Mercy for None Season 2: Will it Happen?

‘Mercy for None’ charts a gritty, action-packed narrative in its season 1. Nam Gi-jun, who is sucked back into a life of violence after his brother’s mysterious murder at the start of the show uncovers the conspiracy that led to Gi-seok’s death. Consequently, his no-holds-barred quest for revenge brings him to Geum-son, Jun-woo’s estranged son, whose plans successfully bring Junwoo and Bongsan Groups to their knees. Still, retribution soon knocks down every gangster’s door, even Gi-Jun, who completes his mission but pays the price for it with his own life. Thus, since the season comes to such an indisputable end, with the death of nearly every main character, the future of the show remains shrouded in precarious uncertainty. Still, fans who enjoy the fast-paced, conspiratorial dissecting of gangs and loyalties in the show are bound to hope for a potential renewal in the future.

Mercy for None Leaves Limited Scope For a Season 2

‘Mercy for None’ is an adaptation of Oh Se Hyung’s similarly titled webtoon’ Plaza Wars: Mercy for None.’ The show maintains a notable connection to the webcomic, bringing its characters and themes to the screen with significant accuracy. For the most part, it covers the central narrative within its source material in its first season. The same, paired with its intentional classification as a Limited Series, doesn’t bode well for the idea of a renewal. Most Limited. Most of the time, Netflix Limited Series Kdramas tend to stick to a singular season, in which the entire narrative is resolved. ‘Mercy for None’ season 1 seems to follow a similar pattern. Within season 1, the show wraps up every plotline that it introduces into the tale. Gi-jun gets his revenge, and in the process, takes down the two gangs that rule over the city of Seoul.

Thus, newfound mysteries and decades-old conspiracies are both resolved, and comeuppance arrives for all those who deserve it. Even the main character, who doles out most of the blows throughout the series, meets his bittersweet end, putting an end to his narrative. As a result, the story effectively remains self-contained without any obvious loose ends to pursue in a continuation. Thus, the chances of the show branching out to another season appear to be very low. Still, over the years, there have been many shows that started as a “Limited Series” that went on to be developed as multi-season projects thanks to their popularity and critical acclaim. While this phenomenon is admittedly less prevalent in K-dramas, a sliver of possibility remains.

Mercy for None Could Explore the Aftermath of Gi-Jun’s Killing Spree

Even though a renewal remains uncertain for Mercy for None, a possible season 2 could work within the show’s overarching context in a number of ways. Most prominently, a direct continuation of the story presents an intriguing idea. Since most of the characters, including the protagonist and his enemies, are killed off in season 1, the narrative will inevitably have to adopt a new lead. Cheon Hae-beom, Gi-seok’s loyal subordinate, who helps his brother in his vengeful crusade, presents the most obvious candidate. Towards the end of Gi-jun’s story, he gives Geum-son the parting advice to steer the city toward a better future.

In his search for revenge, Gi-jun takes down two of the most prominent gangs in Seoul. As such, in the aftermath, he inevitably leaves a power vacuum behind. With the Juwoon Group and Bongsan Group no longer at their prime, new leadership is bound to take over the city. Therefore, the unpredictable future of the city could be an intriguing and fascinating storyline to explore. Furthermore, Geum-son, one of the few morally centered characters in the show, would be the perfect protagonist to lead this story. As such, season 2 could bring a whole new idea to the forefront while still retaining a connection to Gi-jun and his tale. Alternatively, the show can also take an anthology route and center its potential future season around new gangs and their rivalries, allowing them to explore similar themes of retribution and vengeance. Ultimately, if Netflix greenlights the show for another season, the story can find a number of new avenues to delve into.