi series is, the quicker they are to cancel it. I’m an American, just finished watching Outcasts on DVD today and had to check for a second season. Damn, no go. BBC has the best tv series. Keep them coming, and quit cancelling them!!
It is Oct. 2011 and I am still bellyaching over the cancellation of this show. I don’t even have cable but I do cruise the internet for quality television and was thrilled with this find. I just don’t understand? What went wrong here? BRING IT BACK!!!! For crying out loud over here(across the pond) my American neighbours are making garbage like ” Falling Skies” and “Terra Nova.” BBC did exactly the same as HBO did with ” The Rubicon” cancelled Some of the best damn shows I have had the pleasure to watch. This is also the first time I have commented about anything relating to tv programming….just to convey how fired up i am. Very Very disappointed! ……still.
Well put Aussie Ac, complete agreement!!!!!
Oh no! Not another great Sci-Fi show cancelled just as it was getting great! – hear hear Joe C from the US.
Outcasts had both of us watching every week debating the plot twists and possible scenarios. But we should have expected it. It seems the general TV audience is not ready for complex plots and slower storylines. The list is long – Dark Angel, SGU, Caprica, Heroes, Sarah Connor Chronicles etc. But Supernatural gets 7 series!! – it God and Angels and don’t start me on Ghost Whisperer etc.!
There should be room in the marketplace for all these but I guess SciFi is where music was in the 60′s – at the mercy of the production companies. But I thought the BBC was above all this – witness the never ending Dr Who which goes from awesome to absurd often in the same episode!
Outcasts 2 should be made – if the Beeb can’t do it speak to someone in BC Canada – seems to be where all the great SciFi is made now!
Forgot to mention Game of Thrones – does that mean I’ve jinxed it too! At least there’s the books for that one.
The ratings plummeted and it was cancelled. The reason was it didn’t do well in the ratings was because the first two episodes were slow and boring they had nothing spooky about them. It was getting really good at the end I wish it had started stronger and grew in viewing figures. If I was the director I would have also changed other things for sure the script needed a few extra heads for clever conversations and some of the acting was terrible. Also most of the actors were not good looking enough to keep the people who don’t really get sci-fi watching. I guess its the British gene pool at fault and they could not find any good looking actors with talent. Since its a series about colonizing another planet why where they 99% British anyways? Could have got some good looking continental gents and ladies with better acting voices in there too.
Noooooooooooooo………..
I just finished watching episode 8 which I had recorded on my PVR so that I could watch them all at my own pace and not miss anything. This was one of the best Sci Fi series to come out of the UK in years. I am absolutely devestated. Please, please reconsider the second series.
Also gutted to have read here that SGU was also cancelled. I didn’t know that and am still working through my recorded back episodes. What another tragedy.
I absolutely loved the characters and acting in Outcasts. It was brilliantly cast and superbly executed. It was gritty and engaged us on a human level. The issues were real and dealt with human failings and strengths. It was set up as an exploratory into the human character with the ACs proving to be more “human” than us and more deserving of continued existence in the eyes of the alien force on the planet. Brilliant, brilliant storyline that had me on the edge of my seat. The last two episodes were spectacular dealing with Cass’ background and the concept of a second chance.
Can’t speak, absolutely gutted beyond measure that this is the end. I can’t stand most American content and crave anything from the BBC, particularly in the Sci Fi genre and especially when so well executed as Outcasts was. Again, please reconsider.
Humbly yours,
Michael
Would just like to add the same comment as everyone else, brilliant show, shouoldn’t have been cancelled. I was really looking forward to another season or two of this show, as it seemed to be heading in an interesting direction. This show was similar to another cancelled show, Stargate Universe, which also focused on the people rather than the whole sci fi aspect.
sorry there will not be any more seasons of Outcast. good show!!
What a shame.
It was a good show…
… and yet another Aussie who has thoroughly enjoyed all 8 episodes and eagerly anticipating Series 2! Series 2 that is apparently not to be!
And not only Stargate Universe, along with this brilliant Outcasts series that fails to continue on from an otherwise leading closing episode to its own series, but an earlier British production called “Survivors”!
Yet another show going somewhere, brilliantly acted, a great and possible storyline, very believable, then left up in the air at the end of the series … two from memory, but with a series three that could have followed!
Why do they do this to us??
Very disappointed!!!
I was an avid fan of outcasts and I am sorely dissappointed that there will be no second season. Typically I do not watch Television but there are times that a good series Outcasts is such a program, BBC really needs to get it together. They have a winner on their hands.
Unbelievable, so tired of watching a great series and then having it cancelled.
Why not do another series and just do a DVD so we can buy or rent particulary for us Brits not living in UK. It was great,different and British. The actors were great and at least portrayed more realistic types of people than the usual hollywood perfect looking types. I guess we are becoming a generation of viewers who find it hard to follow story lines and characters maybe ???? whatever the reason for cancelling they should go for it with another series for those of us out here who still enjoy sci fi series of this type. BBC you are missing the fact this will appeal to other countries including here in South Africa.
I am another Aussie who is completely devastated that there will be no closure to this sophisticated sci fi show. I have just finished re watching Outcasts & discovered so many things I missed in the first viewing…there is so much depth in this character driven show & I am feeling cheated that I will never know how things develop.
Not everyone wants action heroes & these were just simple people trying to preserve what was left of the human race. I love BBC shows as they have a quality lacking in the garbage that comes out of the US, but I condemn them for not continuing on with a show that had the potential to give the viewer good story lines & superb acting!!!
I am a huge Hermione Norris & sci fi fan & these were the reason I decided to give it a go & it didn’t disappoint!!! So glad I bought the dvd’s, at least I can go back & relive this fabulous show.
Hi
To say I am disappointed is saying a lot. I don’t know why they would even put the lst season on if BBC has not going to give it a change.
Remember Star Trek the TV show of the 1960′s.
I am a SCFI fan and read only SCFI Books. There must be millions of us
and your people at BBC looks at shows like Sex in the City as good TV
by who’s standard not mine.Maybe this is one show the US can steal, they chose to steal other good show.
Corrine
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!, I just had a marathon weekend and watched all 8 eps on BBC Iplayer on my Ipad , absolutely loved it.
I just can not watch any more of the USA sci-fi soaps they are all the same rubbish.
Very disappointed and feel let down , will have to research any future shows before I commit myself so I’m not left hanging.
Fingers crossed though just in case.