So, it’s official: the electric bass has been unplugged, the Ramona Flowers hair dye has faded, and the League of Evil Exes can finally rest. “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off,” the anime adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s beloved graphic novel series, won’t be getting a second season on Netflix. O’Malley himself broke the news to fans via a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “We were recently informed that the show will NOT return.” While Netflix hasn’t released an official statement, O’Malley’s announcement, coupled with the lack of any renewal news this far out from the initial premiere, all but confirms the show’s conclusion. Let’s face it, in the world of streaming, no news is often bad news.
The eight-episode first season, which dropped on Netflix in November 2023, reunited the cast of the 2010 cult classic film “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.” Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, and the rest of the gang reprised their roles, lending their voices to the vibrant, anime-styled world of Scott Pilgrim once more. The series earned praise for its faithful adaptation, its killer soundtrack (naturally), and for capturing the unique blend of humor, action, and romance that made the graphic novels so iconic.
But even with all that going for it, a second season was never a guarantee. O’Malley and co-developer BenDavid Grabinski have been remarkably transparent about the one-and-done nature of the series since its debut. Last November, O’Malley told Rolling Stone that Season 1 was a self-contained story, explaining that they’d basically emptied their creative clip into those initial episodes. He didn’t entirely rule out the possibility of more Scott Pilgrim down the line, but he did say it would take a minor miracle – or maybe 50 of them.
This preemptive honesty might soften the blow for fans accustomed to the abrupt cancellations that plague the streaming era. By framing “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” as a complete story from the outset, the creators aimed to avoid the dreaded cliffhanger of a canceled-too-soon series. While it’s a bummer that we won’t see more animated adventures from Scott and Ramona, at least we got a satisfying conclusion (for now, anyway… who knows what the future holds in the subspace highway). This approach also speaks to the increasing prevalence of limited series, allowing creators to tell focused stories without the pressure of endless renewal cycles.
The “Scott Pilgrim” franchise already boasts a dedicated following thanks to the graphic novels and the film, which arguably lessens the usual risks associated with animated projects. But alas, even the power of vegan police and epic bass battles couldn’t secure a second season.
