Parish Season 2 Story Plans Get Addressed by Giancarlo Esposito Prior to TV Show Ending & Netflix Popularity Surge: ‘He’s Got to Heal His Past’

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I was really captivated by Giancarlo Esposito in Parish, and it’s frustrating to learn he had a vision for where his character could go in a second season! The show was cut short after just six episodes, which was a shame. But thankfully, with the new deal between AMC and Netflix, Parish is getting a second life on the streamer, and a lot of us are hoping that renewed interest will lead to another season. It would be amazing to see his storyline continue!

The series Parish features Giancarlo Esposito as Gray Parish, a former criminal who tried to leave that life behind and focus on his family. However, after his son is murdered, he’s drawn back into his old habits. Originally airing on AMC in March 2024, the show was quickly cancelled in October. It recently gained popularity after becoming available on Netflix, where it has stayed in the Top 10 in the US since premiering on October 24th.

Why Parish Was Canceled Ahead of Its Netflix Release

When Parish first came out, critics were divided. Although it gained a dedicated group of fans and starred Phillip Esposito, AMC decided not to order any more episodes.

AMC canceled Parish because they said they couldn’t move forward with a second season, but they didn’t explain why.

We’re incredibly proud of ‘Parish’ and grateful for the amazing work of everyone involved, especially the fantastic cast led by Giancarlo Esposito and Skeet Ulrich. While we won’t be moving forward with a second season, you can still enjoy the first season on AMC+. It’s a thrilling series we think both existing fans and new viewers will love.

Although “Parish” didn’t gain much attention when it originally aired on AMC, it’s become very popular on Netflix. Since arriving on the streaming service in the U.S. on October 24th, it’s consistently ranked among the Top 10 shows, even reaching number 3 at its most popular.

Like many network shows that find a new audience on Netflix (such as Quantum Leap), Parish is experiencing a surge in popularity. This has led to speculation that AMC might reconsider canceling the show, especially since the first season ended with several storylines unfinished.

Giancarlo Esposito Shared Hopes For Gray Parish’s Season 2 Parish Future

Before the show was canceled, actor Esposito discussed potential storylines for a second season of Parish. He told TV Line that he and the show’s creators, Ryan Maldonado and Eduardo Canto, had talked about exploring Parish’s history in future episodes, explaining that, “To move forward, Parish needs to confront his past.”

I really enjoy working with our showrunners, Ryan Maldonado and Eduardo Canto. We’ve been discussing ideas for a second season of ‘Parish,’ and we’re optimistic about it happening. We’re exploring how to tie up loose ends and deliver another strong season for viewers.

What keeps him stable and connected, and what is he striving for? What will be his next learning experience, and what challenges lie ahead? What crucial details about his history are still hidden? To move forward, he needs to confront his past, but he – and even his family – doesn’t fully understand it, and we, as viewers, are missing pieces of the puzzle.

Esposito noted similarities between his character in Parish and Gus Fring from Breaking Bad, explaining that the show would have explored the question of whether his character was truly a good person in more depth. He added that the character’s reluctance to confront his past would prevent him from changing, potentially leading to a crisis point in the second season.

Giancarlo Esposito hopes viewers will connect with his character, Parish, on a deep level, experiencing a transformation alongside him. He wants the audience to initially be drawn to Parish’s actions, even his villainous ones, then to feel conflicted and ultimately disapprove of them. Ideally, viewers will also witness Parish grappling with his own guilt and striving for redemption, realizing his mistakes and vowing to change. Esposito playfully notes a similar sentiment was expressed by a character he played in the past, highlighting the universal theme of learning from errors.

The show is delving into complex moral territory, which is a key element of compelling crime dramas – the question of whether someone is fundamentally good. We want viewers to connect with the main character, Parish, and be motivated to examine their own pasts and make amends. However, Parish isn’t quite there yet; he needs to face more challenges first. Adding these layers to the story in the second season will create intense pressure for him, and we believe that’s essential for his development.

On top of the letdown of Parish being cancelled, the show was designed to continue beyond its first season. As executive producer Ryan Maldonado told Assignment X, the season finale was intentionally crafted to leave viewers wanting more.

Ryan Maldonado has observed that many people watch TV while multitasking, but he believes their show is different. He’s proud of what they’ve created and feels it’s something that deserves viewers’ full attention – to put away distractions like phones and computers, and truly enjoy and engage with the program.

We’ve developed some really compelling characters, and one of them is about to embark on a wild adventure. By the season finale, Episode 6, we believe you’ll be eager to see what happens next.

With ‘Parish’ becoming popular on Netflix, viewers are hoping the show might be revived even though it was originally cancelled, especially since there’s clearly a lot of interest in it.

Netflix has successfully revived canceled shows before, like Lucifer, Designated Survivor, and Manifest, giving them a second run on its streaming service. Currently, the deal between Netflix and AMC only involves licensing existing shows. However, if AMC’s shows perform well on Netflix, it could lead to a stronger partnership and more opportunities to bring these series back to life.

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2025-10-28 05:06