Carnival Row returns in February for its second and final season

The first season of Carnival Row was released through the Amazon Prime streaming service way back in August of 2019, so it would make sense if you thought the show was already cancelled years ago. But a second season of the show was ordered before the first season had even premiered, and it’s finally going to be released on February 17th. Not surprisingly, given the long delay between seasons, Amazon has confirmed that Carnival Row season 2 is going to be the end of the show.

Starring Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne, Carnival Row is set

in a Victorian fantasy world of mythological immigrant creatures whose exotic homelands were invaded by the empires of man. Bloom plays human detective, Rycroft Philostrate, while Delevingne stars as a refugee faerie named Vignette Stonemoss. In Season 1, they rekindle a dangerous affair despite an increasingly intolerant society and Vignette harbors a secret that endangers Philo’s world during his most important case yet: a string of gruesome murders threatening the uneasy peace of the Row.

Season 2 will pick up with

former inspector Rycroft Philostrate a.k.a. Philo (Bloom) investigating a series of gruesome murders stoking social tension. Vignette Stonemoss (Delevingne) and the Black Raven plot payback for the unjust oppression inflicted by The Burgue’s human leaders, Jonah Breakspear (Arty Froushan) and Sophie Longerbane (Caroline Ford).

Tourmaline (Karla Crome) inherits supernatural powers that threaten her fate and the future of The Row. And, after escaping The Burgue and her vengeful brother Ezra (Andrew Gower), Imogen Spurnrose (Tamzin Merchant) and her partner Agreus Astrayon (David Gyasi) encounter a radical new society which upends their plans. With humans and fae folk divided and freedom on the line, each hero will face impossible dilemmas and soul-defining tests tests in the epic conclusion of Carnival Row.

This concept started out with spec script called A Killing on Carnival Row, which Travis Beacham wrote in 2005. At one time, Guillermo del Toro was going to direct the Carnival Row feature film. Beacham then developed the idea into a series with Rene Echevarria… and there have been some behind-the-scenes shake-ups along the way. Echevarria was the first showrunner, but left the project when reshoots were required for season 1 and was replaced by Marc Guggenheim. Heading into season 2, Guggenheim left the show so he could focus on a DC crossover event on the CW and was replaced by Erik Oleson. And somewhere in there, Beacham also left Carnival Row over creative differences. Beacham, Echevarria, Guggenheim, Bloom, Delevingne, Oleson, and Jon Amiel all have executive producer credits on Carnival Row season 2.

Were you a fan of the first season of Carnival Row, and are you looking forward to season 2? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.