Warning: Spoilers for Netflix's Clickbait.
Netflix's smash hit Clickbait was categorized as a limited series, but it could come back for a second season, and here's how it could happen. The show's first season wrapped up the catfishing crimes surrounding Nick (Adrian Grenier), which means the way back isn't by revisiting his family or retreading old narrative ground already covered. Instead, it could happen through telling a brand new story in an anthology-style framework.
The Netflix series kicks off with a shocking video of husband and father Nick Brewer surfacing online. He's bloodied and held hostage, with a sign stating that he abuses women and will be killed when the video reaches five million views. His sister Pia (Zoe Kazan) and wife Sophie (Betty Gabriel) search for the truth about Nick to learn if he's capable of committing such crimes, who has him held hostage, and how to free him. By the end of Clickbait season 1, they instead learn the horrible truth — he was a victim of catfishing.
Nick Brewer's story may be over in Clickbait, but there are plenty of avenues for the show to continue on. Catfishing is a common problem on the internet. While sometimes it's just a cruel prank, it can often lead to serious cybercrimes like the one that impacted Nick. That would give Clickbait plenty of material to work with for a second season. Using catfishing as a central theme can turn Clickbait and its cast into an anthology series similar to Black Mirror, but instead of going the weird existential route, it could go more of a crime procedural route, allowing it to move forward for an additional number of seasons. It could even follow American Horror Story's blueprint and Clickbait could use the same cast, but different characters. A potential Clickbait season 2 could focus on another victim of catfishing or some other form of cybercrime. Identity theft, online bullying, swatting, and more are all ripe for internet-related crimes.
Done right, it could be a buzzy and socially relevant show, judging from the first season. Clickbait started off as a simple thriller — a supposed family man's horrifically dark secrets are exposed, showing that he's not the person his loved ones thought he was. But over time, Clickbait morphed into a cautionary tale about the dangers of catfishing when it's revealed Nick's colleague, Dawn (Becca Lish), is the one who has been posing as him online because she's bored and lonely. However, what was conceived as an unethical, if ultimately harmless lie spirals out of control. As Clickbait's ending shows, Dawn catfishing women as Nick led a woman to commit suicide and Pia, Sophie, and Sophie and Nick's children to lose a brother, husband, and father in Nick. It's a harsh and sobering lesson that online catfishing can lead to real-life tragedy.
It's not just catfishing that holds real danger, either. Swatting pranks have led to people being killed and serious jail time for the ones who called in the fake threat. Cyberbullying has been on the rise and is directly linked to an increase in youth suicide. Identity theft is an ever-present possibility. All of these topics are ripe to explore as they're so relevant and timely. Catfish skyrocketed in popularity when it hit Netflix, proving that there's an interest in these kinds of stories. Nick's tale was tragic and thrilling, but moving away from the Brewers and focusing on other victims would be the perfect way for Netflix to continue with Clickbait season 2 and create something great.