WARNING: Spoilers for Ratched ahead
Last Updated: September 23, 2020
Will Netflix move forward with Ratched season 2? If so, when will it release, and what will the storyline be about? Based on Ken Kesey’s 1962 novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the prequel horror series was created by Ryan Murphy and Evan Romansky. Ratched season 1 released in September 2020.
Ratched season 1 stars Sarah Paulson as Mildred Ratched, a woman who secures a nursing job in Northern California at Lucia State Hospital. There, she impresses co-workers with her charisma and professionalism, but makes a few enemies along the way. It’s later revealed that Mildred is the sister of Edmund Tolleson (Finn Wittrock), a serial killer who murdered several priests and will be temporarily moved to Lucia State Hospital for a psychological evaluation. Mildred waits Edmund’s arrival but comes to realize that he’s still upset about unresolved conflict from the past. Meanwhile, California governor George Wilburn (Vincent D’Onofrio) agrees to fund research projects at Lucia State Hospital, and only because he’s seeking to be re-elected. Ratched season 1 on Netflix co-stars Cynthia Nixon, Charlie Carver, Judy Davis, and Sharon Stone.
The penultimate episode of Ratched season 1 includes notable character deaths and establishes a major obstacle to overcome for Mildred and her love interest, Gwendolyn Briggs (Cynthia Nixon). Characters plot against each other in the season finale, and the final moments clearly set up a possible season 2. Here’s everything we expect for Ratched season 2 on Netflix.
Ratched Season 2 Renewal
Thankfully for those already enjoying Ratched, Netflix’s original 2017 pickup covered two seasons, so ten more episodes are already guaranteed. The series hasn’t been a major critical hit thus far, but has received mostly positive reviews. Given that Murphy and Paulson have collaborated several times in the past for highly-acclaimed series, it seems that Netflix subscribers will likely commit themselves to the eight-episode Ratched season 1.
Ratched Season 2 Release Date
For a series like Ratched, Murphy will most likely take his time while producing season 2, evidenced by the production design and talent involved. So, we’ll predict that Ratched season 2 on Netflix will most likely release in September 2022.
Ratched Season 2 Story
Ratched season 1 ends with Mildred trying to secure a humane execution for her brother. Just weeks before Edmund is scheduled to be killed via lethal injection, the Governor re-introduces the Electric Chair and personally executes a killer himself. So, Mildred concocts a plan to euthanize Edmund within Lucia State Hospital, hoping to prevent his suffering. But the priest killer manages to escape with patient Charlotte Wells and (Sophie Okonedo). Two years later, Mildred vacations in Mexico and learns that several nurses were murdered in Chicago. She receives a phone call from Edmund and promises to track him down. In the last moments of Ratched season 1 on Netflix, it’s revealed that the nurse Louise (Amanda Plummer) betrayed Mildred and has now joined Edmund and Charlotte for a road trip.
In Ratched season 2, Mildred’s quest to find and kill Edmund will seemingly lead to conflict with her love interest, Gwendolyn, who is receiving treatments for breast cancer. Then again, the lovers made a decision to road trip together a la Thelma & Louise. Ratched season 2 on Netflix will presumably take place at various locations outside Lucia State Hospital, and Mildred will likely experience some dark moments that further explain her mentality in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.