Giancarlo Esposito, star of the AMC drama Parish, has suggested there may be a chance for his character Gray Parish to return in a second season following the show‘s unexpected cancellation and subsequent surge in popularity on Netflix. Parish, which originally aired in early 2024 but was cancelled after six episodes in October, found newfound success on the streaming platform starting late October, renewing interest in the series and sparking speculation about its future.
Parish features Esposito as Gray Parish, a former criminal who left his illicit life behind to focus on his family, only to be drawn back after the tragic murder of his son. The initial run on AMC was met with mixed reviews, leading to the network’s decision to end the show despite a dedicated fanbase and strong performances. However, since its release on Netflix in the U.S. on October 24, Parish has consistently ranked among the top 10 most-watched shows, even reaching as high as the #3 spot. This resurgence has prompted conversations about the possibility of reviving the series, especially given the unresolved storylines left at the season’s end.
Reasons Behind Parish’s Cancellation Before Netflix Debut
When Parish premiered on AMC, it faced a lukewarm critical response that ultimately affected its renewal prospects. While Giancarlo Esposito’s leading role and the cast’s efforts attracted a loyal audience segment, AMC decided against continuing the show past its initial season. The network stated it was
“unable to proceed with a second season,”
but did not publicly explain the detailed factors behind this decision.
AMC issued a statement acknowledging the production team’s contributions, remarking,
“We’re so proud of ‘Parish,’ and thankful for the creative talent involved and the performances they were able to bring to the screen, starting with the remarkable Giancarlo Esposito, Skeet Ulrich and the entire cast. We are unfortunately unable to proceed with a second season, but season one will remain available on AMC+ to fans who want to relive this thrill ride of a series and those yet to discover it.”
Despite AMC’s choice, Parish did not fade away; instead, it experienced a strong revival after becoming available on Netflix. This shift in platform has allowed it to gain substantial traction, a phenomenon seen with other series like Quantum Leap that initially struggled on network TV but found fresh audiences on streaming services. This viewership uptick has led to increased hopes among fans and some insiders that AMC might reconsider the show’s future, especially since the first season left key plot elements unresolved.
Giancarlo Esposito’s Insights Into Gray Parish’s Potential Season Two Journey
Prior to the cancellation announcement, Esposito had spoken openly about potential storylines intended for Season 2. In an interview with TV Line, he mentioned ongoing discussions with Parish’s showrunners Ryan Maldonado and Eduardo Canto, expressing eagerness to explore deeper aspects of his character’s past. Esposito suggested a new season would focus on Parish confronting his history to move forward, stating,
“In order for [Parish] to head his present and future, he’s got to heal his past.”
Esposito elaborated on the discussions about resolving loose ends and crafting a compelling continuation:
“I love Ryan Maldonado and Eduardo Canto, our showrunners and writers. We have conversations about what Season 2 could hold ahead of a positive pickup, and we’re hopeful and inviting for that to happen. We’re talking about all of these loose ends and how we bring another very powerful season of Parish to our audience. What are the things that root and ground him, and what is he looking for? What is his next journey to learn from? What is the next thing he’s gonna get crushed by? What is the information that we don’t know? In order for him to heal his present and future, he’s got to heal his past, and he’s still not looking at that past completely because we don’t, as an audience, know all about it and his family doesn’t either.”
Esposito also drew parallels between Gray Parish and his iconic Breaking Bad character, Gus Fring, especially in the thematic questioning of whether a man is inherently good or not. He explained how Parish’s internal conflict and avoidance of his past would create dramatic tension and transformation potential in a second season. In his words,
“We want Parish to transform so that you can transform as an audience, too. We’ve got to love what he’s doing. We’ve got to love his nefarious ways and then we’ve got to hate him for it. We’ve got to see him hate himself for it. Then we’ve got see him say, ‘No, I’m better than this. My moral compass won’t let me. I take responsibility, but I can’t do that again, right? Never make the same mistake twice.’ Some other character I played said that, right?
“So it’s moving into that zone, and that’s what we love about a crime drama with an, ‘Am I a good man?’ concept at its core. We want you to take this journey with Parish so that you can be encouraged and inspired to look back into your past and clean it up. He’s not ready to clean it up. He has to get in a little deeper. To layer our story with all of that in our second season creates a real boiling point for Parish that I think is necessary.”
Creative Team Reflects on Parish’s Intentional Cliffhanger Ending
The abrupt end to Parish left many narrative threads unresolved, which was by design according to executive producer Ryan Maldonado. In an interview with Assignment X, Maldonado emphasized that the show was crafted to deeply engage its viewers and leave them wanting more once the six-episode arc concluded. He remarked,
“I’ve noticed recently a lot of people multitask when they watch television, and not only am I proud of what we’ve made, I actually think we made something that demands for our audience to put the phone down, put the computer away, watch this, enjoy it, be invested. We’ve created some incredible characters. This character is going on an insane journey. And by the time you get to Episode 6, the last episode of the season, I think you’re going to be craving more.”
Maldonado’s comments reflect the show’s ambitions to establish strong emotional stakes and complex character development that would ideally extend well beyond its initial run. The lingering questions and cliffhanger elements have amplified fan anticipation as Parish continues to gain momentum on Netflix.
The Impact of Netflix Streaming on Parish’s Popularity and Renewal Prospects
Since Parish’s launch on Netflix in late October, the show’s impressive performance on the platform has reignited discussions around its potential revival. Its steady position in the Top 10 U.S. charts, peaking at #3, underscores a significant viewer appetite that was not fully realized during its AMC airing. This surge aligns with a pattern observed in other series that were cancelled by traditional networks yet found new life on streaming services.
Shows such as Lucifer, Designated Survivor, and Manifest have all been revived by Netflix after facing cancellations, illustrating how streaming platforms can resurrect content based on audience demand rather than initial ratings alone. Currently, Netflix and AMC’s relationship centers on licensing agreements, but sustained success of AMC-originated shows on Netflix might pave the way for closer collaboration between the two companies. Such a partnership could open doors for Parish and similar projects to secure second seasons or new productions that benefit from streaming exposure.
With the cast, particularly Esposito, showing enthusiasm for further storytelling, and the demonstrated viewer interest on Netflix, Parish stands positioned as a series with potential for continuation—offering unresolved character arcs and thematic depth that could appeal to both returning and new audiences.
