Black Summer Season 3: Everything We Know So Far
“Black Summer” is a thrilling and intense Netflix series belonging to the zombie horror genre and serving as a prequel to “Z Nation.” Set in the early days of a devastating zombie apocalypse, the show focuses on a group of survivors navigating through the chaos and danger to find safety.
The cast features talented actors like Jaime King as Rose the determined protagonist, Zoe Marlett as Anna the protagonist’s daughter, and Justin Chu Cary as Spears, a resourceful survivor. The show’s creators, Karl Schaefer and John Hyams, skillfully craft a tense atmosphere and character-driven narrative, offering a fresh take on the zombie genre.
With its fast-paced action, character development, and gripping storytelling, “Black Summer” stands out as a unique addition to the zombie television landscape. The series captivates audiences with its suspenseful scenarios and emotional depth, making it a must-watch for fans of post-apocalyptic storytelling.
It was first telecast on Netflix in 2019 and ran for two seasons until 2021. It had an overall IMDB rating of 6.6.
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Official Announcement On Black Summer Season 3
The Netflix series Black Summer is a spin-off of the Syfy series Z Nation that ran for 5 seasons and was a fan favourite. Z Nation started three years after a zombie apocalypse, so this gives the spin-off, Black Summer, three years’ worth of story time to cover.
Considering this key point, fans of Black Summer have been optimistic about the renewal of the series for a third season by Netflix. As of now, Netflix has not made any comment on the renewal of the show for season 3.
However, fans have commented that the network and the series have usually maintained a gap of a year or two between each season. The fact that Netflix has not cancelled the show is also indicative of the fact that there is hope for a new season.
Moreover, season two ended with many cliffhangers and unanswered questions. The show has also not caught up with the start of Z Nation yet, so the scope is vast for a new season.
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Previous Seasons and Episodes of Black Summer
Black Summer is a zombie apocalypse series, and each of the two seasons has eight episodes. The first season aired on Netflix in April of 2019, and the second season came out in June 2021.
The broad premise of the series is to quickly adapt to the situation and find reliable allies and supplies. The plot is created as a prequel of Z Nation; hence its aim is to explain why the society deteriorated to that level of survival and how they managed till this point.
The unique aspect of the show is that it combines the emotional and survival perspectives of the characters. The characters don’t just follow mindless survival tactics. They also react emotionally or logically based on the situation.
The first season establishes the chaotic situation where law and order, societal norms, and human values are deteriorating. Small groups of survivors have formed and are fighting for dominance over each other and the zombies.
In this chaos, Rose is a mother who is looking for her daughter Anna while she travels with a travelling group of survivors. They meet different types of people and learn to trust no one and depend only on their heads, not their hearts.
The second season starts with chaos once again. All existing plans of last season are busted, and new threats are emerging. As winter descends, Rose and Anna find it hard to find allies, the uneasy truce and untrustworthy allies add to the brutal violence and action.
All this chaos, gory fights, survival wars, etc., add to the charm of the show and build a cult fan following. While diehard fans loved the chaos, critics were not happy with the lack of character development, the inconsistent direction of the plot, and the frequent changes in perspectives.
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Where To Watch The Show
This show is available for viewing across the world. If you are a viewer in the USA, UK or Canada, the show was made for Netflix, and you can watch both the seasons on Netflix streaming app and Netflix Basic with Ads.
Users of Apple TV Plus can also watch the trial version for free.
Google Trends Data Analysis
The second season of Black Summer concluded in 2021 on Netflix. Since then, there has been no confirmation of renewal or cancellation of the show. As a result, fans and audiences have been patiently awaiting any news.
The trends on Google have shown a continued interest in this show in the past 12 months. The numbers have risen and fallen but never died away. As the second season has ended on a critical note wherein the fate of the protagonist and her daughter is ambiguous, fans are hopeful for a new season to get closure.
There are many loose ends and the fate of Sun, the Korean survivor, indicates a possible spin-off.
Social Media Engagement
Black Summer has created a significant buzz in social media. The maximum traffic around the show is on Facebook and X (Twitter). Due to the action-packed theme of a zombie apocalypse, many articles have been circulating regarding the expected plot of the new season and the different characters in the series.
There have been posts, blogs, and discussions on the fate of the characters and the possible twists in the plot for the new season. The diverse cast of the series has ensured that different quarters of the viewers were represented.
The balance between the action, emotional, and survival aspects of the plot kept the fans of different genres’ happy. The endorsement from Stephen King of the show and its plot added to the general interest among viewers.
Expected Plot of Upcoming Black Summer Season 3
As Netflix has yet to greenlight season three of Black Summer, there is no fixed plot for the series. Yet, this has not discouraged the fans from making their guesses and even creating fan fiction.
However, a majority of the plot guesses revolve around the ending of season two. In the finale, we saw the desperate dash to the airport by Sun, Rose, Anna and the group to escape, while the group led by Nazeri plots to thwart their attempt.
In this confusion, Rose is badly injured and appears to succumb to her wounds, Anna refuses to leave without her mother, so she runs out to save Rose. Sun is the only one to board the plane, where she meets another Korean, a pilot who reassures her.
Nazeri is also heavily injured and is seeking revenge on Rose and Anna for wrecking his plan. Considering all this, season three has a lot of scope for old vengeance to continue and new alliances to form.
Top 5 Important Characters of Black Summer
Rose (Played by Jaime King)
Rose is characterised by her determination to reunite with her daughter amidst the pandemonium. As the series unfolds, Rose evolves from vulnerability to resilience with her adaptability and survival instincts.
Rose is a compelling and memorable figure in the intense thriller, and Jaime King portrays her excellently. This former model and actress had starred in quite a few TV series and movies, including action films Sin City, its sequels, Escape Plan 2, its sequel, etc.
She also appeared on the small screen in roles in Kitchen Confidential!, The Class, Hart of Dixie, Transformers: Power of the Primes, etc.
Kyungsun (Played by Christine Lee)
Kyungsun or Sun is one of the main characters of the series. She portrays a kind-hearted, compassionate Korean survivor who has difficulty communicating due to previous trauma and a language barrier.
However, she overcomes this and builds a strong bond of friendship with William Velez. She quickly learns to defend herself against her helpful and timid nature. She begins to loyally stand up and defend her friends, even sacrificing her safety to help William.
This role is one of the biggest roles of the actress Christine Lee. She previously appeared in minor roles in Travelers, Colossal, Debris, etc.
William Velez (Played by Sal Velez Jr.)
William Velez is a compassionate and altruistic survivor. His background as a janitor contrasts with his heroic actions where he protects others. Despite his lack of combat skills, William’s courage and determination shine through as he forms unexpected alliances.
His selflessness and willingness to assist others make him a symbol of hope and resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity. He is skillfully played by Sal Velez Jr. from Chicago’s Second City, an improv theatre.
He has appeared in several TV shows like Gentefied, The Way Back, On The Verge, Three Way Mirror, etc.
Spears (Played by Justin Chu Cary)
Spears is a mysterious and enigmatic figure whose actions and motives remain ambiguous. He possesses survival skills and combat prowess, often taking charge in dire situations. While his past and intentions are shrouded in mystery, Spears becomes a key player in the group’s dynamics.
Spears is portrayed by Justin Chu Cary from California. He starred in TV series and movies like As They Made Us, Blindspotting, etc. He also guest starred in Jane The Virgin, Supergirl, Major Crimes, Lucifer, etc.
Anna (Played by Zoe Marlett)
Anna is the child of Rose and is played by child actress Zoe Marlett. She is separated from her parents at the start of the apocalypse and does not reunite with Rose until the finale of season one at the stadium.
She is a 14-year-old child who resiliently sticks with her mother and seems to have inherited her determination and resourcefulness for survival. As a child, she is both anxious and quick-thinking in their fight to survive.
This role is one of the biggest roles of Zoe Marlett, who previously worked in the movie Marlene.
Important Crew Members and their Work
1. Karl Schaefer and John Hyams
We all know that Black Summer is a spin-off of the original Zombie series Z Nation. While Z Nation gave a humorous take on the idea of a zombie apocalypse, the show creators for Black Summer gave it a more gritty and survivalist take.
The co-executive producers of Z Nation, Karl Schaefer and John Hyams created this series to explain why and how the society came to be as it was in Z Nation.
They did not use any of the cast of the original but started with a new cast to give a fresh perspective to the chaos. Karl Shaefer previously worked on Z Nation, Eureka, Ghost Whisperer, etc.
John Hyams also has good work experience in shows like Chicago P. D., Chucky, Z Nation, The Originals and more.
2. Show Writers
This show boasts many talented writers, mainly Karl Schaefer, John Hyams, Abram Cox, Jodi Binstock, Delondra Mesa, etc. Out of them, Schaefer, Hyam, Cox and many others have already worked together on Z Nation.
This created a good cohesive environment. Another fab aspect of writing in Black Summer is the absence of “plot armours.” These plot armours give a shield to certain characters whereby they will not die no matter what.
This means that in Black Summer, without any plot armour, anybody can die at any time. This has ensured that excitement is always maintained in the show and the plot.
This unpredictability is both exciting and nerve-wracking to the fans.
3. Make-Up/ Special Effects team- Various
Black Summer, being a zombie apocalypse movie, is expected to look gory, horror-packed and scary. However, the make-up and special effects team ensured that they did not go overboard while maintaining the undead look.
The zombies of Black Summer are not the typical slow-moving and dumb zombies who are stiff and jerky in their movements. They are resourceful and quick-thinking (as quick-thinking as a zombie can be).
This made the special effects look livelier, and all the stunts were more entertaining.
4. Abram Cox and John Hyams
Abram Cox and John Hyams are both the directors of the series, with Hyams directing 9 episodes and Cox directing 7 episodes. They had both worked previously on the Z Nation series and have considerable experience with other shows as well.
When they took on the show, they were clear on the direction that the show would take and that it had a more serious and survivalist vibe to it. They also decided to keep the show unpredictable by not having any plot armour.
They are responsible for the edgy and chaotic development of the series.
Similar shows To Black Summer
Black Summer Depicts a post-apocalyptic world where law and order have completely broken down, and society is in shambles. There are many new shows with a similar theme for fans of this genre.
If you are interested, here are a few such shows.
1. Z Nation
Z Nation is the original of Black Summer and also the sequel of the series, as it depicts the world of Black Summer three years after the zombie apocalypse. Three years after the events, there are only a few sane and healthy people left who realise that there is a patient who survived the zombie virus.
They have to take this survivor to a viral lab in California to test the blood and find a cure. Most of the crew is the same for both Z Nation and Black Summer, while the cast is completely different.
This show has a different vibe to it and it was appreciated by its fans. Z Nation is available on Netflix and has a total of 5 seasons, and it concluded in 2018.
2. The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead is a very popular Zombie apocalypse horror series from AMC. You can watch it on Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus. The series ran for eleven seasons and was set in a post-apocalyptic world where small groups of survivors were trying to band together.
It starts with Rick Grimes, a former sheriff’s deputy, who awakens from a coma in this post-apocalyptic world. As the series progresses, he gathers survivors, fights the corruption of greedy and cultist leaders, overcomes cannibalistic groups and more.
This series was critically acclaimed and had two spin-off series: Fear The Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: Dead City.
3. All Of Us Are Dead
All of Us Are Dead is a South Korean zombie outbreak series on Netflix. It tracks the zombie apocalypse from its outbreak in a high school lab to its spread across the city.
The students slowly start to fall prey to the virus as survivors continue to fight back. The military gets involved as it struggles to investigate it. As the story progresses, we see the military fight to contain the virus and find a cure while also rescuing survivors.
The series has one season, and the next season is set to be telecast in 2023. It can be followed on Netflix.
4. Station Eleven
Station Eleven is a TV mini-series that is set in a post-apocalyptic world but switches between different timelines in the past and present to weave a story. It revolves around an acting troupe that travels the wilderness to spread art and save humanity from bleakness.
We see an ageing actor, his friend, his saviour, and a young artist who band together as they travel through the wilderness left behind by the devastating flu. The survivors are trying to rebuild their life that was torn apart and also struggle with memories of their past.
This mini-series is based on a novel of the same name, and it can be viewed on Starz Play Amazon Channel and Lionsgate Plus.
