Abhiroop Das
Created by Sylvain Caron and Julien Leclercq, Netflix’s French crime thriller show ‘Elite Force,’ also known as ‘GIGN,’ dramatizes the adventures of the eponymous special forces and counter-terrorism unit that is often tasked with tackling the most dangerous cases. In the show, we are introduced to David, a seasoned officer who is nonetheless haunted by his past. Things get real too quickly, though, when Max, the son of his deceased partner, joins the force, and not long after, a car bombing at the training center ruffles one too many feathers. By the end of the season, David and Max come together as a team and uncover the true identity of the domestic terrorists to be none other than Alexis and Amal Mayard.
The Mayards are ex-soldiers who lost their daughter in the same lab explosion where Max’s father died. The family blames GIGN, more specifically David, for his incompetence on that fateful day, and as revenge, they force him to watch his wife die in front of his eyes. While Netflix hasn’t greenlit a sequel as of writing, the nail-biting finish to the season is bound to raise curiosity. In the best-case scenario, fans can expect ‘Elite Force’ season 2 to release sometime around 2029.
Elite Force Season 2 Can Be About David and Max’s Deeper Reconciliation
With the surprising end to ‘Elite Force’ season 1, the doors have been opened to a potential sequel season, one that might tackle David’s reaction to the death of his wife. Though the two masterminds behind the explosion are already dead, David might not be ready to let go of this piled-up rage anytime soon. The very fact that they were able to coordinate such a large-scale strategy, that too years after the original incident, suggests that there might be some members of the criminal crew that are still alive and functioning from behind the shadows. To make things worse, there is a good chance that this mystery person is someone from the GIGN, as that explains how Amal and Alexis were able to get so close to the special force on more than one occasion.
While a potential season 2 might see David and Max chasing down the mole within their ranks, as of writing, no such updates have been made about a potential continuation. ‘Elite Force’ is an ambitious production with many moving parts, both on-screen and in its making process. For a sequel to be greenlit, the producers will likely assess the cost-to-profit ratio, which means that fan engagement will be key in deciding the show’s fate. That said, the final minutes of season 1 throw the perfect curveball to hook the audience to this unusual and subversive style of storytelling. If renewed, the series is likely to keep up that trend, all the while giving us an even deeper look into what an elite French special forces unit can be like.
Elite Force Season 2 Might Bid Goodbye to Some Key Faces
If ‘Elite Force’ is renewed for a second season, it will likely be with a few major changes in the cast list. While actors Tomer Sisley and Tristan Zanchi are expected to reprise their roles as GIGN Commander David Berger and Officer Maxime “Max” Villiers, the people surrounding them in season 1 might not return for a sequel. The biggest departure is that of actor Judith El Zein, whose character, Jessica “Jess” Berger, dies in the last-minute twist of the season. The main antagonists of the show, Amal and Alexis Mayard, also die in the same timeframe, which means that actors Negzzia and Nicolas Wanczycki are unlikely to step back into their respective roles. Instead, a sequel might focus on new antagonists, which means bringing in fresh faces for the role.
With the grand bombing plot wrapped up, the show is likely to shine a light on its supporting characters and their individual journeys, starting with David’s fellow officers, Cédric and Tanya. While this potentially means a greater presence for actors Guillaume Gouix and Leanna Chen, the same cannot be said about actor Thierry Neuvic, who plays the deceased leader of this crew, Christophe. Actor Lilas-Rose Gilberti, who plays David’s daughter, Manon, might just be at the heart of season 2, considering the survivor’s guilt she will probably be carrying after the tragic death of her mother. Beyond this, though, the cast might be introducing a lot of new actors to the mix to facilitate this show’s ever-expanding world and narrative.
Elite Force Season 2 Will Likely Put More Focus on Max
At the heart of season 1 of ‘Elite Force’ is the reveal that Max’s real father is none other than David himself. Though this adds a whole new dimension to his guilt about Laurent’s death and the responsibility he feels towards Max, that aspect hardly gets explored. A large reason for this is the six-episode structure, which makes balancing plot and character drama somewhat challenging. A potential season 2 can slow things down a bit, considering that the main threat has technically been neutralized. Though mourning and likely furious, David might find this to be a chance to renew and strengthen the few bonds he has left, including the one with his son and mentee.
For Max, this comes as an opportunity to fill in a gap that has affected his entire childhood. However, the pace at which he simply accepts that David is at least slightly unusual. He goes as far as to immediately think of Manon as his own sister, and while that can be a natural realization with time, in Max’s case, this might be a desperate plea to be accepted by his father. The subtle fissures in this dynamic can either be mended or grow into full-blown breakage points going forward. A similar observation can be made about Max’s brief relationship with Raphael, which hardly gets any development due to its limited screentime. With a potential sequel giving this love story its due attention, fans can expect the next chapter of the story to focus on Max more than his father.
Read More: Elite Force Ending Explained: Is Jess Dead? Is Manon Rescued?
