13 Reasons Why You Should Watch "Half Bad" And Then Maybe Netflix Won't Cancel It

Come on, Netflix – it wasn't half bad!

News broke recently that Netflix has cancelled Half Bad, AKA The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself.

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The show – based on the novel by Sally Green – is the latest in a long line of Netflix YA fantasy series to be cancelled, including First Kill, Fate: The Winx Saga, and The Midnight Club. Half Bad had been well received by critics and viewers alike, so its cancellation is bittersweet.

Now, I have to be honest, I only recently became obsessed with this show. While the initial few episodes are interesting, I think it ~really~ gets going in the middle of the series when a certain Frenchman becomes involved!

Instagram: @thebastardson_tv

Indeed, Half Bad might've had a couple of issues – the long-ass name that was changed suddenly being another one – but generally I think it's a really SOLID series with a lot going for it!!

Here are just a few reasons why I think y'all should add it to your watchlist, and hopefully make Netflix change its mind ;)

1. It has a relatively unknown cast, but they're all really strong!

Netflix

The series more or less follows three central characters – Nathan (Jay Lycurgo), Annalise (Nadia Parkes), and Gabriel (Emilien Vekemans). Prior to Half Bad, Jay was best known for starring in The Batman and Titans; Nadia had had roles in The Spanish Princess, Starstruck, and Domina; and Emilien had starred in a variety of French-speaking series including ASKIP and Transferts.

Arguably, Half Bad represented their biggest roles to date, but honestly, don't let that deter you from tuning in because all three of them are BRILLIANT in this. Alongside them, Isobel Jesper Jones stars as the incredibly hate-able (because she's that good) Jessica, Nathan's half-sister. Paul Ready (Motherland, Bodyguard, The Terror) and Róisín Murphy (pop icon) also star.

2. It's full of fantasy, but it's also very funny and grounded.

Netflix

The series follows two warring communities of witches, which puts it firmly in the fantasy genre. But even though it has dramatic and supernatural themes, Half Bad is very good at cracking jokes, not taking itself too seriously and using a lot of bathos, which makes it super endearing!

3. It's based on a fabulous young adult novel series.

Instagram: @sallygreenwriter

If you haven't heard of Half Bad, it's the debut novel by Sally Green published in 2014. The book follows Nathan on his quest to challenge the dark legacy bestowed on him by his father, but there are several key differences between it and the series. A further two books – Half Wild and Half Lost – were published, but I guess we'll never know what those look like on screen... Or will we?

4. It has a story that really builds and sucks you in.

Teddy Cavendish/Netflix

The concept is not wholly original, but it's done in a really excellent way! Nathan is the son of the world's most feared Black witch. He's spent most of his life being monitored for signs that he may follow in the footsteps of his wicked father, but as the series progresses and Nathan learns more about himself, the line between good and bad starts to blur.

5. A lot of the characters are incredibly compelling.

Teddy Cavendish/Netflix

I really like how the series built its key characters, including Nathan, Jess, Gabriel, and Annalise – all have really interesting arcs that make you want to click that "next episode" button! For instance, in Annalise's journey, she goes from a comfortable dare I say boring existence, to something much more scary and ultimately tragic. But you know it's for the better because she becomes who's born to be!

6. It feels like a really interesting mesh of a lot of other shows.

E4/BBC One/Netflix

The series has echoes of a few different fantasy series, including Doctor Who, His Dark Materials, Misfits, and Shadow and Bone. Another obvious comparison could be the Harry Potter franchise – since it's a British show and the main trio are made up of two boys and a girl – but I think it's a lot more harrowing than that.

7. It's suuuuuper queer!

Rekha Garton/Netflix

Half Bad features a couple of romantic storylines and more than a few queer characters. I don't wanna spoil anything, but there's some great sexual tension between characters, and some fun representation. For instance, I'm a big fan of Ceelia – played by Karen Connell – a queer witch who has some serious Brienne of Tarth energy!

8. It's critically acclaimed!

Teddy Cavendish/Netflix

The series has a current critical rating of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes (and an audience score of 92%), and is rated 72 out of 100 on Metacritic. Digital Spy gave the series 5 stars, praising its lead characters and the world-building, and The Guardian and The Telegraph similarly lauded it, giving it 4 stars overall, respectively.

9. It has a killer soundtrack scored by Let's Eat Grandma.

Ian West/PA Images / Via Getty Images

Rosa Walton and Jenny Hollingworth of Let's Eat Grandma were approached by the show's creators to compose an original soundtrack for the series. Their first project of this nature, the 25 track score is super integral to the series, underlining all of the action with a perfect eerie yet modern sound.

"We could really imagine our musical style going well with the show", the group told Crack Magazine, remarking that their music has been described as "witchy" in the past. When asked where their inspiration came from, the synth-pop duo cited "fairy tales and folklore" as well as the scores to Under The Skin and Utopia.

10. It was shot on location in London, and it feels like a really British series.

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The series was shot in England and Scotland, mostly London, Kent, and Inveraray. The locations feel familiar, and the cast is also mostly British, which is nice to see every now and again!

11. But a lot of it is in French too, so if you're looking to improve, give it a watch.

nabriel_addict #incorrectnabriel ❣️ @lockinspace_

Sexiest word I’ve think about a lot from Gabriel : faire l’amour #TheBastardSon #TheBastardSonAndTheDevilHimself @TheBastardSonTV

09:00 AM - 14 Nov 2022

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I know I got a lot out of it, and that's not just because most of the French was coming from a sexy man!

12. The series was created and written by Joe Barton, who has also written for Humans, Giri/Haji, and The Lazarus Project.

Dave J Hogan / Via Getty Images

Of the cancellation, Joe said, "Very proud of it and really liked the people I got to make it with. Sorry not to be able to finish the story".

13. And THE Andy Serkis executive produced the series through his company Imaginarium Productions.

Lia Toby / Via Getty Images

The Lord of the Rings actor co-produced the series alongside Jonathan Cavendish and Will Tennant of Imaginarium Productions. So, you know, expect greatness!

So what do you think? Will you be watching Half Bad? Maybe you already have? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!