Abhiroop Das
Co-created by Bert Kreischer, Andrew Mogel, and Jarrad Paul, ‘Free Bert’ snapshots the life of Bert Kreischer, a famous humorist who is now at the precipice of a major identity crisis. Known for his comedic stunts, particularly those that involve him ripping his shirt off, Bert now doubts whether he can step out of his own mythology, especially when it comes to his family life. Feeling socially excluded by their Beverly Hills community, the Kreischers deem Barklidge Academy to be their last resort, not knowing that they are about to be swept up in a whirlwind of chaos. The situational comedy series ends with Bert getting over his need for validation, especially the type he gets from a group of wealthy dads who are completely out of touch with reality.
Rebelling against Barklidge’s hidden corruption, he rips his shirt one more time, re-embracing the self-identity he has passionately constructed over the years. Still, with the Vanderthals still on his tail, Bert needs a better plan and stronger allies. While Netflix has not confirmed a season 2 as of writing, in the best-case scenario, fans can expect a sequel by late 2027.
Free Bert Season 2 Might Pit Bert Against the Dad Gang
Bert’s triumph at the end of ‘Free Bert’ season 1 is met with a mixed reception at Barklidge, as while half the parents are inspired by him to speak against the academy’s injustices, the other half continues to profit from the same. In a way, Bert now stands as the representative of the first camp, which makes Landon Vanderthal his sworn enemy, now more than ever. To that end, a potential continuation of the story might bring their rivalry to the next level, especially as Landon has both the intent and the resources to wreak havoc in Bert’s already complicated life. However, the star comedian still has one thing that Landon doesn’t, which is the true support of his family. How the Kreischers’ values collide with those of the Vanderthals will likely be a season highlight.
Given that Bert spends the final moments of the season being unceremoniously dragged out of the academy, it is safe to say that his family is no longer in the good graces of the Barklidge higher-ups either. Still, with support from many members of the committee, it is likely that Bert will stay in position, and by extension, his children will most likely continue their education as is. More importantly, at the last minute, Bert is introduced to a new character whom we have only known by name thus far: Gene Magnussen. Once the fourth member of the dad friend group, he is now known to be a social outcast, which makes way for a perfect potential alliance. The fact that he is in the school premises also suggests that his kid is a student at Barklidge, and is just as likely to become a major presence.
Season 2 of Free Bert Will Likely Add a Mysterious New Character to the Ranks
Given its very nature, a second season to ‘Free Bert’ is inconceivable without its lead star, Bert Kreischer, and his comedic genius. In the same vein, there is a good chance that a second season will bring actors Arden Myrin, Ava Ryan, and Lilou Lang back to the main stage as LeeAnn, Georgia, and Ila, respectively. However, the biggest expected change in the cast is undoubtedly the potential, formal introduction of Gene Magnussen. While we have only heard Gene’s voice in the show thus far, the finale’s credits reveal that the actor lends his voice to the character. As such, it is possible that he will reprise his role in a greater capacity if the story is greenlit for a new season.
Actors Chris Witaske and Mandell Maughan can be expected to reprise their roles as the antagonists, Landon and Chanel Vanderthal, respectively. However, it is important to note that Chanel learns of her husband’s affairs by the end of the season, and might cut off ties with him. In such a scenario, Maughan’s possible return to the show depends on whether the creators intend to further her other arcs. On the other hand, actors Matthew Del Negro and Braxton Alexander have a high chance of returning to the screen as the father-son duo of Randy and Zac Hotchkiss. Apart from them, the show might also introduce a host of fresh faces in light of the new challenges Bert faces in life. Additionally, fans can expect a few actor cameos as well, as seen with Rob Lowe in the season premiere.
Season 2 of Free Bert Might be About the Comedian Expanding His Horizons
Much of the inaugural season of ‘Free Bert’ centers around Bert recovering from his identity crisis, which means that a potential season 2 will have to get more creative with the character’s trajectory. While Bert is once again comfortable with his brand of comedy, there is still a redemption arc lying in wait, which can deal with the wrong things he did as a member of the dad group. Bert is also a revolutionary figure of sorts now, with many characters taking off their shirts just like him, albeit with a vastly different reason. A potential continuation of the story can go all-in with this angle, as many more join the trend, once again creating a social phenomenon way outside of his control.
One of Bert’s biggest fumbles towards the end of the season is his role in disbanding the school’s special learning program. Given that the entire reason the family chose Barklidge is to facilitate Ila’s education, there is naturally a lot of course-correcting left to do. As such, a potential next season should shine more light on the kids’ side of the story, especially now that Zac and Georgia’s relationship is in full swing. Fans can expect a bigger arc for LeeAnn as well, as she is now free of Chanel’s mind games at last. Still, there is always the possibility of the dreaded lawsuit actually becoming real, and how LeeAnn gets out of this self-dug hole should make for great comedic moments.
Read More: Is Free Bert Based on Bert Kreischer’s Real Life?
