6 Ways The Night Agent Season 2 Can Be Better Than Netflix’s Hit Season 1

The Night Agent season 2 doesn’t have a confirmed release date, but there’s little doubt that the upcoming installment of the Netflix original will be even better. Although the adaptation of Matthew Quirk’s book was a runaway hit for the streaming service, there are plenty of ways that The Night Agent season 2 can take the elements that made season 1 great and raise the bar even higher. Since Quirk’s book was a standalone story, the next season will likely feature an original narrative that expands the story’s universe, pulling the audience deeper into the web of lies and secrets.

The Night Agent was so successful for Netflix because of the show’s amazing quality as well as the fact that it filled a niche within the action genre. TV shows involving espionage and political thrillers have never been more popular. Series’ like Reacher, Jack Ryan, The Recruit, and many more are doing solid numbers for their distributors. While many of them revolve almost solely around the experience of men, The Night Agent diversified its cast and characters, creating stories that would appeal to fans of all demographics. Continuing this trend would be smart for The Night Agent season 2.

Like all the best lead characters from action thriller shows, Peter Sutherland, played by Gabriel Brasso, is an unlikely hero whose call to action makes a strong empathetic case for the audience to root for him. He isn’t merely a puppet of the government, having a vested interest in following every lead he finds. His aim, along with his partner, Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan), is to discover the root of the conspiracy that targeted his father and bring them to justice. By the end of season 1, his goal is accomplished, so season 2’s story must be even more explosive.

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Focusing On New Characters

While developing the old ones in innovative ways

Fans of The Night Agent won’t have to say goodbye to every character from season 1, but there will be shifts in the upcoming story when it comes to the cast and characters. Peter Sutherland is a compelling protagonist, and in some ways, season 1 was merely his origin story. After discovering that his father was unfortunately involved in treason and that he tried to redeem himself in the end, Peter can move on and start to heal in the wake of his death. His work protecting the President and preventing her assassination warranted his promotion to full-fledged Night Agent.

This is something he has been working toward for years and means that when audiences catch up with him, Sutherland will be tasked with greater responsibilities, possibly in international cities. However, it also means his primary growth and development are over, opening the door for new characters to enter the mix. In his work as a Night Agent, Sutherland meets lots of people, and it will be them who shape the narrative. Rose Larkin will also return, but while she’s back on home soil, there will be plenty of threats and new faces she’ll have to deal with without Sutherland.

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Leaning Into The Anthology Format

Pushing boundaries for the future of The Night Agent

Basing The Night Agent season 1 on a singular novel made sense at the time when the series was picked up. It told a complete story that could be revisited even if season 2 never materialized. However, it also left room for additional narratives should Netflix have wanted to keep the show going. Luckily, the immediate popularity of the series meant season 2 was announced rapidly, but now The Night Agent gets to decide how it wants to handle its loose ends. The most prominent part of last season’s storyline that remains unresolved is Gordan Wick (Ben Cotton).

He was part of the plot to kill the President but escaped at the end of season 1. His capture could be the throughline between the two installments of the show, but if The Night Agent wants to be even more thrilling than last season, it would be better to drop this thread. It’s been hinted that The Night Agent could become a true anthology series and see the recurring characters go on completely new adventures with each season. This would effectively set up a format that could last almost indefinitely, meaning key actors could leave without hurting the story.

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Referencing Current Events

Shows that deal with international politics should be relevant to the current times

While fictionalizing or dramatizing current events isn’t always the best way to move a story forward, political thrillers that take place in the present day can’t ignore the contemporary situation of international politics without feeling like the story is behind the times. The thrust of The Night Agent season 1 revolves around a conspiracy to assassinate the President of the United States, which is an issue that carries weight in the U.S. cultural context, but it is a story that has been told many times. The Night Agent season 2 has the opportunity to reflect on pressing issues.

An interesting slant that season 2’s story might take is further exploring how technology is influencing every aspect of governmental relations, war, and security through facial recognition and data harvesting. Since Rose is so deeply entrenched in the cybersecurity world, seeing her have the chance to shine in this role by going up against someone with just as much technological skill would be intriguing. Additionally, there are The Night Agent theories about Peter Sutherland’s next villain, which could indicate that Peter needs to expand his horizons to stay ahead of his enemies, which could involve relevant cultural events.

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Cultivating A New Audience

Not just maintaining viewership but growing it

When shows like The Night Agent premiere, it’s unsurprising that the predominant demographic watching are men in older age brackets. There’s nothing wrong with this, as it’s a fruitful market that will likely remain loyal to the show as long as the initial integrity is maintained. The Night Agent also had a leg up since it was based on a popular book, so it drew in audiences already familiar with the story. From there, the success and wide reach of season 1 can be attributed to the high quality of the show and its ability not to pigeonhole itself.

Continuing down the path the series has set for itself means that viewers who enjoyed season 1 will likely be back for more and are currently anticipating the upcoming season. However, in the TV landscape, plateauing is the opposite of success, and The Night Agent will have to garner even higher viewership numbers to justify its continued existence. Already, the show has taken steps to appeal to a wider range of individuals, like casting new and interesting actors. However, there’s more outreach The Night Agent has to do, and much will hinge on the kind of story season 2 tells.

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Innovative Fight Choreography & Action Sequences

Though the story should surpass the action, the fight sequences are a vital element of the show

Action, fight choreography, and chase sequences are the building blocks of crime thriller TV shows of the caliber of The Night Agent. Though the story should stand on its own, without these high-energy elements woven throughout the narrative, the plot could easily grow stale. The Night Agent cannot afford to bore its audience, and if the action of season 1 was the baseline for the series, then season 2 must raise the bar. Due to season 1’s success, it wouldn’t be surprising for the series to receive a higher production budget, which should be reflected in the quality of content.

No audience member would expect The Night Agent to have fight sequences on the same level as action blockbusters that can throw plenty of time and money at creating unbelievable stunts. However, TV differs from film in the fact that it has harsher limitations in certain aspects, meaning creators and producers must get creative with their solutions. Additionally, the actors in season 1 utilized the choreography and stage combat to the best of their abilities. Next season they must be willing to push themselves with hand-to-hand combat, as The Night Agent relied on gun fighting whenever possible.

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Opening The Door For Further Seasons

Laying the groundwork for additional seasons and longevity

Though The Night Agent has an incredible record on Netflix, its reviews haven’t been as strong as some of the other prestige shows the streamer has produced. However, the critical response doesn’t impact viewership as much as it used to, and though the reviews might not be glowing, this hasn’t stopped audiences from watching. The show got middling reviews, which isn’t enough to ruin a reputation, but how season 2 is received will be interesting. Some shows go on for many years despite being universally panned, so it’s not the critics the series should be concerned about, but its legacy.

The Night Agent season 2 is only the first hurdle in becoming a show that stands the test of time. If the show fades into obscurity after the upcoming story, it could be the last installment of the show. While streaming services have provided a platform for additional voices to create film and television, they also have the power to remove a series from the platform if it doesn’t do well, meaning the show could disappear forever. It’s unlikely that the series will suffer this fate, but working hard and planning for additional seasons is a safe path to success.