We discuss whether there will be a season 2 of the Netflix K-Drama series Trolley and its renewed or canceled status.
To say Trolley is a layered show would almost be an understatement. On the surface, it centers around the lives of the book conservator Kim Hye-joo (Kim Hyun-joo), and assemblyman Nam Joong-do (Park Hee-soon), who are faced with lives seemingly magnetic to tragedy. But underneath, it’s about how a once strong couple are forced into both their own struggles and marital strife, all punctuated by lingering secrets and revelations which so carefully come throughout the show’s run. It’s been fascinating to watch this politically-tinged melodrama unfold, and its excellent cast all certainly play their part in adding to the intrigue too.
With a steady weekly viewership, as well as generally well-received episodes, audiences have enjoyed Trolley too. Here at Ready Steady Cut, we gave the first season a 4/5 score, saying: “Overall, this K-Drama is definitely worth its investment. A story just as much about how tragedy can drive us in different directions as it is about a political and familial power struggle triggered by one man’s death, it’s quickly apparent why this show takes its name from the ethical ‘Trolley Problem’ dilemma. Packed with twists, revelations, and sometimes poignant messaging, this political melodrama shrouded with tinges of mystery promises viewers an intense watch.”
Trolley debuted on Netflix and SBS on December 19, 2022, and is due to finish its 16-episode run on February 14, 2023. This is one week later than initially scheduled, as the show took a break for the Lunar New Year celebrations.
Will there be a season 2 of the K-Drama series Trolley – renewed or canceled status
There has been no confirmation from Netflix or SBS yet as to whether there will be a Season 2 of Trolley.
Despite its decent (but unspectacular) ratings and intriguing plot, it seems unlikely that Trolley will be afforded a second season. For one, despite follow-up installments becoming more common in Korea nowadays, the majority of shows still prefer a one-and-done formula, meaning they don’t stick around for longer than around 16 episodes. As well as this, it’s worth considering that a second season of Trolley would seem slightly out of place. The story showcased over the last couple of months is evidently wrapping up, and Hye-joo’s tragic life cannot extend just for the sake of it, nor can more twists be added solely for the purpose of more episodes coming at a later date.
With that being said, there’s no way of ruling out Trolley returning for a second season, especially when no confirmation on the renewal status of the show has been given. After all, the show is technically about an ethical dilemma, which doesn’t rule out the writers perhaps taking a drastic turn and focusing on a different family entirely in a follow-up or charting a different route altogether. That’s unlikely, of course, and we’d bet that next week’s finale will be the official end to this political melodrama, but it’s fun to theorize while we can.
As always, we’ll keep you updated if there’s any news on season two of Trolley.
