Sometimes, the most intriguing tales are those that, despite a fleeting reign due to the capricious nature of the streaming gods, leave an indelible mark upon their throne.

Netflix has once again wielded its double-edged sword of judgment, striking down a series that had captured the hearts of fans worldwide. With a track record of controversial decisions, from the premature cancellations of beloved shows like Everything Sucks! and I Am Not Okay With This to the unceremonious axing of the queer-centric First Kill, Netflix seems to have a penchant for pulling the plug on diverse and unique storytelling. The latest casualty, a series that enjoyed a brief but dazzling reign atop Netflix’s viewing charts, s a growing list of what might be seen as missteps by the platform.

The mystery in question? Dead Boy Detectives.

The series, initially slated to make HBO Max its home, was rejected by none other than James Gunn amidst a strategic pivot towards a new, cohesive universe for DC characters. Gunn, with his grand vision of interconnected movies and series, deemed the supernatural sleuths unworthy of a place in his carefully curated world. With a slate of five interconnected movies set to unfold between 2025 and 2027, Gunn’s ambitious plan includes the much-anticipated Superman: Legacy, The Brave and the Bold (which promises to introduce a new dynamic duo in the form of Batman and Robin),  Swamp Thing feature (poised to bring the verdant horror of the bayou to the big screen), Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and The Authority (a deep dive into the murky waters of DC’s most ruthless antiheroes).

And so, the ghostly gumshoes from Dead Boy Detectives were left to drift in the void, searching for a new haven where their unique blend of supernatural sleuthing and adolescent angst could be embraced. Under, Steve Yockey, behind the hit series The Flight Attendant, the show found a new lease on (after)life, becoming an integral part of Netflix’s The Sandman universe. Fans rejoiced as the Dead Boy Detectives seamlessly melded with Neil Gaiman’s revered graphic novels, where the characters, Charles Rowland and Edwin Paine, had first sprung to life. In the comics, the two young boys, who met their untimely demise, chose to forsake the afterlife and return to Earth as spectral detectives, solving crimes and unraveling mysteries that the living could not. Throughout their comic book appearances, the Dead Boy Detectives have encountered various characters from The Sandman mythology, including the mischievous Matthew the Raven and the tragic Hob Gadling, a man cursed with immortality.

According to Netflix’s own data, The Sandman amassed an impressive 69.5 million hours viewed in its first week, securing the top spot on the platform’s global top 10 list for English-language TV series. On Rotten Tomatoes, it boasts a certified fresh rating of 88%. The show’s success even prompted Netflix to greenlight a second season. Given the triumph of The Sandman, it seemed like a natural progression for Netflix to explore other connected properties within Gaiman’s expansive mythology.

Yet, despite the scintillating promise of this supernatural alliance, Netflix’s merciless blade of cancellation struck with the force of a thousand demons. The Dead Boy Detectives, with their intoxicating elixir of British boarding school mischief, teenage detective intrigue, and macabre enchantment, were deemed unworthy of a second chance at (after)life. The show’s inaugural outing had concluded on a tantalizing cliffhanger, dangling the carrot of a romantic revelation and hinting at the untapped potential of the series. George Rexstrew and Jayden Revri, the ghostly protagonists brought to life by the electrifying performances of gifted newcomers, were left suspended in a purgatorial limbo.

It’s a bitter pill to swallow, especially considering the show’s impressive performance. The eight-episode series ruled the Netflix Top 10 English TV charts for three weeks after its release, peaking at the coveted number two spot, only trailing behind the platform’s own horror hit series, Baby Reindeer. Critics were equally enamored, with the show boasting a stellar 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. But alas, the numbers and accolades were not enough to sway the powers that be. In a world where streaming platforms are increasingly prioritizing blockbuster franchises and safe bets, the cancellation of Dead Boy Detectives feels like a missed opportunity.

Some have speculated that Neil Gaiman, a producer on Dead Boy Detectives, may have played a role in the show’s fate. Recent allegations of sexual impropriety leveled against Gaiman have led to whispers that his influence could have left the series vulnerable to cancellation. Yet, it would be irresponsible to assume his alleged actions were the sole determining factor in the cancellation of the series. The truth is that we may never know the full story.

Look, I get it. For generations now, the world has quite gleefully sunk its teeth into the subgenre of “rich people behaving dubiously at their absolute best.” From Dallas to Succession and everything in between and beyond, this has been the way.

It’s no surprise, then, that Owning Manhattan—one of the latest debutants to Netflix‘s empire of reality television—has snapped up a season two renewal following its grand opening on the platform back in late June.

The show follows real estate mogul Ryan Serhant (of Million Dollar Listing New York fame) as he bounces between the personalities occupying New York’s luxury real estate business, and all the backstabbing narcissism that tends to buoy it.

Fans, as you can imagine, are eating this announcement up, and can’t wait to plunge themselves back into the worlds of people that, realistically, do not deserve our attention.

But it’s right around here that we feel the need to address one of the two elephants in this room. Namely, the mounting evidence provided by Owning Manhattan‘s “fanbase” that reality television is actually a psy-op whose purpose is to drip-feed all of this bad behavior into our minds so that we A) Feel better about our own behaviors and B) Remain convinced that the human race is already doomed. I mean, look at what we’re devoting our time to.

Because yes, Umar, I’m sure you love “this movie” that is the eight, sub-60 minute episodes of Owning Manhattan, you’re a very real fan indeed.

And let’s not forget all the warm and fuzzy feelings that are obviously essential to the “rich people behaving badly” genre.

But let’s move on to the second elephant in the room, which is that, if there’s anything that Netflix s love more than reality television, it’s British teenagers of dubious sexuality bumbling around in a supernatural landscape as they try to do justice to a much-loved urban fantasy IP. I speak, of course, of Dead Boy Detectives, which has yet to receive a season two following its eight-episode April premiere.

But this is Netflix we’re talking about, meaning that we can probably expect Dead Boy Detectives to go the way of Lockwood & Co., or Shadow and Bone, or First Kill, or Warrior Nun before the fan campaign. Indeed, Netflix despises their teen fantasy shows, so much so that they constantly greenlight them just to slaughter them right before our eyes.

In any case, the battle rages on, and all I’m saying is you would never see a push for an Owning Manhattan renewal like you would for any of these other shows. That would require real people who actually like Owning Manhattan on a conscious level, and to paraphrase Buzz Lightyear, there seems to be no sign of conscious viewing habits anywhere.

Owning Manhattan and Dead Boy Detectives are both available to stream exclusively on Netflix.

Warning: This article contains full spoilers for Dead Boy Detectives season 1.

So, Dead Boy Detectives was a crazy show, right? I mean, we should’ve expected that from a series that’s the spiritual son of both The Sandman and Doom Patrol, not to mention coming from the twisted mind of Neil Gaiman, but the Netflix punky teen supernatural/mystery show really throws in everything but the kitchen sink, huh?

Across its fast, frantic, endlessly imaginative eight episodes, DBD delivers murder, mayhem, ghosts, sprites, a trip to hell and even a couple of DC cameos. It’s all a lot to take in, so you’d be forgiven for needing a recap of exactly what the heck went down in the season — we hope not series — finale. So let’s unpack it.

Will Jenny the Dead Boy Detectives Agency?

After regaining her memories, Crystal (Kassius Nelson) officially s Charles (Jacob Revri) and Edwin (George Rexstrew) as part of their detective agency. Likewise, the boys have come to an arrangement with the Afterlife’s Lost & Found Department, allowing them to continue to remain on Earth as well as Night Nurse (Ruth Connell) becoming their official chaperone, essentially making her a member of the agency too.

One invitation the boys extend, however, doesn’t get a firm answer. After the destruction of her butchers shop, Edwin and Charles offer Jenny (Briana Cuoco) a spot in their agency too, but she turns them down… At least for the moment. Is there a chance Jenny could return for a second season, this time as a proper part of the gang?

Showrunner Steve Yockey teased that this was a definite possibility while speaking to The Wrap. “I mean, I think that character is my personal spirit animal,” he said. “So, I’m attached to that character if that helps you believe that she will come back in the future.”

Is Niko still alive?

Here’s the really big question we have, though: what exactly happened to Niko (Yuyu Kitamura)? The most pure-hearted member of the gang, Niko had lived a sheltered lonely life with her sprites until she got swept up into an adventure with the Dead Boys, so it was truly heartbreaking — but also indicative of her character growth — when she sacrificed herself to save Crystal, stepping in front of a magical dagger thrown by evil Esther (Jenn Lyon).

The finale’s post-credits scene throws our understanding of Niko’s fate for a loop, however. The sequence sees Niko in an igloo with her sprites, Litty (Caitlin Reilly) and Kingham (Max Jenkins). “So, what now">announce a second season.

Warning: the following article contains spoilers for season 1 of Dead Boy Detectives.

It’s a great time for Neil Gaiman fans to be alive. The sky is clear, The Sandman and Good Omens are both prospering, and the Dead Boy Detectives comics have finally gotten their much-awaited TV show adaptation. What’s not to love?

The Netflix retelling of Edwin Paine (George Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland’s (Jayden Revri) ghostly adventures dropped on April 25 and was quickly embraced by critics and fans alike. Mixing supernatural horror with mystery solving, the show focuses on two dead teenage detectives, first introduced in issue 25 of Gaiman’s The Sandman comic. (In case you’re wondering: yes, this means that the two series crossover, to the delight of avid fans of both.)

While there’s a lot about the show to enjoy, there is no denying that the dynamic between its two main characters is the heart of the story. Repeatedly, Dead Boy Detectives drives home just how deep of a bond Edwin and Charles share, and it’s beautiful to see it play out on the screen. Naturally, though, this connection leads to questions.

Are Edwin and Charles gay in Dead Boy Detectives?

Edwin is a gay character in the Dead Boy Detectives comics, and the same can be said about his Netflix counterpart. In fact, Edwin’s struggle with his homosexuality is the story, as we learn about the impact that attending a Catholic private school had on him. Due to the school’s strict doctrine and the pressure put on its students to conform to it, Edwin was forced into the closet, reticent in being fully himself. Throughout season 1, though, the character comes to with and starts to embrace his sexuality, which culminates in his big confession of love to Charles in episode 7.

In “The Case of the Very Long Stairway,” Edwin its he is in love with his best friend as they escape from hell, but doesn’t get the answer that some fans wished for. Charles cannot say that he returns Edwin’s feelings, but makes sure to let his companion know that he does love him, even if platonically. Edwin is the most important person in Charles’ life, and nothing can change that.

Does this mean that Charles is straight? Well, not necessarily. It’s clear that the character is interested in girls — as evidenced by his growing romance with Crystal — but that doesn’t answer the question of whether or not he is also attracted to boys. In the DC comics, Charles and Edwin never share a romantic relationship, but who’s to say that won’t happen in a future season of Netflix’s Dead Boy Detectives? The sky is the limit.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Dead Boy Detectives season 1.

The Sandman season 2 might be taking its sweet time in getting here, but at least Netflix has gifted subscribers a dream substitute in the form of Dead Boy Detectives, another supernatural series based on a Neil Gaiman comic that’s set in the same shared universe.

Although it was originally developed as a Doom Patrol spinoff headed for Max, the YA-flavored series pivoted lanes when it switched to Netflix and was redeveloped as a Sandman spinoff instead, with Gaiman’s blessing. Although the show — starring newcomers George Rexstrew and Jayden Revri as a pair of ghost private eyes — is mostly standalone it does contain at least a couple of major ties to its parent series, which should delight those missing Dream of the Endless and his curious family.

Dead Boy Detectives season 1 —The Sandman universe cameos, explained

If you saw the trailers, you knew to expect one big Sandman universe cameo from Dead Boy Detectives — that’s right, Kirby Howell-Baptiste reprises her role as Dream’s sister Death in the first episode.

In fact, the show wastes as little time as possible in bringing Death on-screen. In an action-packed opening sequence, Edwin (Rexstrew) and Charles (Revri) successfully defeat the ghost of a WW1 soldier who has been driven mad by a cursed gasmask. The boys then hide as a special visitor comes to escort the soldier to the afterlife — Death herself. Edwin and Charles make clear that they are hiding from Death as the two best friends don’t want to be forced to part and go their separate ways in the spirit world. Cue opening credits.

As in The Sandman, Death is portrayed as much warmer and kinder than you would expect, with her poetic dialogue being so spot-on you would think Gaiman had written it himself. The character is definitely not a big presence this season, however, and does not appear again after this opening sequence.

That said, another of the Endless family also makes an appearance much later in the season. In episode 7, Edwin is trapped in hell, seeming destined to be tortured for all eternity, when he notices someone spying on him in a reflective surface. As ghosts cal travel through mirrors in DBB lore, Edwin follows the reflection and finds himself in a location DC fans may recognize as the Gray Realm and facing Despair, as played by Donna Preston, returning from Sandman season 1.

Although she’s not explicitly named on screen, when Edwin inquires as to what kind of creature she is Despair says that the possibilities are “endless.” Despite being depicted as quiet and depressed on Sandman, here Despair is a little more pro-active, comics-accurate, and creepy. We learn that she feeds on the despair of others, so peeping on Edwin as he endures the cruelty of hell is a particularly delicious treat for her. “Isn’t it beautiful">assuming that we get one. And if she can bring her big brother Dream with her next time the fans would really appreciate it.

Dead Boy Detectives has had a strange path to the small screen. The TV series was originally set to be part of the DC Universe, but co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran decided that it didn’t match with their revamped vision of the franchise, and dropped it. The series then shifted from Max to Netflix, where it’s set to premiere on April 25, 2024. Dead Boy Detectives‘ unusual rollout has little to do with its quality, however, as fans are anticipating great things for the uniquely-toned teenage series.

As with any series, however, there’s speculation over the future. Dead Boy Detectives may be a brand new show, but it has drummed up so much anticipation among superhero fans and those who read the comic books that there’s a desire to find out whether it’s been renewed for another season. Will Dead Boy Detectives receive the green light from Netflix or will it go down as a one season wonder? Let’s discuss.

Dead Boy Detectives has not yet been renewed by Netflix

So far, Netflix has not announced plans to renew Dead Boy Detectives. To be fair, the streaming platform typically waits until a show premieres, and popularity can be gauged, before giving the green light on future seasons. This approach makes a particular amount of sense when applied to Dead Boy Detectives and its touch-and-go production.

Co-showrunner Steve Yockey told The Wrap that he’s relieved to have the hard work that went into season one pay off, given that the plug was pulled on the show while production was still going on. “It wasn’t like we were in danger of suddenly getting the hammer dropped on us,” Yockey assured readers. “It’s unfortunate that we had to leave them, but I also think it’s worked out best for the show.”

The co-showrunner is not wrong. Had Dead Boy Detectives stayed on Max, and premiered on the platform, there would be little to no chance of the show getting a second season. The fact that the show was retooled for Netflix and tied in with the critically acclaimed Sandman series means that it will have a much better chance at connecting with a wide audience.

Showrunners have plans for the shared Sandman universe

While the official future of Dead Boy Detectives remains unclear, the showrunners have made it known that they have plans for where the show could eventually go. Both Steve Yockey and Beth Schwartz were eager to set Dead Boy Detectives within the framework of the Sandman universe, and they would love an opportunity to strengthen the connections between characters in both shows.

Yockey and Schwartz told Screen Rant that Netflix approached them with the idea of setting the show within the world of The Sandman, and the duo responded enthusiastically. They worked in a couple of Easter Eggs to the parent series in season 1, but they made it clear to the outlet that they have bigger plans in store should Dead Boy Detectives get picked up for additional seasons. Yockey maintained that crossovers would benefit both shows as long they made sense for the story:

What I foresee and what’s going to happen are not always the same thing. I think Beth and I agree that further crossover would be really cool. But the thing is that it needs to be specific.

Are you enjoying Dead Boy Detectives so far? Do you think it will help raise the profile of Netflix’s burgeoning Sandman universe? And lastly, do you want to see it come back for season 2?

While we wait for the next season of The Sandman to drop, Neil Gaiman is back to remind us that he and Netflix are the real streaming dream team. Although it’s not exactly a spinoff, The Sandman universe is set to expand with Dead Boy Detectives.

Just like The Sandman, Dead Boy Detectives is also based on a DC Vertigo comic series created by Gaiman. Originally developed as a Max original series, the HBO platform ultimately kicked the project to the curb, leaving Netflix to hungrily pick it up and run with it. Given how much success Gaiman adaptations have found in Prime’s Good Omens and the aforementioned Sandman, there’s a good chance Max will be proven to have made a big mistake in letting Netflix snatch this one up.

Are you investigating the mystery of whether to check out Dead Boy Detectives when it lands on the streamer this spring? Here’s everything you need to know to solve the case.

What is Dead Boy Detectives about?

Honestly, I feel like the title Dead Boy Detectives tells you everything you need to know about this teen supernatural-mystery series, but hey ho, here’s some more info for you.

In the original comics, Dead Boy Detectives follows Charles Rowland and Edwin Payne, two ghosts who haunt a creepy old boarding school. For the screen, the story has been given a much more modern and punkish spin. Now the two life-lorn lads run the Dead Boy Detective Agency, having elected against moving on into the afterlife in order to stay behind on Earth to use their ghostly powers to become private eyes. Or, as Charles puts it in the teaser trailer, “we’re ghosts, and we solve mysteries.” ‘Nuff said.

Who is in the cast of Dead Boy Detectives?

So, here’s the thing, given that Dead Boy Detectives was supposed to be a Max show, Charles and Edwin first made their live-action debuts in an episode of Doom Patrol season 3, in which the duo were played by Sebastian Croft (Heartstopper) and Ty Tennant (House of the Dragon). Presumably these two rising stars were too busy to commit to the Netflix series, though, or else the producers wanted to draw a line in the sand between the two series in of continuity, as Charles and Edwin have been recast.

Dead Boy Detectives stars Jayden Revri (Fate: The Winx Saga) and newcomer George Rexstrew as the titular undead investigators The ing cast includes Kassius Nelson (White Lines) as Crystal Palace, Ruth Connell (Supernatural) as the Night Nurse, and Briana (sister of Kaley) Cuoco as Jenny the Butcher. Recurring and guest stars include Lukas Gage (The White Lotus), Michael Beach (Aquaman), Joshua Colley (Love, Victor), and Lindsey Gort (The Samantha Chronicles).

As for who’s involved behind the scenes, it’s important to note that, as he’s busy with Good Omens, The Sandman, and other projects in the works, Neil Gaiman is not showrunning this series. Instead Dead Boy Detectives was developed for TV by Steve Yockey, creator of The Flight Attendant.

Is there a Dead Boy Detectives trailer?

There is indeed. Netflix unveiled our first look at the series in the form of a teaser trailer released in November 2023. Honestly, it looks to share a lot of vibes with sadly short-lived 2023 series Lockwood and Co. so anyone missing that will definitely want to give this one a go.

When does Dead Boy Detectives hit Netflix?

Your new favorite spiritual sleuths are all set to spook their way onto streaming with an eight-part first season on April 25.

As much as you’d like to think the two events aren’t directly connected, it’s quite the coincidence that James Gunn’s response to the calls for Zack Snyder’s SnyderVerse to be sold off to Netflix was to tell them that it wasn’t going to happen, right before he handed over another DC property to the streaming service.

Originally designed as an HBO Max exclusive before it was decided the entire slate needed to be refitted in order to align with Gunn and Peter Safran’s overhauled shared universe, Neil Gaiman adaptation Dead Boy Detectives was ed off to a platform who already brought one of the creator’s legendary works to vivid life with The Sandman.

It was Gaiman himself who confirmed that Dead Boy Detectives would occupy the same universe as Tom Sturridge’s Dream, and while no cross-pollinations or Easter Eggs have been confirmed or denied as of yet, recent events have opened the doors to the hypothetical becoming the very real.

Dead Boy Detectives wrapped shooting in early April, with cameras on the second season of The Sandman rolling at the beginning of last week. Of course, that’s no guarantee that a crossover is immediately going to be on the cards, but you’d imagine the two projects overlapping in such close proximity has at least been discussed by the Netflix hierarchy by now.

It could be a long way away or just around the corner, but as the SnyderVerse subset lick their wounds, Netflix is forging full steam ahead on an altogether different kind of interconnected DCU sandbox.

Those with a soft spot for the SnyderVerse have been left fuming by James Gunn‘s ascension to the role of DC Studios co-CEO, for the sole reason that he isn’t interested in resurrecting or restoring the mythology as he rebuilds the franchise in his own image.

While the more vocal subset of ers don’t really need a reason to vent their anger and frustration at the Marvel Cinematic Universe veteran on social media, they were left apoplectic with rage after the Guardians of the Galaxy director laughed off suggestions the SnyderVerse would be sold off to Netflix, only to go right ahead and hand Dead Boy Detectives over to the streaming service.

Netflix does have a history with retooling DC properties – especially those from the mind of Neil Gaiman as Lucifer and The Sandman have previously shown – but the architect behind Dead Boy Detectives may have lit another fire under the furious fandom after seeming to confirm that the latter will share a universe with the recently renewed supernatural favorite.

While we shouldn’t expect any direct crossovers between the two, it’s nonetheless interesting to see Gaiman address whether or not The Sandman and Dead Boy Detectives exist in the same continuity, as tenuous as it may be.

After all, the only other property Lucifer connected to was the Arrowverse of all things via Tom Ellis’ cameo in Crisis on Infinite Earths, but beating the SnyderVerse to the punch by establishing a shared DC universe on Netflix will no doubt have people believing that Gunn is trying to irritate them on purpose.

Although it wasn’t intended to come across as such – at least as far as we know – James Gunn agreeing to sell the live-action adaptation of Dead Boy Detectives off to Netflix was interpreted by many as a huge middle finger being pointed in the direction of the SnyderVerse.

After all, the more fanatical backers of the abandoned mythology had convinced themselves that spamming social media would be enough to convince not just the market-leading streaming service but also Gunn, Peter Safran, David Zaslav, Warner Bros. Discovery, and DC Studios that handing over the rights to a scrapped saga was an achievable goal.

While Dead Boy Detectives has set a precedent ensuring that DC Comics projects are more than capable of being handed over to a direct rival – something we already knew through the existence of both Netflix’s Lucifer revival and Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman – we’d be inclined to say that the SnyderVerse isn’t going to follow suit.

The pilot was initially ordered back in September of 2021, but Netflix has opted to rebuild the series from the ground up, with cinematographer Marc Laliberte revealing on Instagram that principal photography on the first season is now complete.

Knowing how Netflix tends to operate, though, there’s always the chance Dead Boy Detectives will the lengthy list of high-profile cancellations once the first season eventually arrives. That being said, the aforementioned Lucifer and The Sandman both scored renewals, so maybe DC is immune to the streamer’s rampant wielding of the fantasy axe.

Having made it abundantly clear to the last burning embers of the #RestoreTheSnyderVerse movement that they won’t be getting their wish under any circumstances, James Gunn has only gone ahead and rubbed a mountainous pile of salt into an already cavernous wound.

As revealed by The Hollywood Reporter, DC Comics adaptation Dead Boy Detectives is no longer in development at HBO Max, but has instead been sold off to Netflix. To make things even worse for those demanding the market-leading streaming service stump up the cash to bring Zack Snyder’s corner of the DCU to a rival platform in order for it to be completed, the reasoning behind the deal is only going to sting even more.

Having originally ordered a pilot episode way back in September of 2021, which was then upped to a series order a year later, it’s noted that “the series didn’t fit with the new chapter of content that DC executives James Gunn and Peter Safran are building for the comic book powerhouse,” which is why Netflix was allowed to swoop in and secure itself another high-profile exclusive series.

The campaign to have the SnyderVerse acquired by Netflix was always doomed to fail from the very beginning, but you’ve got to think that the more vociferous band of backers will be positively frothing with fury that not only has the co-CEO of the studio repeatedly dismissed their desires as nothing more than wishful thinking, but gone and coordinated a deal that’s seen one of the comic book conglomerate’s properties that didn’t jive with the overall vision for Chapter 1 – Gods & Monsters head there instead.