[SPOILERS for Legion season 1 ahead.]
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Season 1 of the X-Men TV show Legion has earned rave reviews, for its mind-bending visuals and a storyline that has already led to claims of it being TV’s best superhero show yet. FX was so pleased that the network has gone ahead and ordered Legion season 2. We know that season 2 will feature a few more episodes than season 1 - and from what we saw in the season 1 finale last night, the show’s going to need the extra time.
David’s time housing The Shadow King might be at an end, but poor Oliver’s corruption is just beginning. While we haven’t seen the extent of his powers, it’s been made clear that he’s every bit as gifted as David. The final shot of Aubrey Plaza’s Lenny also proves that the new host is agreeing with her, as she looks to be in a better state than ever. Meanwhile, the season 1 post-credits scene was not only a fun surprise and connection to Marvel’s other efforts, but will lead the way for season 2.
THR had a lengthy chat with Legion creator/showrunner Noah Hawley about the season 1 finale and the stinger, where he explained the story motivations for interrupting David’s post-victory bliss with yet another enslavement:
Given David’s extraordinary powers, there’s always been a question as to how him being rid of the Shadow King would affect his life and the story. Since the show has changed things a bit from the comics, the story so far has seemed to posit that without Lenny running will in David’s mind, he could use the full extent of his awesome powers. That, of course, would seem to be a death-sentence for any future conflict in the show. With that in mind, it makes Hawley would want to set up yet another obstacle for David to surmount. In his mind, there was no better way to do that than mirror those that have come before him:
“We want to keep the pressure on. If you keep the pressure on someone whose psychology has always been unstable, it’s going to keep him from being able to really [heal]. Really, what he should do is go on a retreat for a year and just be one with nature and eat three meals a day and take walks in the woods and learn how to be a person, the way other people are persons. But he’s not going to have that luxury, because he’s on to the next crisis. I think that’s going to continue to keep the pressure on him. That stress on someone who is disjointed can be very destructive.”
The whole interview is a fascinating one, discussing the evolution of the show and the plans for next year. As previously reported, Hawley plans to follow things up around the same time last year. He’s also stated he doesn’t want to be beholden to the comics, but knows he’ll have to address David’s parentage eventually. When that time comes, we already know Patrick Stewart is keen to appear as Professor X. Now that the season 1 finale has aired, we’re likely to get a lot more information regarding the future of the show in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.
“In terms of putting it as a post-credits sequence, I think there’s a proud tradition of that on the Marvel features side. It’s the beginning of another thought. I wanted to give people the end song and the feeling of watching the credits, to let them absorb the complete story they just watched. And then I wanted to tease them as to what chapter two is going to be.”
Legion continues with season 2 in 2018 on FX.
Source: THR
