After a long hiatus, Love, Death & Robots season 4's long delay is finally coming to an end, as Netflix confirmed the show will be back on screens in May. Considering how popular the three previous outings were, season 4 already had a lot of hype behind it, but it feels even more exciting after Prime Video's Secret Level.

Like Love, Death & Robots, Secret Level is an anthology series consisting of multiple unique stories, but each tale focuses on an existing video game IP. While not every Secret Level episode managed to hit the heights of its Warhammer 40,000 or Unreal Tournament adaptations, it was still a very successful first season that quickly got the show renewed for season 2. The reviews for the project were also predominantly positive and there is already a lot of enthusiasm for its return, suggesting anthology shows have never been more relevant, which should only help Love, Death & Robots season 4.

Secret Level Was Good, But Love, Death + Robots Is The King Of Anthology Shows

Netflix's Anthology Series Has Set The Standard Since 2019

Secret Level's triumphant first season is a positive sign for its future, but Love, Death & Robots still holds the crown when it comes to anthology shows, making its return a breath of fresh air. Given each story is completely original - except for a few follow-ups - there is no shortage of memorable episodes, which is why Netflix's animated project has only gotten more popular with each installment. Despite this, it will be difficult for Love, Death & Robots season 4's Rotten Tomatoes score to continue the show's positive trajectory, as each season has performed better than the last.

Still, given it has been a long time coming, the next batch of episodes are bound to be full of personality, and they will hopefully rival some of Love, Death & Robots' best outings. Secret Level proved there is still a massive appetite for anthology shows and also showcased Prime Video's ability to turn both popular and obscure video game IPs into interesting short stories. However, it is yet to sur Love, Death & Robot's versatility and unique animation styles, the kind that has cemented it as the top anthology series around, which season 4 will hopefully continue.

Prime Video & Netflix Having Two Popular Ongoing Anthology Shows Is Great For The Industry

Both Shows Finding Success Could Encourage Other Studios & Creators To Try This Style Of Series

Imagery from Love, Death & Robots and Secret Level — Custom image by Yailin Chacon

Whether you're a fan of Love, Death & Robots or prefer Secret Level, the fact they are both running at the same time is great for the industry. Although there have been countless successful anthology shows over the years, Secret Level shares several similarities with Love, Death & Robots, making them easily accessible to large audiences. Sure, the sci-fi and animated elements may be off-putting to some, but each show is relatively viewer-friendly and covers a wide variety of genres, such as action, horror, and romance, meaning they have something for everyone, despite being aimed at a more mature audience.

With Secret Level premiering in 2024 and Love, Death & Robots season 4 being released less than six months later, it feels like there is some healthy competition that should continue to push each series.

Naturally, some of the short stories fall much flatter than others, but both Secret Level and Love, Death & Robots have far more hits than misses, hence their strong reputations. With Secret Level premiering in 2024 and Love, Death & Robots season 4 being released less than six months later, it feels like there is some healthy competition that should continue to push each series and force them to get more creative. Prime Video's quick turnaround time also means Secret Level season 2 could arrive in 2026, which would add even more fuel to this rivalry.

Assuming both can maintain their quality or potentially get even better, it will only add to their legacy and draw more eyes to the projects. This could be beneficial to the industry, as not only will Netflix and Prime Video be more likely to invest in them, but other studios may try to compete by making their own anthologies. Given shows like What If...? struggled to meet fans' expectations, some creators may have been hesitant to pursue an anthology series, but Secret Level and Love, Death & Robots have proven they can succeed and continue to challenge the status quo.

Love, Death + Robots Season 4 Is Long Overdue

Season 4 Will Be Love, Death + Robots' First Installment Since 2022

Having been on hiatus for almost three years, Love, Death, & Robots season 4 is long overdue. Between 2019 and 2022, Netflix managed to produce three seasons of the show, yet it hasn't created new content since season 3 dropped in May 2022, making it the longest wait between seasons yet. The gap creates plenty of anticipation regarding its return, as fans will expect strong stories and top-tier animation after waiting so long, putting pressure on the next outing. That said, some viewers may just be relieved to see season 4 is finally happening after being announced three years ago.

Love, Death & Robots - Kill Team Kill and Jibaro imagery

5 Love, Death & Robots Shorts That Deserve Feature-Length Films (And 5 That Are Perfect As Shorts)

Many of the best episodes of Love, Death & Robots feel like they could be even better if they were expanded into feature-length movies.

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Regardless of the expectations, the early signs already look positive for Love, Death & Robots season 4, as the trailer suggested the show will once again be filled with humor, emotion, and suspense, the sort of traits that helped make it so popular in the first place. Exact story details remain limited, but it has been confirmed that the next installment will consist of 10 episodes, which is one more than the previous season, and with the long wait finally coming to an end, I'm optimistic that Love, Death & Robots season 4 will deliver.