Entertainment

'Greenleaf' Season 3 Is A Good Bet

by Kayla Hawkins
OWN

By offering compelling themes and great performances, within two seasons the drama series Greenleaf has managed to build a passionate following. The second season finale airs on May 3, but will Greenleaf return for Season 3? OWN hasn't made an announcement yet about the show's future. But taking into account what normally helps a show get a renewal, this series seems to have a good shot.

First of all, Greenleaf is a great drama and stands out from the very crowded pack. And it's unique — not many series are set in black religious communities, and OWN seems dedicated to showing different points of view. Beyond that, according to TVSeriesFinale, the ratings for Greenleaf Season 2 are as good as Season 1, which made it the highest-rated show on OWN per Deadline.

There's also the added factor that OWN is Oprah Winfrey's network, and she's playing a recurring character on Greenleaf. If the show was doing badly, I'm sure Oprah would be in favor of cancelling it, since she's such a smart and savvy businessperson. But having her personal approval certainly can't hurt the show's chances for renewal.

And if the show does return, there's a chance it could have a shorter hiatus. While many series take a year between seasons, OWN premiered Season 1 of Greenleaf in June 2016 and Season 2 just nine months later in March. However, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Greenleaf was already renewed months before the show had even debuted, which was probably why it returned so quickly.

But while you're waiting to find out about Greenleaf's fate, here are some other dramas you may have missed:

Queen Sugar

Skip Bolen/OWN

Also on OWN, this drama tackles an equally complicated Southern family, including their power struggles and attempts to reconnect.

The Haves & The Have Nots

OWN

While Tyler Perry shows are an acquired taste, his take on Downton Abbey is a soapy and vaguely glorious mess.

Animal Kingdom

This series follows another family with some bad secrets in tow, this time without the sheen of responsibility. These criminals have the same power struggles and powerful matriarch as the Greenleaf crew, but none of the godliness.

The Leftovers

Ben King/HBO

If you're looking for a symposium on faith, grief, and deep-cut Biblical references, The Leftovers is the perfect choice. But be warned, even though the show can be as confounding as Lost, you'll find yourself thinking about it all week while waiting for HBO to air the next incredibly dense episode.

Survivor's Remorse

Family is the theme once again. This time, the series is about the life-changing repercussions of a young basketball star's high-paying contract has on the people around him. Deadline reported that the fourth season of Survivor's Remorse is going to add new guest stars, including Isaiah Washington as Cam's father. That should complicate things further.

Saints & Sinners

And, to round out your viewing party, Saints & Sinners is another faith-based drama, about an African-American church that's plagued with its own scandals and haunted by its past crimes. And according to Deadline, it's been as record-breaking for network Bounce TV as Greenleaf is for OWN.

Chances are good that Greenleaf will be back for Season 3, but there's plenty of televised family drama to keep you occupied while you wait.