Disenchantment: Unveiling the Real Reason Behind Its Season 5 Finale

Summary

Disenchantment season 5 serves as a satisfying conclusion to the story, with major storylines wrapped up and loose ends tied.

Netflix did not cancel the series; instead, they commissioned and developed it as the show's ultimate season, granting the creators the freedom to conclude it as they desired. The fact that Disenchantment concluded concurrently with other prominent adult animated series on Netflix suggests a potential change in the streaming platform's content strategy, potentially resulting in a reduced production of shows within this genre.

Netflix's animated fantasy series Disenchantment has concluded with its fifth season, wrapping up major storylines and leaving fans wondering why there won't be a sixth season. Premiering in 2018, Disenchantment introduced audiences to Princess Bean and her quirky companions. With animation reminiscent of The Simpsons and Futurama, and created by Matt Groening and Josh Weinstein, Disenchantment follows Bean's journey to defeat her own mother and save the kingdom of Dreamland.

The conclusion of Disenchantment season 5 reveals Bean's ongoing battle against her mother, Queen Dagmar. It also unveils the fates of her friends Elfo and Luci, as well as her love interest Mora. The series finale provides closure and a satisfying conclusion to the story developed over the past five seasons. Dreamland's outcome is not left uncertain, although viewers may have desired more time in this world. This raises the question of whether the ending of Disenchantment was planned or the result of a cancellation.

Disenchantment Season 5 Was Originally Written As The Series' Conclusion

Netflix has a history of abruptly canceling successful shows, but Disenchantment season 5 was planned and written as the show's final installment. Instead of being canceled, the series was able to wrap up its storylines and answer key questions, ensuring a satisfying ending. The creators of the show had originally intended for six seasons, but chose to end it a bit earlier. This decision allowed them to address everything they wanted to in the final season. Despite this, Netflix's trend of ending series when they should has been highlighted by Disenchantment's conclusion.

Disenchantment's Ending Coincides With Other Major Netflix Adult Animation Finales

Disenchantment's finale aligns with the conclusions of other Netflix animated series, such as Human Resources (ended in June 2023) and the future ending of Big Mouth in 2024. BoJack Horseman, although ending in 2020, may have triggered this trend. While it could be coincidental, this simultaneous conclusion of multiple shows could potentially signify a change in Netflix's content strategy.

Considering Disenchantment's timing, alongside the endings of popular shows like Big Mouth and BoJack Horseman, it appears that Netflix may not prioritize adult animation as much in the future. With all their adult animated series coming to an end, there doesn't seem to be any plans for replacements. Moreover, Netflix canceled several animated shows after a decrease in subscriber count in 2022. This suggests that the streaming platform may be reducing its production of animated series similar to Disenchantment and Big Mouth.

Disenchantment Is Matt Groening's Shortest Series In 34-Year TV Domination

Groening's creation of long-lasting animated series is well-known, making the abrupt ending of Disenchantment surprising. With only five seasons, it is officially Groening's shortest show in his 34-year dominance of TV. In comparison, The Simpsons, which will continue until at least 2025, has an astonishing 34 seasons. Futurama had seven seasons in its original run, and then returned for more. When compared to these projects, Disenchantment appears relatively short.

Nevertheless, five seasons are still ample to tell a story, and there is strength in knowing when to conclude a television series. Groening may have believed that Disenchantment had reached its natural conclusion and wanted to ensure a satisfying ending. After all, the appeal of shows can diminish if they continue for too long. In its five-season run, Disenchantment retained the enchantment that initially captivated viewers. Additionally, there was no worry of it being axed prematurely, as could have happened if it overstayed its welcome on Netflix.

Source: Twitter, IGN