AsThe Recruitseason 2’s release date remains to be announced, a recent report on the Noah Centineo-led spy dramedy has me worried about its future.The Recruit— which followed Centineo’s fledgling CIA lawyer, Owen Hendricks, as he found himself unwittingly engaged in international politics — boasted a meager eight-episode run in its first season.The Recruitseason 2, on the other hand, has reportedly been reduced from eight episodes to six episodes according to the nonaffiliated websiteWhat’s On Netflix, which tracks the latest news on Netflix releases.
The Recruitseason 2’s reported episode counthas me worried about the progression of the show, especially considering the cliffhanger ending of season 1. It’s important to note thatthis episode count has not been confirmed by Netflix.Although there is no discernable reason as to why Netflix would whittle downThe Recruit’s season 2 run, the implications of this report make me wonder what the streamer has in store for the show, and how different Owen’s next adventure may be in terms of pacing.
The Recruit’s Reported Episode Count Is Worrying After Season 1
The Show Leaves A Character’s Fate Up In The Air
The Recruitisn’t a perfect show, often fluctuating between the adrenaline rush of a high-stakes shootout and the dullness of negotiations with Max Meladze (Laura Haddock) — the Eastern European asset who had posed as a CIA agent, and whom Centineo’s Owen is paired with. The show’s primary appeal, to me, is Centineo’s fumbling yet quick-witted naïveté as he attempts to uncover situations that are way above his pay grade and outside his skill set. However, it’s not all that surprising that a show centering around a CIA lawyer rather than a CIA agent à la Jack Ryan or Jason Bourne loses its momentum.
The reported six-episode run ofThe Recruitseason 2 will force the story to pick up the pace, especially if it wants to resolve all of these loose threads
The show’s hour-long, eight-episode run doesn’t help the series’ pacing either. However,The Recruit’s cliffhanger endingis enough to make me tune into season 2. While Max and Owen are tied up in a leaky basement, it is revealed that Max’s thought-to-be-dead daughter, Karolina, is alive. Despite the unforeseen mother-daughter reunion, Karolina promptly shoots Max in the chest,leaving Max’s ultimate fate and Karolina’s vendetta up in the air.However, season 2’s alleged reduced episode count poses problems for the already turbulent show, and I’m concerned if season 2 will be able to satisfyingly address that plot twist.
How The Recruit Season 2 Might Be Different From Season 1
The Recruit Has A Lof Of Storylines To Resolve
Season 2’s reduced episode count, if confirmed, isn’t ideal forThe Recruit.Not only will it have to confirm if Max lives or dies —Haddock’s return as Max hasn’t been confirmed by Netflix, most likely to maintain the mystery of her character’s fate — it will also have to answer several other questions set up byThe Recruit’s finale. For example, season 1 hints as to the reason Karolina shot Max, but until it is revealed, it’s all speculation. The show also needs to resolve Owen’s relationship with ex-girlfriend Hannah (Fivel Stewart), as well as his decision to leave the CIA.
15 Best Shows Like The Recruit To Watch While Waiting For Season 2
While waiting for The Recruit season 2, viewers can enjoy similar thrilling shows that share qualities with the distinctive Netflix spy series.
The reported six-episode run ofThe Recruitseason 2 will force the story to pick up the pace, especially if it wants to resolve all of these loose threads alongside Owen’s new adventures in South Korea. The emphasis on a fast-paced storyline may mean that season 2 will sacrifice the intimate character moments and humor that drew many fans into the fold in the first place. It’s unclear if season 2 really has been reduced to six episodes, but this update doesn’t bode well forThe Recruit, and I can only hope that Netflix manages to pull it off.
