Even though it’s inspired by a true story, Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan‘s show, The Watcher, creates its own unique world with fascinating characters and potential suspects. In Season 1, the series explores the idea that several people could be the mysterious Watcher. Suspects include Roger Kaplan, a retired English professor, and Andrew, the previous house occupant. However, the evidence against them is based on circumstances and not definitive proof.
In Season 1 of The Watcher, Dean and Nora finally leave Boulevard 657, but their departure doesn’t guarantee that the new residents won’t be hunted by the Watcher’s letters. Besides Watcher’s identity, the show creators have purposely left other questions unanswered, inviting speculation. With Netflix’s decision to renew The Watcher for Season 2, there are numerous possibilities to delve into, making way for another exciting and suspenseful season.
The Watcher season 2 Netflix renewal status
On November 7th, Netflix officially revealed that they have decided to renew The Watcher for a second season. Fans can look forward to more thrilling episodes and possibly find answers to the lingering mysteries from the first season.
Bela Bajaria, the Head of Global TV at Netflix, expressed enthusiasm for the success of Monster and The Watcher. She praised the creative teams, including Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan, and Eric Newman, for their storytelling skills that captured audiences worldwide. Bajaria acknowledged Ryan Murphy’s unique and original voice, which has created cultural sensations with both series. Netflix is excited to continue exploring and telling stories within the universes of Monster and The Watcher due to their back-to-back impact and popularity.
The series had a strong start on Netflix with over 125 million hours of viewership in its first week and a 19% increase in the second week with over 148 million hours. However, it saw a significant drop of 54% in the third week, reaching only 67 million hours.
In total, the series has over 340 million hours viewed.
The cast: Who’s in it?
As of now, it remains uncertain whether The Watcher Season 2 will directly continue from the events of the first season. However, if it does, you can anticipate the return of the following cast members:
• Naomi Watts as Nora Brannock
• Bobby Cannavale as Dean Brannock
• Isabel Gravitt as Ellie Brannock
• Luke David Blumm as Carter Brannock
• Jennifer Coolidge as Karen Calhoun
• Margo Martindale as Maureen / Mo
• Richard Kind as Mitch
• Mia Farrow as Pearl Winslow
• Terry Kinney as Jasper Winslow
• Christopher McDonald as Det. Rourke Chamberland
• Joe Mantello as William “Bill” Webster / John Graff
• Henry Hunter Hall as Dakota
While Jennifer Coolidge’s return as Karen in The Watcher Season 2 is uncertain due to the character’s last appearance, where she ran away from the haunted house, her absence may pose a challenge for the writers. However, given Coolidge’s standout performance and popularity, it’s likely the writers could find a creative way to work around her absence if they choose to bring her character back.
Jennifer Coolidge has disclosed that she has not yet been approached to reprise her role as Karen in The Watcher Season 2. While she expressed her willingness to return if given the opportunity, it seems uncertain whether her character’s fate was sealed in the first season. Coolidge remains hopeful that she might get the chance to discuss the possibility of Karen’s return with showrunner Ryan Murphy and make a case for her character’s comeback in the second season.
“I wanted to tell Ryan that Karen can run much faster,” Coolidge said. “I hope she’s back.”
What will season 2 be about?
Season 1 of The Watcher concludes with several unresolved plot threads, creating a perfect setup for a reinvestigation into the identity of the Watcher in a potential Season 2. The way the first season wraps up indicates that the creators have already paved the way for another installment. Despite Dean and Nora’s inability to identify the Watcher among the suspects, it becomes evident that the Watcher’s impact on the couple and others involved with Boulevard 657 goes beyond what was explored in the initial season. It’s clear that there are still unanswered questions waiting to be discovered, and the groundwork for further exploration has been skillfully laid out by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan in the first season itself.
Similar to the real-life family’s experience, the Brannocks in The Watcher Season 1 ultimately decide to sell their recently renovated home at 657 Boulevard due to the relentless and terrifying actions of the stalker. The ongoing harassment from the Watcher proves to be too much for them, forcing them to leave the house and seek safety elsewhere.
The first season of The Watcher ends on an ominous note with Karen encountering the Watcher and running away in fear. This has led many to believe that Season 2 will likely continue following the same characters from Season 1 and may potentially reveal the identity of the Watcher and its impact on their lives.
However, since the real-life family’s story ended there, season 2 would potentially be a fictionalized continuation of the riveting mystery.
The Watcher’s Identity Remains the Biggest Mystery
Despite Dean’s relentless efforts, he couldn’t uncover the identity of the mysterious Watcher. The legend of the Watcher had been intertwined with the history of Boulevard 657 for decades before the Brannocks’ arrival. Theodora’s investigation revealed clues dating back to 1995 when Jonathan Gaff lived in the house. While Dean’s obsession with the house continues, it’s evident that he’s not finished delving into its past. However, Season 2 poses a greater challenge for Dean as Theodora, who was instrumental in his investigation, is no longer alive to assist him.
Before facing a roadblock, Dean’s investigation seemed to focus on Roger Kaplan, the retired English professor who created the “Ode to a House” assignment. The earliest trace of the Watcher was connected to Kaplan when the owner of 55 Oak Terrace claimed to have received the first letter from the Watcher, implicating Kaplan. However, this direct link to Kaplan may be a significant distraction as he has a limited role in the overall scheme of things.
Another mysterious character is William Webster, also known as Bill, the third original member of the Preservation Society identified by Roger Kaplan. Bill’s true identity remains unclear, and he is the least explored character among the group. He was caught by Dean and Nora accessing their house through prohibition-era tunnels beneath Boulevard 657 and even pretended to be the former owner, John Graff, during the house renovation. It’s uncertain if Bill is simply a concerned preservationist like Pearl and Jasper Winslow, or if there’s more to his story.
Among the suspects, Pearl and Jasper appear inconspicuous, presenting themselves as concerned neighbors focused on preserving the neighborhood’s heritage. However, Jasper’s sudden change in behavior, connected to an event dating back to John Graff’s supposed disappearance in 1995, remains a mystery, potentially indicating a larger role for him in Season 2.
Maureen has mostly cleared her name by confessing to Nora that she was only trying to protect her son. Yet, she remains connected to the most intriguing part of the story according to Andrew Pierce’s account of his time at the house. Andrew’s testimony suggests Maureen’s involvement in a secret blood-drinking cult, a notion hinted at by John Graff’s story of him allegedly drinking his family’s blood before vanishing. The veracity of John Graff’s existence remains uncertain, leaving open the possibility that his character was created to terrorize the house’s occupants through his story.
When might The Watcher season 2 be released?
Season 2 of The Watcher has been officially confirmed, but a specific release date has not been announced yet. Fans may need to be patient, as it’s unlikely that the new season will be available before the end of 2023 or later. As with many TV shows, production and post-production processes can take time, so viewers will have to wait for more updates on the release schedule.
