“Panic” made its premiere on Amazon Prime Video back in May, and it was available there earlier this year. Those who saw it and found it enjoyable may be curious about the show’s current situation, in particular whether or not a second season is planned and when we might be able to anticipate it. Fans should not hold their breath in anticipation of “Panic” season 2—not to throw cold water on the situation immediately away. But our purpose today is to discuss the current situation and what we know about a prospective second season of the show.
Here is everything we currently know about season 2 of “Panic.”
What is Panic?
An hour-long drama series called “Panic” made its debut on Amazon Prime Video early this year. Lauren Oliver developed the programme based on her book series. Some members of the main cast are Ray Nicholson, Jessica Sula, Camron Jones, Mike Faist, and Enrique Murciano. Here is a reminder of the official plot summary for the programme:
It takes place in a small Texas town, where every summer the graduating seniors compete in a series of challenges, winner takes all, which they believe is their one and only chance to escape their circumstances and make their lives better. But this year, the rules have changed the pot of money is larger than ever and the game has become even more dangerous. The players will come face to face with their deepest, darkest fears and be forced to decide how much they are willing to risk in order to win. The Amazon Original series Panic will premiere on Amazon Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories.
Panic Was Already Canceled
The awful news for show fans is now available. As Deadline revealed back in August, Amazon cancelled “Panic” after just one season. According to a source from the time, “The Wilds” and other similar YA shows did better with fans than this one did. Additionally, the first season’s relatively short tale meant that the production team didn’t feel like they were leaving people hanging.
For what it’s worth, Lauren Oliver did have a brief conversation with ET soon after the first season ended. She said they had enough material for a sophomore run and made a hazy suggestion about where the plot may go:
“We definitely have enough material. I definitely think it’s really important for characters to not walk back on character arcs, I think that’s really important. A lot things happen over the course of the season and there’s a character who doesn’t fare so well, and there will certainly be ramifications for that. There’s a whole new class of kids who expect to be able to play the game and they’ve waited their whole lives to play the game. Who knows whether we’ll get a season 2. We really hope so and if so, we’re more than fine on material.”
Why Aren’t We Getting a Second Season?
It all boils down to how many people watch a show compared to how much it costs to produce for streaming platforms. It all comes down to providing the show with enough value in subscribers compared to the expense of doing so. Although it’s not quite as straightforward as network TV show ratings, the balance of viewing and dollars ultimately prevails. In the instance of “Panic,” it received a respectable amount of critical acclaim, earning a 65 percent critic approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes in addition to a strong 80 percent audience rating.
It seems very clear cut here given that Lauren Oliver said they had content for season 2. Amazon believed that the program’s viewership was insufficient to cover its expenses. Unfortunately, such is sometimes the course of events. These shows can occasionally be revived elsewhere, but there has been absolutely no sign that this option is being investigated in this instance. Sadly, this one seems to be a one-and-done, which is unfortunate for the YA joys this show had to offer.
