The Cry remains, to this day, a unique mini-series broadcast in 2018 on BBC One. No season 2 has been officially announced by the BBC or the producers. Exploring the behind-the-scenes of this production therefore involves revisiting what made the first season so distinctive in the landscape of British psychological thrillers and understanding why the question of a sequel keeps resurfacing with such insistence.
Non-linear narration and parallel editing in The Cry
The narrative structure of The Cry relies on a technique rarely pushed this far in a four-episode mini-series: a parallel editing between three distinct timelines. The story alternates between the couple’s life in Scotland before their departure, their stay in Australia where the baby goes missing, and the courtroom sequences that follow the drama.
This construction choice does not solely serve the suspense. It allows for the psychological flaws of Joanna to be revealed in fragments, forcing the viewer to piece together the emotional chronology of the character. The abrupt cuts between the timelines, without marked sound or visual transitions, constitute an editing choice that breaks with the conventions of the genre.
By exploring the behind-the-scenes of The Cry season 2, we see that this approach remains at the center of discussions around a potential extension of the series.
Jenna Coleman: composition and internalized performance in The Cry
Jenna Coleman’s work in the role of Joanna stands out for its internalized acting style, far from the usual demonstrative performances of television thrillers. Coleman carries almost all of the dramatic tension without resorting to vocal outbursts or physical confrontation scenes.
The direction favors prolonged close-ups on Coleman’s face, capturing micro-expressions that convey the character’s gradual dissociation. This device requires a technical mastery that Coleman had already developed in her roles for Doctor Who and Victoria, but which she pushes here towards a more naturalistic register.
A cast designed for contrast
Opposite Coleman, Ewen Leslie embodies Alistair with a calculated restraint that creates a constant dissonance. Alex Dimitriades completes a cast where each performer plays on the retention of information rather than exposition. The tension arises from what the characters do not say, a writing principle that runs through the four episodes.
Adaptation of Helen FitzGerald’s novel: what the series modifies
The Cry is adapted from the eponymous novel by Helen FitzGerald. The television adaptation makes several significant choices compared to the original material:
- The novel follows a more classic progression, while the series adopts a fragmented editing between three time periods, enhancing the ambiguity surrounding Joanna’s guilt
- The character of Alistair gains complexity on screen through added scenes that reveal his gradual manipulation of the media narrative
- The courtroom sequences, absent from the novel in this form, become the main narrative framework of the series and structure the revelation of twists
FitzGerald has since worked on other television projects. The police series Two Birds, to which she is associated as a writer, constitutes a distinct production and not a sequel to The Cry.
Why no season 2 of The Cry is confirmed
The Cry was conceived from the outset as a limited story. FitzGerald’s novel offers a closed narrative, and the resolution of season 1 does not leave an open narrative arc. The BBC has never communicated about a renewal, and recent broadcast listings continue to reference the series as a one-season work.
The confusion surrounding a potential season 2 partly stems from the proliferation of streaming platforms. Depending on the territories, The Cry appears under different titles (some catalogs explicitly display “Staffel 1” or “Saison 1”), which wrongly suggests that a sequel exists or is planned.
The case of Jenna Coleman after The Cry
Since 2018, Coleman has taken on various projects without returning to this role. Recent casting listings do not indicate any commitment from the actress to reprise the character of Joanna. Her post-Cry journey is leaning towards productions where she takes on leading roles, confirming the status that the mini-series has brought her in the landscape of British series.
British psychological thriller streaming: where to watch The Cry
The availability of The Cry varies by country and licensing agreements. In France, the series was broadcast on M6. This accessibility helps maintain the interest of the French-speaking audience in the series, several years after its original airing.
In the international market, the series appears in the catalogs of several streaming services under varying conditions. Checking local availability is necessary before starting a viewing, as broadcasting rights evolve regularly.
The Cry remains a case study in the production of suspense mini-series: four episodes, a tight cast, an ambitious narrative structure, and no concessions to the long format. The absence of season 2 is not a shortcoming; it is the hallmark of a project designed for its density rather than its longevity.
