Abhiroop Das
Created by Yalun Tu, Hulu’s ‘The Season’ begins with Coleen “Cola” Pierce having the most unexpected first day at work ever. As a summer intern at a wealth management firm, she gets to rub shoulders with some of the richest and most powerful people in Hong Kong. However, as she gets invited to numerous yacht parties and forges new connections, it becomes clear that she has an underlying plan and purpose, one that can only come to fruition with the fall of the Hext family. Season 1 of this thriller drama series ends with Cola retrieving the evidence that can put Christopher and Fiona behind bars, using which she leverages a position as their financial analyst. Her father, Beni, walks out of prison after decades, happy to see just how far his daughter has come, even if her journey is still fraught with dangers. While Hulu has not greenlit a second season as of writing, in the best-case scenario, fans can expect a sequel to be released in early 2028.
The Season Season 2 Can Chart Cola’s Rise in the World of the Wealthy
While season 1 of ‘The Season’ wraps up Cola’s quest to free her father from prison, there is still a lot of story left to tell, especially when it comes to the business side of things. Though she becomes a part of this elite clique in large part to bring down the Hexts, Cola realizes that she has a genuine knack for money-making, and eagerly wishes to put her skills to use. However, her biggest opponent in this new journey turns out to be her former mentor, Carrie Shen, who has openly declared herself a sworn enemy. Fortunately, Cola doesn’t need to look for a new job in town, as her deal with Christopher and Fiona directly makes her the financial advisor of the most powerful people in Hong Kong.
A potential season 2 of the show can go all-in with the micropolitics of wealth, and the social maneuvers that the rich have to pull on a near-daily basis. Given that the structure of this story is inextricably linked to the summer yachting season, we might even get a timeskip to the next year, with Cola much more in tune with the ways than before. Having accumulated enough money to buy a yacht already, she effectively becomes the wielder of her own fate, and the hypothetical next chapter can explore the cost of staying in power, and whether Cola will risk becoming one of them, or figure out a path of her own. There is also the question of the flash drive, which, while hidden, is still very much in use as a tool for control, and can flip the game depending on who grabs it first.
The Season Season 2 Will Likely Continue With its Core Cast
The cast of ‘The Season’ is the heart and soul of its narrative, and a potential season 2 is expected to bring back most of the fan favorite characters. Spearheading the list is actor Jessie Mei Li, who essays the role of the protagonist, Coleen “Cola” Pierce, and is most likely to reprise her role if the show is greenlit for a second installment. Actors Toby Stephens and Karena Ka-Yan Lam are also likely to rejoin the show as Christopher and Fiona Hext, respectively, forming the power couple antagonists of this grand narrative. Given how the character of Carrie Shen is being propped up as Cola’s next rival, fans can also expect actor Celina Jade to reprise her role in case of a sequel. The same holds true for actor Yvonne Chapman, whose character, Madeline Wong, seems to have only just begun her true journey.
Since everything in this world revolves around the characters’ ability to retain and build their wealth or social prestige, the fate of many supporting characters depends on whether they remain relevant to the high society. However, if there’s someone who is almost guaranteed to make a comeback for a potential sequel, it’s David Ho. This means that actor Justin Chien has a strong chance of returning to the show, alongside Chris Pang, who plays David’s best friend, Andrew Fung. It remains to be seen whether actors Claire Lovering and Jai Day will step back into the roles of Sarah and Jay Bryford, as their arcs largely conclude in the first run of episodes. Besides them, fans can expect Carl Ng, Lincoln Younes, and Reina Sawai to return as Benny Li, Matthias Weber, and Nikita Fung, respectively.
The Season Season 2 Might Add Gray Shades to Cola’s Arc
Parallel to Cola’s revenge journey runs a precarious tale of relationships coming together and falling apart, and many of these threads don’t reach their climax by the end of season 1. A potential sequel, thus, can pick up some of these arcs and see them to their end, especially when it is connected to the show’s larger commentary on how wealth influences human feelings and dynamics. One facet in particular that might get the most focus is David Ho’s relationship with Cola and Carrie, as he seems to have gotten away with wronging both characters for now. Season 2 can force him to confront his mistakes and learn from them. While Cola may not be interested in him, there might be some unresolved feelings in Carrie’s heart, and for them to even begin mending their dynamic, coming clean will be an important step.
Thematically, much of ‘The Season’ is about dismantling our understanding of how the rich work and examining the effects of their actions on someone who comes into high society as a blank slate. Cola goes from someone desperate to bring down the system to almost befriending it on some level, even if it is to bend the rules and secure a better future for herself and her father. A hypothetical season 2 can expand on this arc even further, introducing Cola to more moral dilemmas along the way. Without a steady goal, in this case, the vindication of her father, Cola will have no choice but to look inwards and question what it means to climb the social ladder and sit near its top.
Read More: The Season Ending Explained: Does Cola Free Her Father? Does She Get Her Revenge?
