Abhiroop Das
Emerging from the mind of Quinn Shephard, Netflix’s ‘The Body‘ traces the aftermath of a dance team initiation ritual gone wrong, as students of St. Mark’s Catholic High School wake up one day to learn that Grace, a new student, has been left comatose after an inexplicable incident. The only people who seem to know the truth are the girls from the dance team, and before long, this fact begins to haunt them. While some, like Anya and Elise, are left uneasy about their future, others, like Maggie, interpret this as a divine sign, or a call for a higher purpose. Some, like Lisbeth, don’t shy away from capitalizing on the creation of this new mythology, and by the end of season 1, Grace’s return to consciousness seems to be just the trigger everyone needed. While Netflix hasn’t greenlit the show for a second season, in the best-case scenario, fans can expect a sequel to release around 2029.
The Body Season 2 Might Explore Grace’s Side of the Story More Keenly
With season 1 of ‘The Body’ ending on a cliffhanger and rousing curiosity worldwide, there is a solid chance of the show returning with a second season. Grace waking up from a weeks-long coma is bound to shake up the mythology around her, especially since her only words since waking up happen to be “I am God.” As Lisbeth manages to convince everyone that Grace truly went to the other side and was then resurrected, there are simply too many theological implications to ignore, many of which can become narrative highlights for a sequel. Then there is the question of Anya, who confesses to being the one who carried away an overdosing Grace, but fails to mention that Lisbeth was the one who helped her set up the scene. Whether this is intentional on Anya’s part, or simply her feeling guilty, can decide much of the way forward.
Another arc that ends ambiguously this season is that of Catherine, Lisbeth and Leo’s mother. Though she remains certain of her immunity to snake venom, the reality is likely to be far grimmer. With her daughter at the ballroom and her son outside Leo’s, there is really no help coming anytime soon, and the next season might just begin with Catherine’s death and the tragic consequences of it. Much of the narrative is built around exploring all dimensions of faith, and we see that spectrum fully unfold with Grace’s story on one side, and Catherine’s on another. Now, this fragile balance seems to have ruptured completely, meaning that a second season will have to be a lot more experimental with its writing.
The Body Season 2 is Likely to Continue With its Existing Ensemble
Most of the cast of ‘The Body’ is expected to come back if the show is renewed for a sequel, seeing that these intricate character dynamics are what makes the show work. With Grace returning to consciousness, actor Sofia Wylie might return with a much more proactive presence as Grace Franklin, which is a welcome change. Alongside her, actors Kristina Bogic and Sara Boustany are also likely to reprise their roles as Anya Butler and Elise Zakaria, respectively, given that the love story arc is far from finished. While the character of Lisbeth does seem to contemplate leaving the town and moving back to Virginia, by the finale this plan seems to have been squashed. With that, fans can await Geena Meszaros’ return as Lisbeth Anderson in case the second installment is confirmed.
While no major deaths happen on screen all season, the very ending leaves things up in the air for Catherine Anderson, who ingests snake venom with no intention of seeking medical help. As such, whether actor Louisa Krause reprises her role in the future depends largely on what the writers have in mind for her character. On the other hand, actors Nnamdi Asomugha, Motell Foster, and Ashley Madekwe are all likely to step back into the roles of Father Franklin, Michael, and Theresa Franklin, respectively. Fans can also expect a bigger role for actors Jackson Kelly and Shirley Chen, whose respective characters, Leo and Maggie, effectively become Grace’s disciples by the end of the season.
The Body Season 2 Can Expand on Anya and Elise’s Love Story
While the show’s premise may revolve around Grace’s predicament, the beating heart of this narrative is undoubtedly the evolving relationship between Anya Butler and Elise Zakaria. Over the course of eight episodes, they go from being friends to sexual partners, and then anguished lovers trying to cope with a community that rejects their sexuality. By the end of the season, however, Anya seems to have given in to the community’s perspective, as she approaches the priest and frames her orientation as a sin. This is especially heartbreaking for Elise, who has loved Anya from the very start, but also has to slowly come to terms with how the most important person in her life might just be a killer.
Despite there being a chance of Anya going to prison for what she did to Grace, it is more likely that the townsfolk will cover it up. This, unwittingly, allows for Anya and Elise’s immediate love story to continue, with the former perhaps embarking on an arc of unschackling herself from social expectations. When it comes to Lisbeth, on the other hand, predicting her future storyline can be almost impossible. What we do know, however, based on the ending, is that she has all but cemented her position within the town as a seer, or rather, an apostle of sorts, who can claim to have seen Grace’s divinity in action. This puts her in the same group as Leo, considered by many to be Grace’s first apostle, and thus, the stage is set for all these characters to enter a world they might genuinely be unfamiliar with.
Read More: The Body Ending Explained: Does Grace Wake Up? Is She Really God?
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