It’s like a sad sci-fi story: Raised by Wolves took the big step of being abandoned on a strange planet and exploring new territory. Now the connection to the base has been severed and there seems to be no turning back. The fan-shattering cancellation of Raised by Wolves leaves more than just an unfinished story. It makes the world of science fiction stories a bit poorer.
The cancellation of Raised by Wolves is a sci-fi indictment
In this country we last saw a season 2 trailer of Raised by Wolves (while the new season in the USA is already over), when we got the shocking news: The US broadcaster HBO Max has, in the course of a restructuring at Warner, opposed decided to extend the prestigious sci-fi series. And that’s more than unfortunate.
Meet Raised by Wolves in the Season 1 Sci-Fi Trailer
Raised by Wolves – S01 Trailer (German) HD
Two years ago, the sci-fi series Raised by Wolves started with two Androids raising human children on an alien planet should. Mother (Amanda Collin) and father (Abubakar Salim) have to get to know their new home Kepler-22b with all its dangers. The fact that a human colony with strict religious views also settled on the planet a little later complicates the situation. We are only gradually being initiated into the prehistory of a great previous war on Earth.
Raised by Wolves was marketed to big names like Vikings star Travis Fimmel and producer and (2 episode) director Ridley Scott. Nevertheless, Aaron Guzikowski’s sci-fi story could not be pigeonholed. She confidently went her own way. That was not always comfortable, but fascinating at all times.
© HBO Max
Raised by Wolves: Travis Fimmel as a religious settler
After all, science fiction is not a feel-good genre, but rather our own worldview through the sharp corners and edges of a future vision challenge. What Raised by Wolves managed to do over and over again. Because we were definitely not dealing with genre standard goods in this series.
Raised by Wolves isn’t like other sci-fi shows, and that’s a good thing
A salient feature of Raised by Wolves sci-fi is that from the start we strongly believe in the Android perspective Mother to be bound, so a non-human perspective. Although tasked with ensuring the survival of the human children, it was a radical killing machine in the past. Her stiff manner does not invite immediate identification. But with the series also charging its flesh-and-blood counterparts with religious, moral, and character uneasiness, it’s hard for us as an audience to take sides.
© HBO Max
Raised by Wolves: the android father & mother
Raised by Wolves patiently uncovers the historical underpinnings of the sci-fi story. Due to the slow unveiling, everyone involved receives increasingly exciting facets, which sooner or later everyone figure in a new light move. When the characters and the way the series is told continue to tread unexpected paths, it can feel idiosyncratic and unwieldy at times. But in the end we grow from this perspective, which is not our own, accustomed one.
The science fiction series is also included visually extremely appealing. This is reflected in costumes, hairstyles and spaceships that combine simplicity and futurism as paradoxes. It is particularly evident in the exciting facets of the new planet: Between massive holes and skeletons that tell of a menacing species in season 1, and living trees and an acid ocean in season 2, we make our own intergalactic discoveries in a world that is hostile to life and beautiful at the same time.
With the abrupt end of Raised by Wolves, the sci-fi challenge is taken away from us
Of course, it may be easier for a sci-fi viewer to gravitate towards well-known space excursions or commonly seen man-vs-machine stories. In life as well as in the film and series world, the following applies: It is the Courage to innovate that really gets us ahead. Trying out new ways. Raised by Wolves possessed this courage.
© HBO Max
Raised by Wolves: Mother & Snake in Season 2
The fact that the science fiction here could be classified as neither dystopian nor utopian made the series one complex beast. Like the giant snake that shows up in the skies of the alien planet in season 2 and is difficult to classify as a pure threat or ally. Like the robots that sometimes kill people to save humanity. Like religious fanatics who find themselves on intricate paths.
That Exploring gray areas and uncomfortable questions should be inscribed in all future narratives. The cancellation of such an impressive series as Raised by Wolves sends the wrong signal – and at the same time makes the sci-fi genre a bit poorer, more boring.
Of course, all is not lost yet. After the sudden termination by HBO Max, those involved and fans are currently trying to win another station to continue the sci-fi series. But we shouldn’t forget: only a few series will become one fairytale rescue à la Lucifer or The Expanse. Sometimes we’re stranded on an alien planet and have to live with the uncomfortable truth that not every story has a happy ending.
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Have you seen the sci-fi series Raised by Wolves and are mourning its cancellation?