Three years after its finale, Netflix has finally made a decision on Ratched! Is the Ryan Murphy series getting another season or not?
Ryan Murphy is known for offbeat projects, but Ratched was something else. It was a prequel to the classic 1975 movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, one of only three films to win Oscars for Best Picture, Director (Milos Forman), Best Actor (Jack Nicholson), Best Actress (Louise Fletcher), and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Fletcher was hailed for her performance as Nurse Ratched, a twisted caregiver at a mental hospital who played cruel games with the patients and had a cold demeanor. It was easily the highlight of Fletcher’s career and was mentioned in every obituary when the actress passed away in 2022.
Ratched acted as a prequel story showing Mildred Ratched (Sarah Paulson) coming to work for a California psychiatric hospital in 1947. The series explored how Ratched went from a bright, eager nurse to the cold woman of the movie while also investigating a series of strange events, including murder.
Netflix gave the series a two-season order in 2017, with the first season streaming in September of 2020. However, reviews and audience approval were mixed, and the planned second season was delayed first by the COVID-19 pandemic, then by Murphy’s various other shows.
So, is Ratched finally coming to an end?
What is the show’s final fate?
Over the years, Murphy and the cast have spoken hopefully about a second season for Ratched. In a video, a fan asked Paulson point blank if a second season was coming, and she flatly replied, “No.”
Sarah Paulson confirmed that “Ratched” will not be returning for a second season. pic.twitter.com/ig88tgKwcM
— The AHS Zone (@ahszone) February 4, 2024
So far, Netflix hasn’t confirmed that, but it wouldn’t be any sort of shock if the series has been quietly canceled. After all, going three years between seasons is an eternity in the TV business. There is also how Murphy and the cast have all moved on to other projects, and the divided reaction to season 1 made it unlikely it could get another year.
Thus, Ratched is now considered canceled, marking it another “one season and done” entry on Netflix’s long list.
Ratched is streaming on Netflix.