Abhiroop Das
Co-directed by Mandla N, Johnny Barbuzano, and Jonathan “Jono” Hall, Netflix’s ‘Umthetho,’ is an adaptation of the Brazilian show ‘Brotherhood,’ or ‘Irmandade,’ and journeys alongside Mbali, a famed prosecutor who is turned into an informant against her own brother, Moses. While the duo got separated years ago, their lives are stitched back together by ruthless circumstances, and by the end of season 1, Mbali finds herself on the run, having killed a police officer and lied to just about everyone in her life. Meanwhile, Moses solidifies his position as the leader of the brotherhood in prison, and the youngest brother, Sphelele, leaves the criminal world to seek acceptance through faith. While Netflix has not greenlit a second season as of writing, in the best-case scenario, fans can expect a second season to release sometime between late 2027 and early 2028.
Umthetho Season 2 Can Expand on Mbali’s Corruption Arc
While the ending of ‘Umthetho’ season 1 cannot exactly be called a cliffhanger, it does leave quite a lot of plot threads open. Given that the series is based on ‘Brotherhood,’ which has a two-season run, there is already a template for where the story might go. The two biggest questions revolve around whether Crystal is still alive and whether Mbali is able to make an escape. A potential sequel, as such, can easily blend the two storylines together and make it a cat-and-mouse chase between the two characters. There is also the lingering threat of Crystal revealing the truth about Mbali to Moses, which is bound to shatter whatever little trust was restored between the two of them. It’s still not clear what, or who, Mbali is even fighting for, as the very people she wishes to protect now hate her, arguably more than anyone else.
Contrary to Mbali, her two brothers seem to be making major progress in their respective causes, starting with Moses’ successful reform of the prison. That said, it’s entirely possible that the police chief is merely bluffing and has plans to manipulate and abuse the prisoners even further after they are successfully brought back into The Palace. The idea of a massive prison escape has been building up within this story from the very start, and while the season 1 finale stops shy of actually pulling it off, a potential sequel can take that leap. For Sphelele, though, the biggest concern is whether he can escape his dark past with his turn to faith, as the police might already be on his tail.
Umthetho Season 2 is Likely to Continue Without Some Major Faces From the Cast
If ‘Umthetho’ is greenlit for a second season, some major shakeups in the cast can be expected, especially when it comes to the antagonists. While actors Nqobile Nunu Khumalo and Tony Kgoroge are most likely to return as Mbali and Moses, respectively, whether or not Given Stuurman reprises the role of Sphelele remains ambiguous to an extent. The last we see of him is when he gets baptized and promises to give up on a life of crime, and that can either mean his exit from this narrative, or it can set up an ambush by the police. Another character whose fate remains in the dark is Moses’ wife, Crystal, and fans will have to wait until a potential season 2 to know for sure whether actor Lorcia Cooper-Khumalo will return for the role.
Given that the two antagonists of the arc, Detective Benedict Tau and Warden Agnes Khoza, are met with rather definitive endings, it is likely that actors Sindi Dlath and Molefi Monaisa will not be returning for a potential sequel. On the contrary, the prison side of the story is likely to get expanded, with new characters taking the center stage. That said, Scarra and Zola are expected to continue their roles within the narrative, which means a likely return for actors Ernest Msibi and Sthembiso “SK” Khoza. Additionally, actors Lungelo Madondo and Robert Hobbs also have a good chance of stepping back into the roles of Ntombi Sibiya and David Schulz, respectively.
Umthetho Season 2 Might Turn Into a Broader Prison Drama
At its core, ‘Umthetho’ is a story about how three people who grew up together can end up having such different lives and philosophies. However, by the end of season 1, we are met with a new discovery: often, it is the material conditions that can push people from all walks of life to get trapped in a cycle of crime. Mbali is our primary example of this happening, and in that vein, season 2 can easily undergo a genre shift, showing her descend deeper into this spiral. Before being caught by Crystal, she was already the de facto leader of a very successful crew of robbers, and though she is left all alone now, the next chapter in the arc can be about her rising from the ashes, for better or for worse.
Another angle that a hypothetical season 2 can focus on is that of Moses and Scarra’s prison rivalry. In many ways, they are back to where they started in the first episode, as rival leaders vying for control of the brotherhood. However, Moses, having pulled off a revolution, now has all the mass support that he needs to claim the throne for good. Without the warden, Scarra doesn’t have any contact he can collude with either. However, turning the narrative in this direction might just dilute the core storyline, that of Mbali and Moses’ shattered relationship. Regardless of where a potential season 2 goes, the siblings’ dynamic is bound to remain at its center.
Read More: Umthetho Ending Explained: Will Mbali Get Caught? Is Crystal Dead or Alive?
