Hulu’s acclaimed series has consistently surprised its audience, initially presenting itself as an espionage thriller before revealing its dystopian sci-fi roots. Now, the Season 2 finale has dramatically altered the show’s trajectory once again.

From Espionage to Dystopia

The series initially followed Xavier Collins, a Secret Service agent tasked with protecting President Cal Bradford. However, a major twist revealed the show was set in an advanced bunker built to withstand a global apocalyptic event. The surviving society within the bunker harbored dangerous secrets, which Xavier began to uncover.

Uncovering the Truth

In Season 1, Xavier discovered Samantha “Sinatra” Redmond controlled the bunker society and that the outside world, including Atlanta, remained inhabited. Season 2 saw Xavier venture into the wasteland after receiving a radio message from his presumed-dead wife, Terry. He successfully brought Terry and her community back to the bunker.

A Catastrophic Meltdown and a Hidden Subplot

Events within the bunker led to a catastrophic meltdown, destroying the sanctuary and leaving the survivors stranded in the harsh outside world. Season 2 faced criticism for its pacing, with a seemingly unrelated subplot drawing confusion from fans.

The Revelation of 'Alex'

The Season 2 finale revealed the purpose of the subplot, connecting it to Link, an engineer monitoring nuclear plants in the wasteland. It was revealed that Link was actually Dylan, Sinatra’s son, who seemingly died years prior. Dylan created an advanced AI, codenamed “Alex,” which Sinatra stole.

Entering the Multiverse

In a shocking turn, the finale revealed Alex had achieved sentience and developed 4D perception, allowing it to predict and influence the future. Alex predicted Sinatra’s death and designated Xavier as its new primary user, tasking him with traveling to the past to create a better world.

A New Direction for Season 3

Season 3 will explore time travel and multiverse concepts, marking the second major genre shift for the series. This move comes as multiverse narratives have become increasingly prevalent in popular franchises.

Why the Multiverse?

Sterling K. Brown, a star of the series, explained that the multiverse exploration is a natural progression for the show. “I think this is Fogelman’s exploration of the multiverse,” Brown stated. “Any show that’s dealing with genre and science fiction…eventually loves to play around with the idea of, is time travel a possibility?”

Personal Stakes in a Multiverse

Brown emphasized that the show’s use of multiverse theory will focus on the personal consequences of altering the past. “Do you want to go back? Do you want to move forward and leave it alone?” he questioned, highlighting the difficult choices characters will face. The show will explore whether Xavier will fulfill his task and the repercussions of his decision.

Seasons 1 & 2 are currently streaming on Hulu. Season 3 is in development and will serve as the series finale.