FEATURE: Why Truth Seekers Deserves A Second Series

 FEATURE: Why Truth Seekers Deserves A Second Series

Created by the minds of Spaced and the Cornetto Trilogy franchise, Truth Seekers seemed like a show destined for success. It's fair to say that Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have developed something of a cult following in recent years, with many clamouring for comedic offerings from the pair. So it came as a big surprise when Amazon Prime announced they would not be renewing their latest comedy series - Truth Seekers - for a second series. 

Here are a few reasons why Amazon Prime should reconsider their decision, and renew Truth Seekers for a second series.

It Features A Great Cast

If there's one thing any decent television show or film requires, it is a strong cast. A show is, after all, only as strong as the actors which bring the words on the page to life. Truth Seekers boasts one of the strongest casts in any new comedy series. Sure, you have the previously mentioned Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, but there's also the great Samson Kayo as Elton John/Lionel Richie, the excellent Emma D'Arcy as Astrid, the brilliant Susan Wokoma as Helen and also a magnificent turn from Julian Barratt as Doctor Peter Toynbee. My favourite, however, is by far Malcolm McDowell as Gus's Dad Richard, whose dry and unassuming delivery provides many laughs throughout the series.

The great thing about this cast is also that many of them are less established names within the television industry. It's great to see such fresh up-and-coming talent feature alongside the established comedic presence of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost; a way to give the newcomers on the scene a chance to shine. In a television climate dominated by so many shows which feature names that viewers are already familiar with, would it really be too much to ask for Amazon to continue making a programme that showcases those who are not so well established in their careers?

It's Unmistakably British

With big American shows such as The Mandalorian and WandaVision dominating the streaming world, it's nice to see a programme such as Truth Seekers that takes a distinctively British approach. This is something that Amazon does so well. Their Prime Video streaming service features a variety of original British commissions, from The Grand Tour to the amazing Young Adult spy series Alex Rider.

However, there's something about Truth Seekers that captures that British vibe more than any other show on the streaming service.  Truth Seekers really understands the subtlety of our humour, and the sense of the mundane British life that no other show on streaming has captured before or since. Just something as simple as Gus and Elton travelling in the Smule van to fix the broadband problems of their clients feels so distinct to our country's sense of self that it does not feel like it could be made by any other country. Amazon would do well to take note of that, and continue this show that provides an alternative to the more global affairs.

It Wears Its Influences On Its Sleeve

Every show or film ever made has been influenced in some capacity by something else, and it's clear that Truth Seekers pays close attention to those supernatural films and series that came before it. It's a television programme that looks very closely at the way these movies and shows it was inspired by operated, the decisions that worked and those that didn't, and applies it to such great effect to their own series. 

Take its main inspiration, the 1984 supernatural comedy film Ghostbusters, for example. A film that features three scientists and their new recruit fighting paranormal threats under the guise of a firehouse. Truth Seekers cleverly borrows from this format by situating our heroes under the roof of a broadband installation company; they don't just journey out fighting supernatural entities without a care in the world, they solve the ghostly mysteries whilst hiding under the guise of the more ordinary internet company.  Truth Seekers doesn't just ignore what came before, it looks back at why past attempts were so successful and avoids making any new mistakes; Amazon Prime could not possibly have a safer pair of hands than those of Gus and his helpless companion Elton/Lionel.

It's All Connected

On its surface, Truth Seekers may seem like a series that follows the basic 'situation of the week' format from classic sitcoms. A viewing of the series, however, reveals that it's far more than that. Each episode is connected in some way to the larger story - we first see Astrid hiding in the back of Gus's van at the end of the first episode before Gus and Elton meet her in the third episode, the convention where Doctor Toynbee recruits people for his shady supernatural ritual is first mentioned way back in the first episode where we learn that Helen has been making a Dalek cosplay for the cosplay competition, and there's the ongoing plot thread of the strange number that is being transmitted over the radio over the course of the series, which is resolved in the final episode - and it's this connectivity that makes this show so special in terms of the sitcom genre.

You see, most sitcom shows tend to tell purely standalone stories within their format. An episode will feature one complete story that pushes the characters into a new scenario, and then the status quo will be reformed by the end. Truth Seekers doesn't do that. The events of the episodes shape our protagonists through their individual experiences, and plot threads from earlier episodes suddenly become more important as the plot unfolds. 

Gus has to confront the loss of his wife that is suggested to be a drive behind his passion for the paranormal, and develops a greater sense of vengeance towards Doctor Toynbee's evil plans. Elton/Lionel has to face his tragic past as a celebrity child who gained his fame from his own childhood experience with the supernatural, and gains a newfound confidence in the process. Elton/Lionel's sister Helen is made to confront her own issues with anxiety, and whilst I criticised the show for not fully following up on that, they do at least add a new dimension to her character that is not forgotten by the time the next episode rolls along.

The closest show to Truth Seekers that utilises a format like this is Disenchantment over at Netflix, and even then that's not a like-for-like comparison, owing to the animated nature of the latter. It's this uniqueness that sets Truth Seekers apart from other shows available on streaming; if Amazon Prime stand by their cancellation of the series, then they will lose a programme which has helped to make their streaming service stand out from the competition.

It Ended On A Major Cliffhanger

There's nothing worse than a show finishing its series on a cliffhanger, only for the broadcaster or streaming service to reveal they have no plans for a second series. It happened to Class, it happened to Primeval and it happened to Agent Carter. But no show has ended on as monumental a cliffhanger as Truth Seekers.

At the very end of the final episode, we learn that Simon Pegg's character Dave was working alongside Jojo74 and, initially, Doctor Toynbee, but Toynbee's obsession with immortality sent him off the rails and away from Dave and Jojo74's original world-ending aims. With Toynbee's plan foiled, Dave and Jojo47 are now free to pursue their initial plans to destroy the world. Meanwhile, Astrid is believed to have crossed over to the spiritual realm...until a painting behind Dave's desk starts to morph, and we hear her voice saying 'Hello'. 

There are many questions left to be resolved by the time Truth Seekers' first series reaches its end. Just who are Dave and Jojo47? It's heavily implied that they are aliens, or some form of heightened super beings, but what are their real names, and where do they come from? Where's Astrid? Is she stuck inside the painting, or could she be an alien too? If Amazon stick to their guns and refuse to renew this show for a second series, then all of these questions will never receive the answers they deserve.

You can sign the petition for Truth Seekers to receive a second series here: Truth Seekers petition.

Click Here for my thoughts on Truth Seekers' first series.

What are your thoughts on Truth Seekers? Do you believe it deserves a second series, or do you agree with Amazon's decision? Let me know in the comments.