Entertainment

Your New Fave Creepy TV Show Just Hit Netflix

by Drew Koch
Netflix

Only a few days ago, Netflix dropped a surprise announcement of a new series that would be coming out on Jan. 5 called The End of the F***ing World (series directing: Lucy Tcherniak, four episodes). The surprise series isn't actually a Netflix original — it aired in the UK first. That begs the question, is a Season 2 of The End of the F***ing World already in the works? It's not unusual for international shows to be running on their own for awhile before Netflix picks up the streaming rights.

This time, though, it has not yet been picked up for a second season. However, that does not mean that it won’t be. There are a number of reasons to suggest that it will be picked up for a second season — whether just in the UK or also streaming on Netflix. After all, there is source material to draw from — and the story is vastly intriguing.

A Netflix press release says the show is a dark, teen romance. It focuses on a pair of 17-year-olds named James and Alyssa who begin a bit of a romance — but there's a twist. James is a self-identified psychopath who, after killing animals, is ready to kill a human: Alyssa. But, as they take a road trip together to find her real dad, will James give up his killing ways? Will Alyssa turn dark, too? There's a lot to unpack there, as you can see.

The End of the F***ing World is based on a graphic novel of the same name, created by Charles Forsman that was originally released back in 2013. While it’s unclear just how close the television series will stick to the source material, Forsman was at least partially involved in the series’ development, as he said in an interview with Newsarama. “Early on, I wanted to be hand-off,” he said. “I trusted Jonathan [Entwistle, the director] and knew he would make something great if given the chance. Also, I just didn't want it to eat up my life. I wanted to make my comics at the time.” Still, he did confirm that he was present during some of the filming and met with everyone on the production staff.

Netflix

Created from a previously written series, the show already has a built-in fan base — and they want more. Fans already looking for a confirmation of a second season with Forsman noting that he’s gotten his fair share of fans already asking about future episodes. “My life now is getting messages from strangers asking if there will be a second season,” he recently said in a tweet.

Although Forsman isn't directly involved in the creation of the show, it does have his blessing and he said he’d be open to a sequel. If not a second season of The End of the F***ing World, perhaps a new TV series based on one of his other comic series (like Revenger, Slasher, or I Am Not Okay With This). In that same Newsarama interview mentioned above, when asked about future television prospects, Forsman was open to the idea. “We'll see if things open up when the show gets on Netflix,” he said. “I'm chatting with some people about a Revenger project, but nothing is concrete.”

Regardless as to whether Forsman will be involved in the future of the show, there’s reason to believe it will be see at least a second season because it's being so well received critically. TV critics at a number of outlets have given the show glowing reviews. Den of Geek called the show “dark, funny & fearless," while RadioTimes called the show “an effing triumph.” It also has a 100 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on eight reviews thus far.

Whether The End of the F***ing World becomes Netflix’s next 13 Reasons Why-style success, as some outlets like Vanity Fair have suggested, remains to be seen. But, that show was a runaway hit and garnered a second season order even though it completed telling the source material story. The fact that Forsman is on board with more and even has other series that could be adapted could be good news for fans. Add in the positive critical reviews, and Netflix could be streaming a Season 2 before you know it.