WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for The Recruit season 2.
Netflix’s shocking cancelation of their CIA action dramedy seriesThe Recruitleft a lot of narrative possibilities on the table for the Noah Centineo-led show.Netflix reportedly canceledThe Recruitbecause they were dissatisfied with season 2’s viewership, which did not improve from that of season 1. Many fans were looking forward to another season ofThe Recruitfollowing a 2-year gap between seasons 1 and 2, so Netflix’s announcement comes as a disappointing update.The Recruitseason 2’s reviewswere relatively strong but apparently not strong enough to inspire a third season.
The Recruitgetting canceled means that severalunanswered questions left from the end of season 2will likely never be answered. While there issome industry speculation that the canned Netflix series could be picked up elsewherefor season 3, potentially by USA Network who was originally going to distribute the series before Netflix stepped in, nothing has been confirmed to that end.The Recruitseason 2 leaves behind a season 3 wishlistthat called for more inclusion of Nathan Fillion’s CIA Director character as well as more narrative purpose for Fivel Stewart’s Hannah Copeland.
5Was Max Actually Dead?
And Why Did Nichka Shoot Her?
Although Max was seemingly killed at theend ofThe Recruitseason 1by her daughter Karolina, aka Nichka, it was never made clear what happened to her body. After playing such an integral role inThe Recruitseason 1,Max was quickly discarded without much resolution inThe Recruitseason 2.
The Recruitseason 2 never answered why Nichka killed her mother without a moment’s hesitation.
Most egregious of all,The Recruitseason 2 never answered why Nichka killed her mother without a moment’s hesitation. Max looked happy to see Karolina before she was apparently killed with one bullet.The Recruitseason 3 could have pulled off a major twist with the return of Max.
4What Happened To Nichka?
Did She Survive The End Of Season 2?
Nichka became one ofThe Recruitseason 2’s main villainsafter she betrayed Owen in the season 2 finale. While it was clear that Nichka could not be trusted and was only interested in making money from the CIA, she eventuallyrevealed herself to strike a deal with the FSB.
Nichka planned to turn both Owen and Jang Kyun over to the FSB for a promotion and a massive payday. After Owen escapes with Jang Kyun and his wife Nan Hee with the help of his season 2 love interest Yoo Jin, Nichka gets taken into FSB custody.Nichka was likely imprisoned and potentially killedalthough it is never made clear.
3Will Owen & Hannah Get Back Together?
Hannah Asked For Space But There Were Still Sparks
I imagined that by the proper end ofThe Recruit, perhaps in season 3 or season 4, Owen and Hannah would eventually get back together and sail off into the sunset. After Hannah’s reduced role inThe Recruitseason 2 (and Terrence’s for that matter), it was clear that there weretoo many characters in the shortened 6-episode season, resulting in an overstuffed cast.
The Recruit’s Cancellation Gets Lengthy & Emotional Response From Creator, And It’s A Rare Look At A Netflix Show’s Behind-The-Scenes Journey
The Recruit creator Alexi Hawley reacts to the Noah Centineo spy series being cancelled by Netflix after season 2’s cliffhanger ending.
There’s no question thatOwen and Hannah still had love and support for each otherduring season 2 even though their paths didn’t frequently align. I had hoped thatThe Recruitseason 3 would have mostly taken place in the U.S. so that Hannah could have gotten more involved like she was in season 1.
2Who Called The Navy To Rescue Owen?
After being pursued by armed Russian Coast Guard soldiers, Owen, Jang Kyun, Nan Lee, and Too Jin were miraculously saved when a massive U.S. Navy submarine surfaced in the ocean neighboring the Russian border. The U.S. Navy’s reasoning for intervening was that theycouldn’t resist a chance to mess with the Russian troops, which was way too campy of an explanation.
Without season 3, there will be no way of knowing for sure who saved Owen.
I had a feeling thateither Nyland or Amelia called in for supportsince the CIA Director Alton West wasn’t willing to help Owen and Jang Kyun out. Without season 3, there will be no way of knowing for sure who saved Owen.
1Will Owen Become A CIA Agent?
He Hardly Ever Did Anything A Lawyer Would Do
All signs pointed to Owen dropping the lawyer part of his job – which he literally never did – and doing the necessary training to become an actual CIA field agent. I thought that Owen taking this route in season 3 would have naturally created a bigger role for Nathan Fillion’s CIA Director, since he is one of the biggest names on the project but had a very small role. It also would have allowed Owen to spend more time in D.C. andcould have brought him to the CIA headquarters in Langley, MI as well.
The Recruit Season 3’s Chances Addressed By Producers After Shocking Netflix Cancellation
EXCLUSIVE: The Recruit’s producers address the chances of a potential season 3 after Netflix made the shocking decision to cancel the show outright.
Ultimately, after a strong first season,The Recruitseason 2 felt like a victim of tough circumstances and unforeseen requirements by Netflix. Cutting the season down from eight to six episodes is an unusual and harsh ask that resulted inThe Recruitcreator Alexi Hawley winding up with an overstuffed product.The Recruitseason 3 could have redeemed some of season 2’s flaws with a show of faith from Netflix. Hopefully, it will get the chance to do so on another network or streaming service.
