The following contains spoilers for “Scene 117: The Death of Eye,” now streaming on MaxThe Franchise‘s season 1 finale is a surprisingly bittersweet victory for the show’s protagonists, and sets the stage for an even more chaotic and confrontational season 2. The show’s first season has highlighted the litany of challenges facing the production of the in-universe superhero movie Tecto: Eye of the Storm. Painfully aware of how close Tecto is to be shuttered, The Franchise‘s main characters Dan and Anita struggle throughout “The Death of Eye” to find a way to salvage the film behind Eric’s back.
While this leads to a successful pitch to Shane to shift the tone of the film, the discovery of Dan’s subtrefuge shatters the last of Eric’s faith in his first AD. When Tecto takes the summer-tentpole position made vacant after Centurios 2 production is halted due to a scandal, Eric thanks Dan for saving the film while still firing him for breaking their trust. However, Pat and Shane have no interest in losing Dan’s influence on the film. This sets up plenty of potential drama to be unpacked in a potential season 2 of The Franchise‘s film industry satire.
The Franchise’s Unexpected Victory, Explained
The Franchise Gives The Cast And Crew Of Tecto A Last-Second Boost That Could Change Everything
Dan’s bittersweet victory in The Franchise‘s season 1 finale sets the stage for a more chaotic season 2. Dan, Anita, and Dag’s efforts to keep Tecto running is largely portrayed as an act of self-preservation, with Anita and Dag fearing “producer jail” and genuine prison if they lack the resources afforded to them by their jobs. For Dan though, who has steadily revealed aspirations to be a director and harbors a genuine love for the comics Tecto is based on, his pitch to Shane feels authentic in a way that little of The Franchise‘s filmmaking has matched.
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It’s a bittersweet victory for Dan, whose passion for Tecto saves the project but gets him fired. However, Pat and Shane seem more than happy to manipulate the production to ensure Dan isn’t laid off. This could be the key to Dan earning his chance at a director’s chair. However, Dan’s son, who hasn’t been seen in The Franchise, was given hope by his father that they’d finally get time together after he was fired. Dan’s unseen decision at the end of The Franchise season 1 could elevate his career, but further drive him away from his family.
The Franchise Is Becoming About Dan Vs. Eric
Dan Could Transform From Eric’s Assistant Director To His Worst Nightmare
The Franchise has had a lot of fun over the course of the first season in mining the minor conflicts between characters for comedy and occasional pathos. This is especially true for Dan and Eric, who began the season as willing collaborators. Their relationship has only grown more tense as the series has progressed, however, especially as Eric’s efforts to take charge as a difficult director has been met with micromanaging from studio executives and nearly constant challenges. This builds to a head in “The Death of the Eye,” when Eric lashes out at Dan and insults his aspirations to become a director himself.
This would also position [Dan] into a more directly adversarial relationship with Eric, which could create more tension on set going forward and produce more fights between the two men.
Dan being able to survive Eric’s attempts to fire him thanks to Pat and Shane may only incese the director further, setting up a far tenser relationship between the pair in a prospective season 2. Dan could be elevated into a more position in the franchise, potentially pairing him up more with Anita and pushing along their long-simmering romantic tension. This would also position him into a more directly adversarial relationship with Eric, which could create more tension on set going forward and produce more fights between the two men.
The Franchise Could Become More About Actors In Season 2
Adam’s Rise, Peter’s Fall, And Quinn’s Return Could Be Big Plot Threads In A Prospective Season 2
The Franchise has been largely focused on the people behind-the-scenes on film shoots, with actors like Adam, Peter, and Quinn given more minor plotlines. However, the announcement that Tecto is about to be a far bigger production could shift focus more onto the actors and how they operate within the franchise system. Adam has spent all season struggling with his confidence, wondering aloud why he isn’t considered A-list. The promotion of Tecto to summer-blockbuster could fix that, but also open up a new can of worms surrounding his career and his fragile ego.
By contrast, Peter agrees to remain in Tecto even after viciously insulting the entire cast and crew, largely because he can’t get cast in even a Bryan Singer-directed film. Peter has spent all of season 1 needling Adam, and their rivalry might become harsher if he’s forced to watch Adam’s star power rise as his own continues to diminish. Quinn is quietly the most interesting wildcard. Tecto‘s only notable female character and the focus of The Franchise‘s exploration of toxic fanbases, a reluctant Quinn coming back for reshoots could give The Franchise room to explore challenges faced by performers.
The Franchise’s Darkest Plot Turn Has Been Building All Season
The Franchise‘s VFX Turn Is A Grim Aspect Of The Show’s Exploration Of Humans
One of the darkest turns in “The Death of Eye” has been building all season long and underscores the human cost of the film industry. After several episodes referenced the challenges facing the VFX department on The Franchise‘s superhero shoot, VFX Artist Dave ends up having a breakdown. Initially, the crew is terrified that Dave has gone berserk and attacked someone with a knife, prompting them to reveal other members of the crew have similarly snapped in the past. However, in an even more tragic turn, Dave has only hurt himself, stabbing his leg with a pen.
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Dave’s exhaustion and fury with Eric ends up being what reveals Dan’s “Kumar Cut” of Tecto‘s first act, setting off more interpersonal drama for the characters. However, Dave’s breakdown feels reflective of the show’s commentary on the film industry. Several episodes of The Franchise have been subtlety about the very human cost of filmmaking on a blockbuster scale, casually mentioning how multiple hospitals could be built for the amount of money studios waste on scenes they ultimately cut. Dave’s freakout, and the reveal he’s only the latest to have one, underlines the unseen personal cost of filmmaking’s stressful conditions.
How The Franchise Sets Up Season 2
The Franchise Season 2 Could Expand On The Show’s Showbiz Satire
The Franchise season 1 closes out with an open-ended finale, leaving Dan’s potential deal with Pat to save his job up in the air to be explored in a potential season 2. Returning to AD for Eric could be seen as a step back, even if it comes with job protection from Pat and Shane. However, if Dan ensures Tecto is completed, they could give him his dream job if he succeeds in keeping Eric in line. While this could further divide the pair, it could also give Dan and Anita more room to restart their romance.
At the time of writing,
The Franchise
has not been renewed for season 2 or been canceled.
As reported by Decider, The Franchise showrunner Jon Brown has confirmed that he has ideas where to take the show going forward. As of this writing, HBO has not announced if The Franchise will return, even though Brown revealed there are “a number of permutations of ways we can go” in future episodes. This could include further exploration of the filmmaking process, delving into the world of hair & makeup and press tours, as well as more satire about the state of modern Hollywood. The Franchise has plenty of possible directions to go if it returns after season 1’s finale.
Source:Decider
The Franchise is a Max original comedy television series that follows a film crew as they document their increasingly chaotic and hectic work on a Superhero film franchise. Acting as a satire on the industry, the show looks to lampoon the process and the sometimes unreasonable expectations of keeping a long-standing franchise alive and kicking.
- Cast
- Billy Magnussen , Jessica Hynes , Darren Goldstein , Lolly Adefope , Isaac Powell , Daniel Brühl , Richard E. Grant
- Release Date
- October 6, 2024
- Seasons
- 1
- Network
- HBO Max
- Streaming Service(s)
- Max
- Writers
- Jon Brown , Sam Mendes , Armando Iannucci
- Directors
- Sam Mendes
- Showrunner
- Jon Brown