HBO
Ever since HBO Max’s trendy comedy-thriller The Flight Attendant bought renewed for a second season in late 2020, I haven’t been in a position to shake off the thought that it will’ve been cool to see the present go down the daring but intriguing route of getting every season middle on a unique character, whether or not or not it's somebody new or a personality we’re already aware of, and the tumultuous occasions they discover themselves on the middle of.
Though I believe increasing on what was initially meant to be a restricted collection is totally pointless (bear in mind Large Little Lies?), it was certain to occur because of the present’s success, and a great way to vary it up is to do one thing out of left discipline—in different phrases, The Flight Attendant ought to’ve kicked Cassie Bowden (Kaley Cuoco)—an (understandably) self-destructive girl who doesn’t comply with orders and acts purely on impulse, even when totally sober—to the curb. Sorry babe.
The primary season introduces us to Cassie, a high-functioning alcoholic flight attendant based mostly in New York Metropolis who wakes as much as discover her one-night stand useless in mattress whereas on a layover and will get caught up in worldwide espionage, amongst different issues, consequently.
There was actually a lot to like about this present: it made audiences take Cuoco extra critically as an actress with a capital A, it had a gripping plot that serves as the proper dose of escapism, and it constantly fills the display with many beautiful coats. Nonetheless, this new season confirmed what I had been afraid of: repetitiveness. The identical outdated, standard. Cassie has been put by intense conditions that can trigger her to unravel in probably the most damaging methods doable but once more.
(Warning: Spoilers lie forward for Season 2 of The Flight Attendant.)
Conventional multi-season tv has a manner of sabotaging itself by placing fragile characters by cycles like this. One thing dangerous occurs to a personality, stated character begins to spiral, the issue will get resolved and the particular person reaches a good place in life, after which all of it repeats once more to the purpose of exhaustion.
Season 2 of The Flight Attendant has fallen into this sample early on. Choosing up a 12 months after Season 1, Cassie is now dwelling a happier, sober life in Los Angeles and has a sizzling and hopefully regular boyfriend named Marco (Santiago Cabrera), along with nonetheless working as a flight attendant whereas moonlighting as a CIA asset. Every little thing appears to be going nicely for the primary time in her trauma-ridden life.
That's, till she heads on an abroad task to assemble intel in Berlin however clearly discovers one thing far more disturbing, inflicting her to as soon as once more fall right into a pit of more and more bonkers circumstances.
The stakes are larger this time round, with the collection juggling way over it will possibly deal with in an try to satisfy our excessive expectations. This season is at its finest when it’s a personality examine targeted on Cassie’s private journey with sobriety. I applaud the writers for crafting a messy, self-absorbed, and imperfect character you may’t assist however root for regardless of having to witness her always make horrible selections (she nonetheless hasn’t discovered silence her cellphone).
Within the fifth episode, she hits all-time low when she relapses after a string of dangerous decisions (together with boning her handler) and different anxious moments that function the tipping level. Whereas it’s a nuanced storyline that’s sensible in its portrayal of alcoholism, it feels tragic to look at her return to sq. one and affirms my perception that this present hinges on repeatedly placing its protagonist by tough shit for the sake of our leisure (blond characters named Cassie have an extended historical past of completely going by it, from Skins to Euphoria).
Within the first season, Cassie is reckless and digs a deeper gap for herself as a substitute of making an attempt to show her innocence. Now, the identical factor is going on to her once more, not even taking the time to think about merely placing an effort in direction of ensuring that she’s freed from being buried in incriminating circumstances.
The Flight Attendant has a far-fetched plot and heightened environment that makes it simpler to nitpick—even the smallest issues, like the truth that Cassie wears flashy coats whereas making an attempt to comply with shady folks undetected. There’s solely a lot an individual can deal with with such a frantic story like Cassie’s till it turns into an excessive amount of to deal with, as a result of the minute you start to heat as much as her she finally ends up doing one thing silly that makes you wish to scream right into a pillow for eternity.
Because of this, the eye to her storyline has led to some main sidelining of the remainder of its ensemble, to the purpose that the majority of Annie’s (nationwide treasure Zosia Mamet) traces encompass “um,” “okay,” and “like.”
This brings me again to my principal level: I wholeheartedly imagine that The Flight Attendant ought to’ve been an anthology collection à la Fargo and The Girlfriend Expertise.
The anthology collection has had a rocky journey. Some begin off sturdy then lose their steam (True Detective), whereas others succeed for probably the most half (Black Mirror). Whatever the end result, the anthology construction has at all times been a good way to strategy varied tales whereas sustaining a standard tone between installments with out making them really feel overwhelmingly repetitive.
It additionally permits for experimentation and probabilities for various ensembles to shine, corresponding to with The Afterparty and The White Lotus, which is able to each introduce new plots whereas bringing some earlier members again for his or her second runs.
The Flight Attendant was initially based mostly on Chris Bohjalian’s 2018 e book of the identical identify that has no sequels, that means it has zero obligation to proceed following a sure narrative established by current supply materials and had the house to take a flip for the sudden. The primary season instructed an entire story, and an anthology may’ve critically elevated the collection because it’s a format that presents countless alternatives for recent narratives and worlds.
In fact, Cassie is the titular flight attendant, however there are various different flight attendants current within the present’s orbit who nearly solely exist to service her storyline and will seamlessly take over the pilot’s seat.
There’s Griffin Matthews’ Shane, Cassie’s coworker and fellow CIA agent—bear in mind, our favourite blond trainwreck isn’t the one one on their payroll—who's criminally underutilized this season. I’d be so down with seeing a whole season devoted to his exploits for the federal government as he hops from city to city, whether or not or not it's within the States (I wager he could make Utah appear thrilling) or overseas (Shane in Paris when?). Plus there’s the drama of the way it impacts his relationship with Justin, who isn’t conscious of his boyfriend’s facet gig. Whereas The Flight Attendant makes him out to be somebody usually susceptible to following all the principles, I do know that deep down he’d be taking some dangers that find yourself backfiring.
Alternatively, I’d do something to get a whole season centering on flight attendant-turned-fugitive Megan Briscoe solely as a result of Rosie Perez is worthy of it, even when Meg is annoying generally. This season, Cassie tries to rescue her from what she interprets as an pressing scenario in Iceland however finally ends up being a false alarm that causes extra turmoil. A season about her would comply with the 12 months main as much as these occasions, significantly how she results in Reykjavik, of all locations, and the way she ended up crossing paths with Utada (Margaret Cho).
It’s already been established that the pair aren’t lovers, however right here they might grow to be girlfriends as a result of they deserve that. To take issues additional, it will dig into what made Megan wish to initially do enterprise with the North Korean authorities and their relationship to her husband’s firm; she may change into as difficult as Cassie, if no more.
I now current you with possibility three: abandoning the entire flight attendant schtick and placing Miranda Croft (performed by the wickedly good Michelle Gomez), an elusive but savvy murderer/businesswoman, within the highlight. She’s a captivating character with an in depth historical past of twisted tales simply ready to be explored, and he or she at all times steals each rattling she’s in. Miranda is The Flight Attendant’s secret weapon, so why not give her a season—or, screw it, an entire spinoff—all for herself?
Whereas I’ve been having fun with this entertaining season for probably the most half, I nonetheless assume the choice to as soon as once more put Cassie by the ringer was predictable and disappointing, and the present had an opportunity to evolve into one thing far more fascinating and distinctive with out having to lean into acquainted tropes. For all the first season’s originality, its follow-up has been filled with gimmicks (Cassie will get visitations from completely different variations of herself), cartoonish and one-dimensional characters, and tiresome storylines.
With just a few episodes left till the finale, every little thing is up within the air and there’s nonetheless room for the present to redeem itself, however there’s a significant chance that it'll finish on a predictable word that units up a 3rd season—petition for it to only be about Cassie in remedy, In Therapy model.
All I can do is hope that one other season revolving round Cassie’s dumpster hearth of a life doesn’t fall deeper into the sample and end in a decline in high quality. Within the meantime, I’ll simply be right here daydreaming in regards to the Megan season that might’ve been.