The second season of the hit series The Society is supposed to be released sometime in 2020. The sci-fi show stars Kathryn Newton along with an ensemble cast of relatively unknown actors. Drawing on elements of The Lord Of The Flies, the Netflix series kicks off with a group of teens stranded in their home town with no adults, siblings, or anyone in sight, and no way out.
The teens must learn to sustain and govern themselves without turning on each other. Inevitably, they resort to violence and betrayal, but the characters and their relationships are nuanced enough to let this be the focus of the first season. The finale hints at further exploration of the mystery in season 2. Here are the first ten episodes, ranked according to IMDb viewer ratings.
Our Town (7.2)
The second episode of the season sees the teens attempting to settle into their new lifestyle and come to terms with their situation. Cassandra has assumed authority, with Allie in her shadow, and is setting rules and boundaries for everyone to adhere to before chaos ensues.
The episode also introduces some unexpected relationships and hints at those the characters had in the past, including Cassandra and Harry, Harry and Allie, Kelly and Will, Luke and Helena, and Campell and Elle.
What Happened? (7.3)
The pilot episode begins with the teens embarking on a camping trip, only to be turned around when a rainstorm bears down on the town. When they return to West Ham, they find the town deserted, with no phone reception, no way out, and no way to get new supplies.
Strangely, though, the teens don’t freak out – they party. Their new reality doesn’t hit them until the next day. As the title suggests, the characters spend the episode trying to figure out what happened.
Childhood’s End (7.4)
In the season’s third episode, the teens decide to hold a prom. This seems like a silly idea, but it’s also the perfect opportunity for them to take their mind off things and bond.
However, most of the episode focuses on the aftermath of their realization that they are truly alone in this new world. The time has come for them to step up and take control of their own lives. Some characters, like Harry, struggle to deal with this and can’t let go of who they used to be.
Drop By Drop (7.5)
The fourth episode kicks off right after Cassandra is shot dead. Allie now has to grieve her sister’s death – after their argument – on top of the loss of her childhood and family.
Gordie is determined to find Cassandra’s killer, and he buries himself in the investigation. The episode marks a stark change in his character and personality. Meanwhile, Elle and Campbell’s relationship progresses, but perhaps not in the best way.
How It Happens (7.6)
The season finale is exciting, to say the least, but perhaps has too much going on. It also doesn’t deliver a satisfying conclusion, which may be why it isn’t the highest-rated episode on this list.
Allie and Will are imprisoned by Campbell and his cronies, the Guard has betrayed Allie, Elle is back in Campbell’s clutches, and Grizz is off in the woods finding arable land. The latter is the most hopeful event of the episode, and perhaps the entire season. The final scene, on the other hand, is frustrating. Viewers see Amanda Pressman in the “real” world and a memorial plaque with the New Ham teens’ names listed.
Putting On The Clothes (7.7)
As the title suggests, the fifth episode examines the performative situations the characters find themselves in, and the metaphorical clothes they put on to play the roles forced upon them.
Greg Dewey is put under trial for murdering Cassandra, while Allie doesn’t actually have any idea what she’s doing or whether or not it’s the right thing. She seeks advice from her committee, but they can’t seem to agree unanimously. Helena is forced to become Dewey’s lawyer, which triggers a lot of internal conflict for her.
New Names (7.7)
In the penultimate episode, Becca is heavily pregnant and sick of it, while Allie feels her power slipping away, and Campbell easily manipulates Harry to be his pawn. Everyone is gearing up for the elections, especially Campbell, Lexie, and Luke.
The episode’s title comes from The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. Becca is listening to the audiobook in bed, feeling useless in her pregnancy, when Kelly comes in. They end up joking around and looking through Becca’s old photos, which leads to a discovery relating to the bus drivers.
Like A F-Ing God Or Something (7.8)
Tensions are at an all-time high in the sixth episode. Campbell is released from imprisonment and Allie is convinced that Dewey is guilty of Cassandra’s murder, though he’s adamant that he didn’t do it.
Allie and the Guard are forced to execute him in an extremely emotional scene. Helena prays for a totally unhinged Dewey while Grizz throws up and flees the scene. Allie takes his place alongside Luke and Jason, and it’s her gun that fires the killing shot. Later, Jason (believing his gun killed Dewey) says that shooting the gun made him feel “like a f***ing god or something.”
Allie’s Rules (7.9)
Thanksgiving in New Ham is just as chaotic as one would expect. In the seventh episode, Elle plans to kill Campbell by poisoning a pumpkin pie she’s making him for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, things don’t go to plan.
Campbell decides to take Elle to the dinner with everyone else and insists that she bring the pie. Elle tries to eat as much of it as possible, but other people get to it before she does.
Poison (8.1)
Picking up halfway through the Thanksgiving dinner, Lexie and the rest of the theatre improv group perform an allegorical reenactment of Allie and her rise to power. Later, those who consumed Elle’s pie start to feel the effects of the poison.
Will and Allie confess their feelings for one another, which in effect breaks off his relationship with Kelly. But Kelly has bigger issues to deal with; she and Gordie team up to heal those who got sick, while Allie and her team investigate the origin of the poison.
