Locke and Key was a popular dark fantasy series on Netflix adapted from the comic book series of the same name by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez. After three seasons, Netflix unfortunately announced that Locke and Key would not be returning for a fourth season, leaving fans wondering how the story ended.
What led to the cancellation of Locke and Key?
There were a few factors that contributed to Netflix’s decision not to renew Locke and Key for a fourth season:
- Declining viewership – While the first season drew a big audience, viewership dropped by nearly 50% for season 2 and continued to decline in season 3.
- High production costs – As a fantasy series, Locke and Key required extensive CGI and effects which made it an expensive show to produce.
- Natural conclusion to story – Showrunners Carlton Cuse and Meredith Averill felt that they had reached a natural endpoint for the main storylines and character arcs over the three seasons.
So while the cancellation was disappointing for fans, it was likely a combination of budget and creative factors that led Netflix to end the series after three seasons.
How did season 3 of Locke and Key end?
The third and final season of Locke and Key saw the Locke family face off against Dodge/Gabe and Eden in a final epic confrontation. Here’s a quick recap of how the story wrapped up:
- Tyler used the Alpha Key to become a demon and trick Dodge, buying enough time for the rest of the family to enact their plan.
- Nina remembered that she had erased her own memory years ago to forget Lucas’s death. She recovered the memories using the Head Key.
- Kinsey grabbed the Omega Key from Eden and threatened to destroy it. This would prevent demons from ever crossing into the human world again.
- To stop Kinsey, Gabe/Dodge stabbed Eden and returned her demon essence to the Omega Key, saving both worlds.
- The Lockes used the Alpha Key to cast Dodge out of Gabe’s body and banish her essence back through the Black Door.
- The family had a bittersweet goodbye with Echo Gabe before Nina used the Omega Key to seal the Black Door forever.
In the final scenes, the Locke family decided to sink the keys in the sea, finally ending their magical adventures. The children grew up and went their separate ways, but still reunited for holidays and special occasions.
What happened to the main characters by the end?
Here’s a quick rundown of where the main Locke & Key characters ended up by the finale:
| Character | Ending |
|---|---|
| Tyler Locke | Went to art school in Boston |
| Kinsey Locke | Moved to Los Angeles to start an acting career |
| Bode Locke | Remained living in Keyhouse with Nina |
| Nina Locke | Continued working as teacher in Matheson, now at peace |
| Eden Hawkins | Sacrificed herself to stop Dodge and save both worlds |
| Gabe | Died after Dodge’s essence was expelled from his body |
| Dodge | Banished back through Black Door by Alpha Key |
So most of the Locke siblings went on to have normal lives after their final battle, no longer burdened by the keys or demons.
Were there any major unresolved storylines?
The third season tied up most of the major story arcs and character journeys that had built up over the three seasons. However, there were a few unresolved threads the show didn’t have time to wrap up:
- The precise origins of the keys and demons were never fully revealed.
- We never learned why Rendell originally erased his friends’ memories.
- The significance of the Black Door and how it was created was unclear.
- There were still many keys we never saw used or unlocked.
While most fans were satisfied with the ending, these unexplained mysteries left the door open for more story if the show had continued. But ultimately, the core character arcs came to a satisfying conclusion over the three seasons.
What was the reaction of fans and critics to the ending?
The third season and ending of Locke and Key received generally positive reactions from both fans and critics:
- On Rotten Tomatoes, Season 3 has a 100% critic rating and 93% audience score.
- Many critics praised the emotional depth of the final season and the way it wrapped up the main narrative threads.
- Fans were grateful they got a proper ending instead of a cliffhanger cancellation.
- Some fans were disappointed the show didn’t get more seasons to explore the mythology.
- Overall the tone was bittersweet but positive about the fitting conclusion.
While many shows have faced backlash for their endings, the Locke and Key finale seemed to satisfy both fans and critics with its emotional closure, if not its unresolved mysteries. The showrunners did the best they could to bring the story to a natural stopping point in just three seasons.
Could Locke and Key still get revived in the future?
Given the show’s popularity and the open-ended nature of the ending, many fans have wondered if Locke and Key could still come back in some form in the future:
- The cast and crew have expressed interest in revisiting the world if the opportunity arose.
- There are still many unused storylines and keys from the comics that could be adapted.
- A spinoff or limited series focused on new characters or the past could be possible.
- Netflix owns the rights so a revival would likely have to be on their platform if it happened.
Unfortunately at this time there are no official plans or announcements about reviving the show. But the door doesn’t seem completely closed if fans continue to express enthusiasm for the series and the creators have a compelling new story they want to tell.
Conclusion
After three seasons, Locke and Key reached a satisfying if bittersweet conclusion, wrapping up the main character arcs while leaving some mysteries of Keyhouse unexplored. The finale earned praise from critics and fans for providing emotional closure, even if many were sad to say goodbye. While no official revival plans are in the works, the possibilities of the Keys means fans can still hope to revisit the Locke family in the magical world of Keyhouse someday.