Carnival Row Cancelled: Pandemic's Hidden Toll

Amazon Prime Video's fantasy series "Carnival Row" concluded its run after two seasons, with the final episodes airing in March 2023. The decision to end the show was made during the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily to release cast and crew from their contracts.

Showrunner Erik Oleson explained that the pandemic's production delays prompted discussions between Prime Video, Legendary, and himself. He felt it was the morally responsible choice to allow actors and crew to pursue other employment opportunities rather than keep them tied to contracts.

The pandemic also necessitated significant rewriting of existing storylines. Oleson and his team adapted the narrative to provide a sense of closure, with Amazon even granting additional episodes to ensure a satisfactory wrap-up.

Despite these efforts, the second season received mixed reviews. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes noted an "uneven" narrative and a "sprawl of subplots" leading to a "storytelling dead end," reflected in a 41% critic score. Audiences, however, were more favorable, giving it a 70% score.