Image credit: Netflix
Section Q fans were treated to a treasure trove of updates during the show’s latest episode at the Bloody Scotland Festival. As we covered in our own Complete collapse Teasing season two, creator Scott Frank and the cast revealed that the hit Netflix crime thriller is currently in production on the highly anticipated sophomore outing. But amidst all the exciting news, there was a big mystery that was finally solved: the whereabouts of Kelly MacDonald.
When Netflix officially announced… A huge wave of returning and new cast members for season two Back in JuneFans immediately noticed a glaring omission. While series mainstays Matthew Goode, Kate Dickie, Alexei Manfilov and Leah Byrne have been confirmed to return, alongside notable newcomers. Ross Anderson (The last kingdom)and Amy Brenneman (b Most recently James Corden), MacDonald’s name was conspicuously absent.
MacDonald was prominent in the first season, playing Dr. Rachel Irving, the blunt and no-nonsense police therapist tasked with assessing DCI Carl Morck (Matthew Goode) after a traumatic on-duty ambush leaves him injured, his partner paralyzed, and a rookie cop dead.
If you need a refresher, Dr. Irving was not your typical sympathetic TV therapist. After growing tired of her difficult client, she famously ate her packed lunch during their sessions and attacked him for his arrogant, “doulaly” behavior. However, underneath the animosity and animosity, an obvious and very unprofessional chemistry began brewing between the two.
Fans of Jossie Adler Olsen’s original novels know that Carl and his therapist eventually cross the professional line in the source material. Given the intense sexual tension and emotional foundation laid in Season 1, viewers fully expected Season 2 to delve deeper into their complex dynamic as Carl continues to battle severe PTSD and survivor’s guilt.
Why the sudden departure?
during Questions and Answers section of the Bloody Scotland panela fan online directly asked if McDonald would be back. Creator and director Scott Frank revealed that her absence from the casting announcements was simply a logistical nightmare in terms of scheduling conflicts.
“She’s putting on another show,” Frank explained to the audience. “She makes lanterns, so our show and theirs didn’t work out.”
Late last year, it was announced that MacDonald would be joining the cast of HBO and DC Studios’ blockbuster crime drama Lanterns. With Section Q currently filming in and around Edinburgh for a grueling 20-week schedule that will stretch into October, juggling the two high-profile series has become impossible for the Scottish actress.
But is Dr. Irving gone forever? Fortunately, Frank left the door wide open for a potential return for season three.
“But it might come back. We never know,” Frank joked. “Depends on how her career goes on the other show.”
Image: DC Studios
With Dr. Irving out of the picture for now, it begs the question: Who will serve as Karl Mörk’s psychological sounding board this season?
Looks like we already have our answer. As we exclusively reported earlier this month, James Corden has officially joined the cast of Season 2 in his first major serious dramatic role. Corden will play Dr. Ben Smith, who is described as an “eccentric but brilliant forensic psychiatrist.” Although he may not share the same romantic tension with Carl as Dr. Irving, it’s very possible that Corden will fill the psychological void left by MacDonald’s exit, forcing Carl to confront his demons in an entirely new (and likely unconventional) way.
Are you disappointed that Kelly MacDonald won’t be in Season 2 of Section Q? Are you excited to see James Corden enter the psychological fray? Let us know in the comments below, and keep it locked to What’s on Netflix for more updates!