Is ‘The Final Problem’ returning for season two?
Netflix drops a Sherlock Holmes-coded mystery, and fans don’t ask for more? That’s honestly a myth, and yes, we’re talking about The Final Problem.
Set in 1959 spring on a secluded island off the coast of Mallorca, the detective drama opens with the death of quiet English tourist Elisa Mander. Although the death looks like a suicide, foul play suggests otherwise, forcing retired actor Benjamin Basil, who portrayed the Victorian-era detective Sherlock Holmes on screen, to use his fictional sleuthing skills to catch the perpetrator.
The Final Problem is a four-episode Spanish mystery series that culminates in a rather satisfying conclusion with the killer finally identified. But is that enough to stop fans from speculating whether the show is returning for more? Nah! If anything, far from it.
So, for those curious, Netflix hasn’t formally renewed the mystery adaptation for a sophomore season, which isn’t exactly shocking since the show just premiered on the platform.
As is the case with the streaming giant, it weighs a few non-negotiable metrics, such as viewership numbers and completion rates, before renewing a title for a follow-up. As a result, renewals or cancellations usually take weeks, if not months. Although exceptions exist when Netflix greenlights shows rather quickly, as happened with its newest YA sports romance series, Crew Girl, there’s no word on The Final Problem’s future yet.
Having said that, The Final Problem was originally conceived and labelled as a Netflix limited series, based on Arturo Pérez-Reverte’s bestselling novel El problema final. So the likelihood of a future season is low, considering it is a short-format release with a self-contained story.
With the final problem resolved and the central mystery solved, there’s hardly any reason for the show to return. The identities are clear, and so are the ties between every character that bring them to the forefront of the murder mystery. Although it remains unclear how Basil deals with the emotional repercussions of the confrontations he had after solving the case, the investigation comes to a close.
Additionally, the current promotional material doesn’t suggest otherwise, meaning the viewership figures and completion rates shouldn’t influence the miniseries format. Then again, Netflix has also made exceptions with follow-ups of shows originally conceived as limited series.
So, until an official confirmation arrives, intrigued fans will have to hold their horses to know if The Final Problem is really done and dusted.