One year after its international premiere, BBC's The Watch is still awaiting a cancellation or renewal; it has fallen into a gray area of uncertainty and no one appears to know if it will be happening. Inspired by the best-selling Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett, The Watch follows a team of unlikely police officers through the steam-punk-inspired streets of Ankh Morpork on a quest to save the population from imminent destruction at the hands of a dragon and a ghost from the past. The flawed leadership of Sam Vimes facilitates a bumbling investigation akin to a police procedural drama with a good measure of whimsical fantasy and the downright weird.
The first season of The Watch was met with a critical debate due to the divisive alterations it made to the source material which split fan reaction to the show. Showrunner Simon Allen took a more liberal view of the source material than many adaptations, instead claiming to be "inspired by" the books rather than directly taking the plot. This method alienated many fans of the original series and resulted in a mixed reception.
The controversial nature of The Watch has left many wondering what the state of the tv series is in and whether season 2 is on the horizon at all. While concrete information is still hard to come by, there are some clues that could provide information on the series' future prospects. Here's what's known about a potential The Watch season 2 so far.
Is The Watch Season 2 Happening?
Currently, nobody knows whether The Watch season 2 will happen. The BBC has yet to announce an official cancellation or official renewal of the television series, placing it in a form of limbo. The Watch has gathered a core set of fans who will want to see the story continue after a dramatic cliffhanger at the end of the first season. However, the larger changes from the source material have alienated many Pratchett fans who were expecting armored guards rather than leather-clad police officers leading The Watch in a medieval-style city instead of the neo-noir one presented in The Watch. This sense of negativity could ultimately end up influencing whether The Watch season 2 gets the go-ahead.
The Watch Season 2: Storys & Details
The main cast of characters' storylines was nicely wrapped up by the end of season 1, apart from that of Sam Vimes (played by Game of Thrones' Richard Dormer); he was transported to the Observer's realm, a dimension that exists outside of space and time, finally discovering their existence after the Observers spent the entire first season trying to defeat him. Unfortunately, Vimes' transportation to this unknown location took him away from Lady Sybil Ramkin, a character he was just forming a lasting relationship with. With the infinite possibilities of the multiverse presented through the Observers realm, season 2 could take the character of Vimes anywhere. Therefore the neatly rounded off storylines of the supporting characters during season 1 are likely to be shelved for a new universe and a new challenge for Vimes.
Why The BBC Should Order The Watch Season 2
Whilst The Watch was met with mixed critical and fan-based responses, due to the big changes it made from the Discworld novels, many viewers were on board with the show by the end of the first season. The strong development of all characters, the progressive conversations raised by the show, and the peculiar storyline made for a very individual television show unlike anything else. Terry Pratchett's universe is globally popular and his vast array of characters ensures there is someone that represents everyone. Arguably, this is the perfect show to embrace differences and present everyone as equal and every strange event as usual. The Watch runs the risk of slipping away due to its initial response and the jury is still out as to the show's future. Sharing similarities to Netflix's Dirk Gently, another unconventional show that drifted away after two successful seasons, there is growing concern that The Watch will follow a similar fate. However, with no official confirmation so far, there are many still hoping to continue the adventures of Sam Vimes and his supporting cast across the multiverse.