BRB, Crying My Eyes Out Because ‘Kindred’ Was Just Canceled

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Hulu has answered my prayers (or maybe they just got tired of me relentlessly emailing them, but whatevs): They *finally* adapted Octavia E. Butler’s Kindred into a series, and baby, it did not disappoint. The acting? The characters? The storylines? It’s everything my teenage self could ask for and more. But now that the season has ended—on a huge cliff-hanger too—I know Butler’s fans (including me) are wondering when the second season is coming out. Because surely the show has been renewed, right??? Luckily, I did some sleuthing and found all the deets on Kindred season 2.

Will There Be a Second Season of Kindred?

The universe must hate me or something because Kindred was just canceled. Damn.

Honestly, this cancellation is kind of unprecedented for FX. Like, when was the last time an FX show got canceled after one season? Even Deadline reports that FX “is known for carefully curating its slate and taking time to develop projects, sometimes redoing a pilot, and most of its shows stick around for a while.” But maybe the network is taking inspo from streamers Netflix and Peacock. *rolls eyes*

This might not be the end for the series, however. Considering showrunner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins already has plans for a season 2 and more, it’s likely that he’ll shop the series to other networks. Showtime, you answered our prayers with renewing Minx, so what’s one more TV show to add? Netflix’s queue is lookin’ kinda empty after it canceled Fate: Winx Saga, Partner Track, and a host of other TV series, so surely it can invest in Kindred. Plus, the show has a built-in audience, so its popularity is damn near guaranteed.

If Kindred is picked up for a second season, it might be a while before it premieres. Production on season 1 ended in January 2022, and the show just premiered last December. I’m not that good at math, but even I can tell that a second season won’t be coming out until late next year at the absolute earliest.

Give Me the Deets—What Will Season 2 Be About?

Season 1 explored the first three chapters of the novel, so it’s possible that a second season would start with the fourth chapter, “The Flight.” In this chapter, Dana is in modern-day Los Angeles while her husband, Kevin, has time traveled to 19th-century Maryland. We’d likely see Dana try to rescue her husband while also discovering her family’s complicated relationship with Rufus Weylin, the child she rescued during her first trip to the antebellum South.

Of course, the showrunner could change things up onscreen, but Jacobs-Jenkins has stated that he plans to stick to the source material, according to the Hollywood Reporter. So calm down, book lovers. I’m trusting Jacobs-Jenkins has my good sis Octavia’s best interests at heart with this adaptation!

Okay, but, Like, What Is the Plot of This Show Again???

We know Kindred (the show) is based on Butler’s novel of the same name. But what exactly is the plot? Of course, you can go read the book…or I can give all the info, like, right now.

So, Kindred is a science fiction novel in which a Black woman named Dana repeatedly time travels to the antebellum South. The book follows Dana’s journey as she interacts with the plantation community and her enslaved ancestor while trying to survive from the harsh realities of slavery. Similar to Butler’s other work, Kindred asks readers to consider how power, gender, race, and class shape the society we live in. But most importantly, the novel explores the nuanced relationship between chattel slavery and modern-day politics (and how the two aren’t as disconnected as others might believe).

I’m Interested, but Where Can I Watch Kindred?

Kindred is available only on Hulu. So if you don’t have the streaming service, you’re kind of SOL. But…the streamer offers a one-month free trial, and considering there are only eight episodes, 30ish days should be more than enough to binge-watch. What else are you gonna watch on Hulu?

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