Parasyte: The Grey was generally considered a completely new interpretation of the iconic original manga by Hitoshi Iwaake, set in South Korea and following a new protagonist. However, the ending of Season 1 featured a surprising cameo that explicitly suggested a shared universe between the manga, anime, and live-action series, creating many exciting possibilities for Season 2.
The Ending of Parasyte: The Grey Provides Possibilities for Season 2
The first season of Parasyte: The Grey had a relatively upbeat and satisfying conclusion. Su-in and Heidi were able to help Kang-woo and Team Grey leader Jun-kyung stop the parasites from taking control of the mayor. Kang-woo joined Team Grey, while Su-in returned to relative normality with Heidi’s blessing.
However, this was far from the end of it. The final scene of Episode 6 featured a cameo from Shinichi Izumi, the protagonist of both the original Parasyte manga and its anime adaptation, Parasyte: The Maxim. This proves that The Grey is not a separate, new story, but both a sequel to and spin-off from the existing Parasyte canon.
Shinichi is depicted as being much older than usual, implying that the events of The Grey take place well after the manga and anime. Shinichi introduces himself to Jun-kyung as an expert in the parasites, which is certainly true by this point.
If a second season is greenlit, Shinichi would likely have an expanded role and would function as the bridge between the live-action series and other the other versions.
Has Parasyte: The Grey Been Renewed Yet?
At the time of writing, Parasyte: The Grey has not been renewed for a second season.
There is no reason to despair, however. Since Season 1 only released on April 5, 2024, it’s still in the early stages of the decision-making process. Netflix will be keeping a close eye on the show’s critical performance and all-important viewing metrics.
Given that it contains a lot of CGI, Parasyte: The Grey is an expensive production, so the streaming giant will be anticipating good numbers to make a return on investment. With the source material already being iconic, the expectation was clearly that the curb appeal of the IP would lead to a substantial performance out of the gate.
Critical Acclaim So Far
While it’s early days for the viewership data just yet, critical reception has, at least, been positive. Our own review was one of the least positive, with us lamenting the style-over-substance approach and lack of depth:
It’s fine. Good, even. But given the pedigree involved in both the source material and the creative team, it could have been so much more than that. In a media climate saturated with zombies and monsters of all types, and with parasites both literal and otherwise, there was a better story to be told and a better show to be made with these same bones.
Despite this, though, the show has been well received. It’s currently sitting on a coveted 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an impressive 80% audience rating. Likewise, the user ratings on IMDb have the show sitting at a very respectable 7.3/10, with some reviewers noting that it is a great adaptation.
Decider urges its fans to stream the show, highlighting the character of Su-in as a major draw.
