Deadly Class: Why the show didn’t work and how it can be redone
By Mark Lynch
The Syfy comic book adaptation Deadly Class was canceled after one season. What went wrong and what changes can make a future adaptation work better?Here’s why it deserves another chance on cable or a streaming platform.
If you’re a comic book fan and not reading Deadly Class, you’re missing out. The series is unlike anything you’re currently reading.
The story starts off in the 1980’s when Ronald Reagan was in office. During his time in office, there were funding cuts to mental health facilities. This caused a mentally ill person to accidentally kill Marcus Lopez Arguello’s parents. This starts the downward spiral in his life that leads him to Kings Dominion School of the Deadly Arts. A place where high school kids learn to become trained killers.
This may seem cool just off of that, but there’s more to the comic. During this time, the characters learn a lot about themselves, what true family is, betray each other, find love, and, of course, learn to kill.
In this comic book, no one is exempt from death. Not even the lead characters. A TV show like this should have been incredibly popular. Unfortunately, it was canceled after just one season. Having read the comic series more than a few times, this is disappointing. Rick Remender’s story is incredible. It wasn’t canceled because of the source material. That part is aces. A lot of it had to do where it was placed.
If the show had changed some things, it could have worked out so differently and ultimately been a success.