Below starring Josh Hartnett is officially the biggest Netflix hit of the fall so far. After its premiere on Oct. 8, the series from Jesse McKeown racked up 17 million views in its first four days on Netflix.
That’s quite a good start for the horror series! It’s nearly the biggest opening for a new Netflix series behind His and Hers, starring Jon Bernthal and Tessa Thompson, and Harlan Coben’s I Will Find You, which is the biggest Netflix show of the year and the fifth-biggest Netflix show of all time.
If fans were hoping that Netflix would renew Below for season 2 in the near future, these ratings are the best news fans could hope for. Most Netflix shows, even the big ones, don’t open with 17 million views over opening weekend. East of Eden, which is on pace to be a decent hit on Netflix, opened with just 6.5 million views in its first few days, and that’s quite good for a new show. Below’s ratings have blown that show out of the water.
There aren’t plans for Below season 2 yet
Immediately after the season dropped, McKeown and Hartnett revealed that there were no plans yet for season 2. Hartnett told Men’s Health that he didn’t think season 2 would happen, but he did leave the door open to playing Calvin again.
“If it becomes a massive hit, then there’s always room to imagine a future, and I would, without a doubt, love to go play Calvin again,” Hartnett said. “For me, the door’s not closed, but it’s a limited series.”
Well, Josh, it is a “massive hit,” and it’s only going to get bigger as we move closer to Halloween, word spreads about the series, and more.
At the end of Below, it seems like this story is going to be tied up quite neatly, but then, there’s a twist that definitely opens up this story for more. I don’t want to spoil too much, but there’s reason to believe Calvin, played by Hartnett, and the rest of his friends, family, and neighbors will be facing even bigger challenges in the near future.
McKeown told Variety that he didn’t mean to imply that there would be another season with that ending. He had planned the visual to show that Calvin and co. “get to live to fight another day.”
Here’s what McKeown said:
“I feel like you always try everything on for size as you’re going, but the idea of that visual was there from the very beginning, in the outline for the show. I think in some ways it is a happy ending for Calvin and his family, but it’s a reprieve. They get to live to fight another day, and so it was important not to turn away from the real catastrophe that’s heading for us.”
Below season 2 is more likely than ever after these ratings
While there might not be plans for Below season 2 right now, it doesn’t mean that Netflix won’t be very interested in revisiting this story sooner rather than later. Surely, if McKeown and his team are able to come up with something and Hartnett is down to return, Netflix would be open to hosting another season or two of a show like this. It’s pulling massive numbers so far, and as mentioned, it’s only going to get more popular. There’s no doubt it’s going to be one of the biggest Netflix shows of the year when it’s all said and done.
Netflix won’t let the fact that it’s a limited series stop them. Netflix has renewed limited series in the past, especially after they become big hits. Even shows that aren’t billed as limited series with a self-contained story have gotten renewed for more seasons on Netflix. The Beast in Me is the latest example, but you can also look at Untamed and others as proof that Netflix is willing to double down on its hits, even if the story feels complete.
That’s basically where we are with Below. Yes, the ending does leave a little something to be desired, but it does feel quite final. That’s what we heard from McKeown and Hartnett after the season was released.
For me, I don’t think we really need a second season of Below, but it’s hard to get TV shows to this level of popularity. It doesn’t happen all that often, so if the fans want it, Netflix should be interested in it.
We’ll continue to monitor the situation, but as mentioned, Below is going to be huge, and if McKeown and Hartnett want to team up for another sea monster adventure, well, that door should be open.
Stay tuned for more news about Below season 2!
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