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When it came out back in March 2024,Parishwas expected to leave that indelible mark on its audiences worldwide as it played along the themes of drama set deep in the world of crime fiction thriller. Developed by Danny Brocklehurst and aired on AMC, it had that gripping plot that held the potential to capture viewers’ attention in its talons.
Set in a world of crime and horrors, the series encompassed the story of Gray Parish (played by Giancarlo Esposito), a good man but not one without a troubled past, who gives up his life of crime to become a family man. But when his son is violently murdered, old habits tend to return, sending Gray on a relentless quest with moral discretion but dangerous consequences.
The series had some real stunners connected with it too. Starring Esposito – who’s still greatly remembered as one of the real brutal baddies fromBreaking Bad– in the lead, it also had Arica Himmel fromMixed-ishandProm Pactattached to it. However, despite all that was expected of it, the show couldn’t do more than deliver just a few episodes in a single season.
As it turns out, after merely one season featuring six episodes, the show will be stopping right there and then, with it reportedly getting axed after its first season, resulting in nothing more than it being something of a miniseries. That said, here’s the real reason why the show won’t be getting a second season, as well as a tiny recap of just what went wrong with the first season.
Parishwon’t be getting a second season due to its low ratings
Based on the BBC One seriesThe Driver,Parishwas supposed to start and end on a good note. However, judging from the latest turn of events, it seems like the show won’t be getting a second season greenlit for it anytime soon. This is because Gray’s saga has already been canceled by AMC, as confirmed byTVLine.
The reason behind its axing is reportedly the show’s bad ratings that just couldn’t be kept up with. For one that had its pilot episode opening up to 0.49 million viewers in the U.S. (perProgramming Insider), it didn’t take long for the viewership numbers to steadily dip down into recession, with its sixth and final episode viewership numbers resting at only 0.23 million people (viaSpoiler TV).
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That said, having the show’s ratings fall down to less than half as many viewers by the fifth week of its airing despite starting off with solid numbers for the premiere, it’s not really a surprise that AMC decided to call off future episodes. Plus, its critical reviews weren’t all that praiseworthy either, as while 76% of the audience deemed it watch-worthy, not more than 33% of critics approved of it onRotten Tomatoes, so that further highlights its axing.
In the statement announcing the cancelation exclusively to TVLine, the cabler said, “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.”
At the same time, they also added that “Season 1 [of the series] will remain available on AMC+ to fans who want to relive this thrill-ride-of-a-series and those yet to discover it.” With that being said, it’s time fans of the show bid it farewell once and for all, for the chances of its returning are actually as bleak as never.
WhatParishSeason 1 was all about (and how bad it was)
Though it ended up getting canceled, season 1 ofParishaimed to deliver a gripping mix of family drama and crime thriller, set against the backdrop of Louisiana’s murky criminal underworld. The story encircled the desperate father Gray Parish (Giancarlo Esposito) getting tangled in a life of crime to protect his family, grappling with moral dilemmas and violent consequences.
But while the premise promised a tense and emotional rollercoaster that held the potential to spawn a lot more than it did, the execution left much to be desired. To put it simply, one of the series’ biggest shortcomings was its lack of originality as it followed the repeated tropes.
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As fans already know, the narrative of the story leaned heavily on overused crime drama tropes as it brought about yet another family man turned reluctant criminal, shady mobsters, and double-crosses — all without adding anything fresh or unique. Then there was the pacing, which was another issue as the episodes felt dragging in places, making it a slog to get through.
Adding to this was how the show somehow seemed to lack that sincere emotional depth that could have launched it to extraordinary heights of success. The emotional moments in the crime saga simply lacked the necessary weight, as the characters presented felt pretty underdeveloped and a bit too stereotypical to evoke genuine sympathy.
Thus, it wasn’t a surprise that quite a few critics and viewers alike were left unimpressed as what could have resulted in a nail-biting exploration of desperation and survival ended up instead becoming a bland and predictable tale that never found its footing. In fact, even the Louisiana setting, rich with atmospheric potential, felt underutilized.
All of these reasons are why, by the time the season wrapped,Parishfelt less like a gritty drama and more like a missed opportunity. Had the show been paid a bit more keen attention and detail, it could have turned out to be a much better piece that held all the potential to be demanded more by viewers worldwide. But that ship has already sailed, so fans might as well let go of the hope of getting more of the same.
Parishcan currently be streamed on Prime Video and AMC+.
Mahin Sultan
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2478
Mahin Sultan is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, where she brings a fresh perspective to entertainment news. Having been in the field for over 3 years now, she has already written more than 2,000 articles across a variety of niches, from entertainment to health and fashion. This diverse experience has allowed her to quickly build a solid foundation and a deep understanding of the industry.
