Currently, sci-fi fans can stream all three films of The Divergent on Netflix. The concluding 4th part of the Divergent series is no longer coming. And for that, we should be thankful.
On Netflix and on WOW * right now you can watch all three parts of the great science fiction series The Destiny, which was canceled before the last film. Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant were supposed to be followed by the fourth and final part called Ascendant. But nothing came of it.
Fortunately, I say! Because in truth, the lack of a film ending to the Divergent series is a blessing, because the finale would have completely destroyed the sci-fi series.
Sci-fi series without a conclusion on Netflix: we’ll never see Destiny 4
In the mid-2010s, the Divergent films were a sci-fi phenomenon, filming the next great young adult book series after Twilight and Hunger Games. But the final fourth film was never made. After the strong box office takings of the first two films, Divergent and Insurgent, with $288 million and $297 million worldwide, the third installment Allegiant flopped, dropping to $179 million (via Box Office Mojo ).
Destiny
Unlike the Maze Runner trilogy, however, the Divergent series had taken its cue from the Mockingjay model and shared the final volume of Veronica Roth’s book trilogy. Thus, the creative team was suddenly faced with the problem of creating a conclusion with less money, which eventually led to the plan to end the series on TV.
However, as a result, lead actress Shailene Woodley dropped out by not renewing her contract. Box office analyst Jeff Bock spoke of how splitting the finale led to the “complete destruction of the brand.” Because neither a TV movie nor the Divergent ending as a series, which had been considered in the meantime, came to fruition. Belief in the success of the sci-fi series gradually collapsed. Today, seven years later, no one is talking about a sequel.
Actually, the Divergent series has long possessed a good sci-fi ending
The story of Divergent started with a really exciting initial idea: teenager Tris (Shailene Woodley) lives in a dystopian Chicago of the future, where teenagers are divided into five factions according to their character traits: Altruan, Ferox, Ken, Candor and Amite. According to these social castes, they served society as selfless, fearless, learned, outspoken and friendly members. But Tris has an affinity for more than one personality trait, and as she faces her fears first in simulations and later in reality, the system begins to crumble.
Destiny – Divergent
In Part 2, the Factionless come into greater focus, and in Part 3, Tris and her friend Four/Tobias (Theo James) discover that their entire society has been part of an externally-controlled genome experiment. At the end of Allegiant, Tris enlightens Chicagoans about their status as guinea pigs and, with the help of her brother Caleb (Ansel Elgort), reveals to them the true world behind the fence surrounding their city.
So, in the end, there is a liberation from outside control. And that’s actually quite a satisfying ending for the entire series. If it weren’t for that nagging knowledge of a planned fourth film.
Destiny on Netflix: why the book ending would have only hurt the movie finale of the Divergent series
Failed film adaptations of major young adult book series are a dime a dozen. The fact that the films of The Destiny, after three parts, only lacked a final conclusion sounds dramatic at first. But although as a passionate reader I’m usually one of the first to mourn unfinished works, Divergent is different. Because the book ending of Allegiant is absolutely awful.
You can read the detailed ending of the book in detail elsewhere. But in summary, here’s what happens (warning, spoilers to the novel’s finale): A memory serum that villain David (Jeff Daniels) wants to unleash on Chicago to continue the experiment is instead used against himself. He loses his memory and can no longer be prosecuted for his actions.
Destiny: The 3rd Book Kills Tris
Most shocking, however, is the death of main character Tris at the end of the novel Die Bestimmung – Letzte Entscheidung (which is the name of the book in the German market). She sacrifices herself for the community, after which Four, in desperation, almost decides to take the Serum of Oblivion as well. So despite the Chicago liberation at the end, Tris’ martyrdom hangs as a dark cloud over the victory. Narratively, this story decision doesn’t make sense. It’s more like the defiant finger-pointing of an author who wants to prove that she dares to have a starker ending than others (e.g. J.K. Rowling with Harry Potter).
Nobody questions that the third film Allegiant is the weakest of the theatrical series. But I hated the third book far more. In that respect, the Divergent cancellation is secretly the best thing that could have happened to the sci-fi series as an ending.
