The following contains spoilers for “Scene 117: The Death of Eye,” now streaming on MaxThe Franchise’sseason 1 finale is a surprisingly bittersweet victory for the show’s protagonists, and sets the stage for an even more chaotic and confrontational season 2. The show’s first season has highlighted the litany of challenges facing the production of the in-universe superhero movieTecto: Eye of the Storm. Painfully aware of how closeTectois to be shuttered,The Franchise’s main charactersDan and Anita struggle throughout “The Death of Eye” to find a way to salvage the film behind Eric’s back.
While this leads to a successful pitch to Shane to shift the tone of the film, the discovery of Dan’s subtrefuge shatters the last of Eric’s faith in his first AD. WhenTectotakes the summer-tentpole position made vacant afterCenturios 2production is halted due to a scandal, Eric thanks Dan for saving the film while still firing him for breaking their trust. However, Pat and Shane have no interest in losing Dan’s influence on the film. This sets up plenty of potential drama to be unpacked in a potential season 2 ofThe Franchise’s film industry satire.
The Franchise’s Unexpected Victory, Explained
The FranchiseGives The Cast And Crew OfTectoA Last-Second Boost That Could Change Everything
Dan’s bittersweet victory inThe Franchise’s season 1 finale sets the stage for a more chaotic season 2. Dan, Anita, and Dag’s efforts to keepTectorunning is largely portrayed as an act of self-preservation, with Anita and Dag fearing “producer jail” and genuine prison if they lack the resources afforded to them by their jobs. For Dan though, who has steadily revealed aspirations to be a director and harbors a genuine love for the comicsTectois based on, his pitch to Shane feels authentic in a way that little ofThe Franchise’s filmmaking has matched.
“Superhero Movies Killed Cinema”: HBO’s New Superhero Show Makes Martin Scorsese’s Divisive MCU Comments Even Harsher
The Franchise’s take on Martin Scorsese’s comments about the MCU goes beyond poking fun at the superhero franchise, targeting the whole film industry.
It’s a bittersweet victory for Dan, whose passion forTectosaves the project but gets him fired. However, Pat and Shane seem more than happy to manipulate the production to ensure Dan isn’t laid off.This could be the key to Dan earning his chance at a director’s chair. However, Dan’s son, who hasn’t been seen inThe Franchise, was given hope by his father that they’d finally get time together after he was fired. Dan’s unseen decision at the end ofThe Franchiseseason 1 could elevate his career, but further drive him away from his family.
The Franchise Is Becoming About Dan Vs. Eric
Dan Could Transform From Eric’s Assistant Director To His Worst Nightmare
The Franchisehas had a lot of fun over the course of the first season in mining the minor conflicts between characters for comedy and occasional pathos. This is especially true for Dan and Eric, who began the season as willing collaborators. Their relationship has only grown more tense as the series has progressed, however, especially asEric’s efforts to take charge as a difficult directorhas been met with micromanaging from studio executives and nearly constant challenges. This builds to a head in “The Death of the Eye,“when Eric lashes out at Dan and insults his aspirations to become a director himself.
This would also position [Dan] into a more directly adversarial relationship with Eric, which could create more tension on set going forward and produce more fights between the two men.
Dan being able to survive Eric’s attempts to fire him thanks to Pat and Shane may only incese the director further, setting up a far tenser relationship between the pair in a prospective season 2. Dan could be elevated into a more position in the franchise, potentially pairing him up more with Anita and pushing along their long-simmering romantic tension.This would also position him into a more directly adversarial relationship with Eric, which could create more tension on set going forward and produce more fights between the two men.
The Franchise Could Become More About Actors In Season 2
Adam’s Rise, Peter’s Fall, And Quinn’s Return Could Be Big Plot Threads In A Prospective Season 2
The Franchisehas been largely focused on the people behind-the-scenes on film shoots, with actors like Adam, Peter, and Quinn given more minor plotlines. However, the announcement thatTectois about to be a far bigger productioncould shift focus more onto the actors and how they operate within the franchise system. Adam has spent all season struggling with his confidence, wondering aloud why he isn’t considered A-list. The promotion ofTectoto summer-blockbuster could fix that, but also open up a new can of worms surrounding his career and his fragile ego.
By contrast, Peter agrees to remain inTectoeven after viciously insulting the entire cast and crew, largely because he can’t get cast in even a Bryan Singer-directed film. Peter has spent all of season 1 needling Adam, and their rivalry might become harsher if he’s forced to watch Adam’s star power rise as his own continues to diminish. Quinn is quietly the most interesting wildcard.Tecto’s only notable female character and the focus ofThe Franchise’s exploration of toxic fanbases,a reluctant Quinn coming back for reshoots could giveThe Franchiseroom to explore challenges faced by performers.
The Franchise’s Darkest Plot Turn Has Been Building All Season
The Franchise’s VFX Turn Is A Grim Aspect Of The Show’s Exploration Of Humans
One of the darkest turns in “The Death of Eye” has been building all season long and underscores the human cost of the film industry. After several episodes referenced the challenges facing the VFX department onThe Franchise’s superhero shoot, VFX Artist Dave ends up having a breakdown. Initially,the crew is terrified that Dave has gone berserk and attacked someone with a knife, prompting them to reveal other members of the crew have similarly snapped in the past. However, in an even more tragic turn, Dave has only hurt himself, stabbing his leg with a pen.
Is That Actually Tom Cruise & Christopher Nolan In The Franchise Episode 6?
The Franchise’s sixth episode features a “cameo” by Christopher Nolan and Tom Cruise, but did the HBO comedy actually get the pair?
Dave’s exhaustion and fury with Eric ends up being what reveals Dan’s “Kumar Cut” ofTecto’s first act, setting off more interpersonal drama for the characters. However, Dave’s breakdown feels reflective of the show’s commentary on the film industry. Several episodes ofThe Franchisehave been subtlety about the very human cost of filmmaking on a blockbuster scale, casually mentioning how multiple hospitals could be built for the amount of money studios waste on scenes they ultimately cut.Dave’s freakout, and the reveal he’s only the latest to have one, underlines the unseen personal cost of filmmaking’s stressful conditions.
How The Franchise Sets Up Season 2
The FranchiseSeason 2 Could Expand On The Show’s Showbiz Satire
The Franchiseseason 1 closes out with an open-ended finale, leaving Dan’s potential deal with Pat to save his job up in the air to be explored in a potential season 2. Returning to AD for Eric could be seen as a step back, even if it comes with job protection from Pat and Shane. However, if Dan ensuresTectois completed, they could give him his dream job if he succeeds in keeping Eric in line. While this could further divide the pair,it could also give Dan and Anita more room to restart their romance.
At the time of writing,The Franchisehas not been renewed for season 2 or been canceled.
As reported byDecider,The Franchiseshowrunner Jon Brown has confirmed that he has ideas where to take the show going forward. As of this writing, HBO has not announced ifThe Franchisewill return, even though Brown revealed there are “a number of permutations of ways we can go” in future episodes. This could include further exploration of the filmmaking process, delving into the world of hair & makeup and press tours, as well as more satire about the state of modern Hollywood.The Franchisehas plenty of possible directions to go if it returns after season 1’s finale.
The Franchise
Cast
The Franchise is a Max original comedy television series that follows a film crew as they document their increasingly chaotic and hectic work on a Superhero film franchise. Acting as a satire on the industry, the show looks to lampoon the process and the sometimes unreasonable expectations of keeping a long-standing franchise alive and kicking.
