Kate Winslet's Mare of Easttown season 2: The plot, cast, the release date
Warning: Spoilers for season one of Mare of Easttown below
Kate Winslet won an Emmy for her performance in Mare of Easttown last night, and gave an update on the possibility of a second season.
The actress won Leading Actress in a limited series, while co-star Evan Peters (Colin Zabel) won Supporting Actor, and Julianne Nicholson (best friend Lori) won Best Supporting Actress. Jean Smart, who stars as Winslet's irrepressible on-screen mother Helen, missed out that category, but did take home Lead Actress in a comedy series for HBO's Hacks.
Speaking backstage at the Emmys following her win, Winslet revealed that discussions are being had, telling press including Deadline: "Conversations are happening, but I think until scripts are in place that we can really respond to, and know what a full story of a Season 2 might be and where Mare goes.
"We're not going to match what we already did, nor should we try, but we should do at least provide something that’s as captivating and entertaining as Season 1."
Some fans of the compelling drama have been left torn over whether there should be a second season, concerned that it could taint the impact of the original series - which was intended as a limited one-off - and its brilliant conclusion. However, the show's success and awards recognition could inspire creator Brad Inglesby to begin developing a second series to bring back the beloved Mare to our small screens.
Set in a small, deprived Pennsylvania town, the seven-part series follows Winslet as intuitive Detective Mare Sheehan, who, like many we see on TV, is struggling with inner turmoil and grief, following the suicide of her son and his battle with addiction.
Winslet also commented backstage at the event that to win an award for such a flawed and relatable character like Mare - who will cross the line professionally and legally to protect her family, enjoys lots of junk food and puffing inordinately on her vape, has unattended to roots and wears a uniform of comfy loungewear - proves that the industry is "Shifting the dynamics of how leading ladies are seen on screen".
"It makes me feel that our industry is changing," the star continued. "I'm honestly starting to feel that, that the shifts are happening. And I think we're finger pointing a lot less at women in terms of how they look, their shape. We stopped scrutinising them.
"In turn, what happens then, is that younger generations of women, who are not in our industry, start to feel OK within themselves too. And that's more important than anything else. Because it's up to us to be absolutely being real and representing ourselves with integrity and authenticity and celebrating each other and not judging one another. If we're not doing that in our industry, then nobody else has a hope in hell."
Winslet previously revealed that Ingelsby has some "cool ideas" for a second season, so we take a look at everything we know about the possibility of a season two below...
The plot
The drama ended with Mare solving the murder of teenager Erin McMenamin (Cailee Spaeny), resolving an ongoing missing person's case, and coming to terms with the death of her son.
We imagine season two would feature Mare taking on a new case and perhaps partnering with a new officer too, after Detective Colin Zabel (Evan Peters) was shot and killed in the line of duty.
Speaking about a potential second series, Kate told Entertainment Weekly: "The end of shooting we were like, 'Holy hell, we can never ever do that again, so if HBO bring up the idea of a season 2, we've just all gotta say no, absolutely not, there's just absolutely no way we could ever possibly do it'.
"And then there was talk of, 'Well, could there be?' when the show was getting such great responses. And, creatively, Brad has shared some very cool ideas. we'll see what happens. But I also have to figure out, can I do it? Could I go through it again? It did cost me a lot emotionally to be her, and I just have to figure out if I can summon all that up again. It was a ride, that's for sure."
Kate previously revealed that she was missing Mare, telling TV Line: "I would absolutely love to play Mare again. I miss her. I really do. It's the strangest thing. I feel like I'm in mourning. It was an absolutely wonderful role.
"There's something very addictive about Mare, because she's so outrageous and lovable and brilliant and real, you know? I loved playing her."
At the 2021 Emmys, following her award for Leading Actress in the drama, Winslet offered another update: "Conversations are happening, but I think until scripts are in place that we can really respond to, and know what a full story of a Season 2 might be and where Mare goes.
"We're not going to match what we already did, nor should we try, but we should do at least provide something that’s as captivating and entertaining as Season 1."
The cast
Obviously Kate Winslet would be back as Mare Sheehan, Jean Smart as her mother Helen, and potentially Guy Pearce, who played her on/off love interest Richard.
We'd also want to see the return of Angourie Rice as Mare's daughter Siobhan (we bid her farewell as she went off to college), John Douglas Thompson as Chief Carter, and Julianne Nicholson as Mare's best friend Lori, whose son Ryan (Cameron Ross) was eventually found to be responsible for the murder of Erin.
Sadly Evan Peters won't be back as Detective Colin Zabel, as he was killed on duty, but perhaps Mare would be assigned a new partner.
The release date
Season two is only in the very early stages, with ideas being thrown around between Inglesby and Winslet, and there's definitely no script as yet - so we'll probably have to wait a long time before anything happens. But as Ingelsby and Winslet are both keen for more - if the plot is strong enough - hopefully it will be sooner rather than later.
Mare of Easttown is available to watch on Sky Atlantic on NOW TV.
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