Abhiroop Das
In Sharon Horgan’s ‘Youth,’ the HBO comedy that serves as part autofiction, we are met with Alex, a 50-year-old divorcee whose plans for an empty nest quickly unravel when her son, Ruari, returns home shortly after leaving for university. What follows is a series of professional and personal ups and downs, eventually bringing us to the season 1 finale, where Alex, having been pushed past her limits, gets blackout drunk and somehow wakes up in Malcolm’s bed. All of this aside, Pat’s attempts to patch their relationship also don’t end so well, and by the end, Alex has little clarity on what her future should look like. With all that considered, there is a decent chance for the show to get renewed for a sequel in the future, and in the best-case scenario, fans may witness a season 2 around 2028 to 2029.
Youth Season 2 Can Develop on Alex and Pat’s Unfinished Love Story
Although HBO hasn’t renewed ‘Youth’ for a second season as of writing, there is a strong case for the show getting a sequel sometime in the future. Sharon Horgan’s other creative projects, be it ‘Catastrophe’ or ‘Bad Sisters,’ both went on to spawn sequels, and given the positive response to ‘Youth,’ fans can probably expect a continuation of Alex’s story. Horgan has extensively talked about how working on a show feels like a therapeutic experience, and in a conversation with AnOther Magazine, she noted that she doesn’t exactly have any fixed plans for the future, yet. This makes sense considering the autofictive nature of the work, and if the show’s indeed greenlit for a sequel, we might find more bits from Horgan’s personal life making their way into the narrative.
Curiously enough, season 1 of ‘Youth’ leaves its central romance question unanswered, as Pat and Alex’s relationship is left on as awkward a stage as it was in their breakup episode. While this might have to do with the new Malcolm plotline that the ending reveals, it can also be interpreted as a setup for the future. Both Alex and Pat are currently getting smothered by their own trepidations about the future, and it is essential for them to overcome those fears, as individuals, before they can get back together. That said, the show doesn’t depend on them reconciling their differences either, as Alex’s final scene, where she gets to relax and share her experiences with her son, serves as a perfect ending to the story as well, without needing a sequel.
Youth Season 2 is Expected to Stick to its Original Cast
Since the first season leaves several of its central relationships unresolved, a potential second season of ‘Youth’ is likely to bring back its core ensemble mostly as-is. At the center of it all is, of course, Alex, whose love story with Pat remains unresolved by the finale, giving Sharon Horgan plenty of reason to reprise her role, alongside Rupert Friend. Another big revelation is that Malcolm is now a potential new romantic interest for Alex, giving his character another reason to remain part of the story. This makes his return equally likely if the series continues, especially as the finale introduces a new dimension to his relationship with Alex. As such, actor Douglas Hodge has a strong chance of returning as Malcolm Hammond.
On the family front, Aran Murphy is also likely to reprise his role as Ruari, whose romantic interest in Plum becomes another important storyline going into a potential second season. With their relationship developing beyond the initial flirting, Libby Mai has a strong chance of returning as Alex’s assistant. Actor Sharlene Whyte is also highly likely to return as Sam Laville, though the same cannot be said about her character’s soon-to-be ex-husband, Frank, which might translate to less screen time for Robbie Gee. Similarly, Owen McDonnell and Karla Crome might not make as many appearances in future iterations as Lorcan and Theresa, given the characters’ move to Canada.
Youth Season 2 Can Focus More on Ruari and Sam as Co-Leads
While season 1 of ‘Youth’ is mostly about Alex and the many ups and downs in her life, by the end of episode 8 it does seem to have expanded its horizons, with many of the supporting characters getting fleshed out. To that end, a potential sequel might find itself focusing more on characters like Ruari, Plum, and Alex, all of whom leave the season with their own arcs in progress. Ruari’s journey with teenage in contemporary times is a particularly relatable beat for the show, as it allows the story to touch on themes of toxic masculinity, as well as the complexities of love and friendship in a world saturated with social media influences. His relationship with Plum seems to be a respite from all of that noise, but whether it truly blossoms into something special is something both characters have to work out.
The season finale reserves its harshest fate for Sam, who has to experience the complete fallout of her marriage over text. Though we don’t know the full context of why Frank leaves her without even properly communicating, the last couple of episodes of the season do provide us with some context cues. That said, it does feel as though Sam had been holding on to this marriage out of fear and desperation more than anything else, and while things are now moving outside of her control, it might be an opportunity to tread fresh ground and find out what she truly desires. More than a story about individual problems, ‘Youth’ is about a sense of community, which means that these extended narrative arcs will always be a highlight for the show.
Read More: Youth: Is The Laville Agency Based on a Real Book Agency?
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