To sequel or not to sequel — is always the question for any creator. And all the more so when its as blazing a work of fiction as the Little Fires Everywhere.
Both the book and its adaptation for Hulu have been emotional rollercoasters for the audiences. And they want more!
Since there is no confirmation from author Celeste Ng or the streamer Hulu, speculations are all we’re left with.
And after the series finale aired this week, they sure weigh in favor of a second season!
1. Deviations From The Source
The story begins and ends with the Richardson house, a two-story picket-fenced Tudor house in 1990s Ohio, going up in flames. And in between, we find out why.
Developed and written by Casual’s Liz Tigelaar, Little Fires Everywhere follows the picture-perfect Richardson family run by matriarch Elena Richardson (Reese Witherspoon).
Their seemingly perfect world is upended by an enigmatic mother (Kerry Washington) and daughter. They are newcomers to their community Shaker Heights.
Shaker native Elena’s choices as a mother come into question when she meets Mia Warren (Kerry Washington), an artist and single mother with a secret past. The two women soon find their lives intertwined due to their teenage daughters and a heated custody battle.
The book was already a thrilling ode to the convoluted world of motherhood. By taking some liberal deviations, the mini-series also touches on broader themes like racism, class struggle, and female sexuality.
And we can’t stop thinking if this was done to set the groundwork for a sequel.
In the TV series, Mia and her daughter have been portrayed black. Showrunner Liz’s team has further done an excellent job of portraying the Black experience. One exciting topic explored is the rather untouched topic of Black female sexuality in American media.
The other deviation is including a backstory of Elena, where we find her to be a budding journalist who gives up her job for her “plan” to settle in Shaker Heights.
This plan, however, did not include her youngest kid Izzy. And this is how the divide between the mother and daughter is shown to begin.
In the book, Izzy is attempting to reconnect with Mia and her daughter Pearl (Lexi Underwood) by following their trail to Mia’s parents’ house in Pittsburgh. And that brings us to one of the other major changes from Ng’s novel: Izzy is a lesbian (ditto for Mia).
In a bid to keep surprising the audiences, the creators then changed the main culprit behind the fire.
In the book, it is Izzy who sets the house on fire before running away. But in the series, it is Izzy’s older siblings that arson their own house.
While the finale episode tried its best to build up to such a dramatic end, the story has definitely left many questions unanswered.
Where is Izzy? Does the family try to find their minor daughter? If she returns, how do things change for her after the incident?
Once more, the book Izzy finds a way to reach out to Mia after running away. However, there is no indication that Izzy on the show would know how to reach Mia or her parent’s place.
In what seemed a dream sequence, she is seen being picked up by Mia and Pearl, but we know this didn’t really happen as she’s not in the car with them later and wakes up on a bus instead.
So there is still plenty of potential in the new and improved show for a sequel.
2. What the creators want?
Even though Little Fires Everywhere was billed a mini-series, we know that that has never stopped a sequel from existing.
Meanwhile, we have the likes of Big Little Lies, which also starred Witherspoon, which was also a mini-series at first but returned with a second season.
After the success of the show’s first season, HBO followed up with another chapter featuring Meryl Streep for a rare small-screen role. Author Liane Moriarty had not written a sequel to her bestselling novel.
Still, she did pen a 50,000-word novella just for the show’s second season. And there seems to be a definite will in showrunner Liz to work on a sequel.
“Well, look, selfishly, I want to say yes,” she told Entertainment Tonight. “This has been one of the best experiences of my life. I would be in that writers’ room forever, and I would obviously write for Reese and Kerry and everybody involved for the rest of my life. So, I want to say yes.”
She, however, goes on to point out the biggest challenge for a sequel.
“In my heart, I feel like it’s a limited series, I feel like we told the story. I would shudder to think of a contrived way to get Mia and Elena back in each other’s orbit that would at all feel real,” she said. “I guess I would never want to say never, but I see this as a story that had its beginning, middle, and end. And I love the ending.”
Would she make a sequel if author Celeste were to pen one because even Celeste has hinted at part 2?
Two years ago, the author dropped hints about continuing the Little Fires story.
Responding to a fan in a GoodReads Q&A, she wrote, “Everything I know about the characters in Little Fires Everywhere is in the book–I promise I’m not holding out on you. But with that said, maybe they’ll come back to me for more of their story–never say never. :)”
3. Most-Watched Hulu Original
According to reports, Little Fires Everywhere has been the most-watched Hulu original since its premiere on March 18.
However, a sequel does not always guarantee a profit. As we know from real-life examples like Reese’s previous venture Big Little Lies, the famous franchise Game of Thrones, among others whose sequels were disappointing at best.
Also, the first season already covers Celeste’s entire book. And until she writes a sequel herself, it would be a huge risk to go ahead with a season 2 for the show.
The organic nature of a story as complex as Little Fires Everywhere cannot and should not be compromised of we want compelling storytelling.
4. Actors’ Point of View
Meanwhile, at least one of the actors on the show expressed hope for a sequel. Gavin Lewis, who plays Moody, recently told The Wrap that he’s open to returning.
There was even a discussion of the possibility on set. “There is always conversation of a second season on a television set. I mean, everybody talks about that,” he said. “I think there is plenty more story to be had if the writers decide to come back and do something more.”
5. Production highlights
Premiered amid the ongoing pandemic on March 18, the 8-part series was nothing short of a gift for all those stuck at home.
Actor Reese Witherspoon, who is known for promoting women-driven stories in her productions, is also the executive of the series along with Kerry Washington.
The series is produced by Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, Washington’s Simpson Street, and ABC Signature Studios, a part of Disney Television Studios. Author Celeste Ng serves as producer.
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