Now that the mysteries of Quantico season 1 are all wrapped up, it’s time to crack the biggest case of them all: what are they going to do for season 2?
What does a show titled Quantico do when it’s forced to leave Quantico behind? That’s the question that fans have been asking since the outset of the show. Alex and her friends graduated from the FBI training institution in the Quantico season 1 finale, and went on to their respective careers, so anything is fair game going forward.
While details of this show are always shrouded in mystery, the Quantico showrunner, Josh Safran, has already divulged a surprising amount of information about what’s next for Alex Parrish, and the other characters who we’ve come to adore. Here’s everything we know/expect regarding Quantico season 2, from the ABC network news, Safran’s post-show interviews with TVLine and EW, and our own speculation.
It will premiere in fall 2016
There was some speculation on whether or not Quantico would be able to turn production around in time to air in the fall 2016 season, especially since they will be moving production from Montreal to New York. However, the recent ABC fall TV schedule eased everyone’s worries and confirmed that Quantico would be returning to its regular time slot, beginning this fall. No word yet on the exact premiere date, but if it’s appearing in that schedule, we can likely expect it sometime in September or October, 2016.
Alex will be back in training… but at the CIA this time
If you thought you were going to have to wait all summer to find out if Alex decided to live her happy, comfortable life with Ryan, or jump into the turbulent waters of a career at the CIA, you were mistaken! Safran has already confirmed her decision, which apparently should have been known to fans right from the start.
When asked by EW if Alex would join the organization, Safran said, “the key to that is in the title of the episode, which is usually the last word spoken in every episode. This time, curiously, it’s not, and yet it is.” The episode title for the Quantico season 1 finale was “Yes,” so there we have it! Alex has made her decision, and really, is anyone surprised?
Related: Quantico season 1 finale review: An honorable sacrifice
Alex was always at the top of her class, but don’t expect her to immediately be thrust into the highest ranks of the CIA. She’s good, but not quite that good (yet). One of the coolest parts of Quantico season 1, was seeing the NATs go through all the different training exercises that real FBI recruits go through. Alex probably won’t be hitting up any dorms as a student in the coming season, but she will be training for a new job, so she’ll definitely have to go through some intense exercises.
Safran told EW that, “one of the things I liked very much about season 1 is that you really do learn how people become FBI agents. We heightened certain things, of course, but for the most part, those cases, those studies are true. You cycle through all those different fields, and talk about all those different areas, so I was very interested in doing a season of learning how other government agencies teach their agents. Plus, I had some unresolved issues to deal with regarding how we look at American governmental agencies. I felt like we had just scratched the surface. There’s more to look at as far as how we protect our country’s borders.”
The dual storyline is coming back
Going back and forth between the Quantico timeline and the Grand Central timeline added a lot of intrigue to the mystery of Quantico season 1. Seeing the characters and their secrets develop over many months at the same time added layers that wouldn’t be possible with a simple, linear story. Luckily, that same structure will exist in season 2! However, it won’t be set up exactly the same way.
“Season 2 will keep the two storyline structure, because it is — I wish I could tell you what it is, but I can’t — the Season 2 event is not a huge plot like I’m on the run and I’m being framed, which meant she was constantly on the move and constantly coming into people’s stories. It was two full stories on two tracks at all times. This one is one full story, and then one slow thing. It’s a cleaner build, that’s the best I can say. It will be less confusing,” Safran told TVLine. Less confusing sounds good, because sometimes the events of season 1 got quite convoluted, but hopefully we don’t lose the depth that the Grand Central mystery had!
It will revolve around another central crisis
The huge plot point in Quantico season 1 was the attack at Grand Central station, and the subsequent attacks against the FBI. The whole season was an intoxicating mystery, but it was basically all wrapped up in the finale. Expect season 2 to feature another crisis that we can solve alongside Alex as the season unfolds!
EW inquired about the crisis, but all Safran could divulge was the following:”“What I can say is that we’re very interested in looking at how the CIA does things compared to the FBI. The FBI teaches honest and trust and finding the truth and protection, and the CIA teaches deception and lying and twisting information to get what you want, what you need. We’re definitely interested in juxtaposing those two things and seeing how both sides work separately, and how they work when they’re forced to work together.”
We will probably be investigating Claire Haas
One of the few parts of the first season that wasn’t neatly tied up was Senator Haas’ involvement with Liam’s plot. The idea was shockingly introduced in the closing minutes of the finale, and it’s definitely a conflict that we’d like to see at the forefront of Quantico season 2!
When asked by TVLine if we would be exploring this storyline further, Safran said, “I’d like to say that you’ll see her moving forward. We’re just getting into those conversations now. It’s on purpose that she’s out there and it’s this thing that Caleb knows and Alex knows and other people know, but nothing can really be done about it because there’s no actual proof.”
Hopefully Marcia Cross decides to resume her role as Caleb’s controversial mother, but even if she’s not able to, we can’t see Alex just letting this go! Even if we don’t actually see Senator Haas, we’re pretty sure Alex and Caleb will be looking for whatever proof is out there, especially if there’s a possibility that Claire could take more drastic actions to further her political agenda.
There will be a new cast of characters
With many of our favorite characters being killed off, or inexplicably absent (we’ll find you some day, Brandon and Iris), Alex has some spaces to fill in her squad. We’re sure there’ll be some new, interesting characters working with her at the CIA, but where will that leave the characters we already love?
Safran said the following to EW, regarding both new and returning faces: “We have new stories to tell, and there will be returning cast members, but season 2 is definitely more of a new novel than the next chapter. It’s like, instead of a sequel that continues the story, [we follow] the character who’s been through what they’ve been through but further down their road. So yes, there will be new people, new circumstances, but also returning people.”
One returning character that we’ll likely be seeing is Caleb, because of his mama drama, and you can’t have Caleb without Shelby, right? It was previously reported that Shaleb was a thing of the past, but there was definitely a thaw between them in the final episodes of Quantico season 1, so anything could happen!
Another returning character that we’ll almost definitely see is Ryan Booth. He and Alex finally took some time to go away and get to know each other, but with Alex choosing her new career path, this couple could be back on ice.
Other characters we’re really hoping to see are the Amin twins, Brandon, Will, Iris, Miranda, Drew and Natalie (maybe wishful thinking, but we’re still holding out hope that they’re alive). These characters were all pretty pivotal in the events of Quantico season 1, but since our focus will be shifting away from the FBI, they could be discarded in favor of the people working more closely with Alex.
Less relationship drama
No matter which Quantico couple(s) you ship, there was plenty of relationship drama to keep you busy in season 1. While it’s definitely entertaining, the constant fighting, and on again, off again, nature of relationships like Ralex (Ryan/Alex) and Shaleb (Shelby/Caleb), does get old after a while. Thankfully, Safran told TVLine that, “all relationships will percolate and be slower,” in season 2. We love all the Quantico couples, so a little more stability, or at least a more realistic level of drama, can only be a good thing.
He also confessed the following to EW, regarding the romantic arcs of Quantico: “I would also like season 2 to be a little less soapy, but that’s just me personally. I would have liked season 1 to be less soapy, but you know, you have a lot of people who are beautiful who are stuck in rooms together, and it’s just a natural place to take them.”
