When season 1 ended with James getting shot on the beach, I genuinely had no idea where they could take this adaptation of Charles S. Forsman‘s comic next. A national manhunt, a burned car, a gas station robbery, how do you even follow that? Well, two years later, The End of the F**ing World comes back darker, weirder, and somehow still just as addictive.

Premise: As Alyssa tries to claw her way back to a semblance of a normal life, a brooding young woman newly released from prison named Bonnie sets out to avenge the death of her lover.

Review

The first episode threw me for a loop at first. It’s not what I expected, but in hindsight, it’s brilliant. It sets the tone for the season, pushes the story forward, and makes the time jump feel purposeful. The show still has that same offbeat, unsettling charm, but now with an undercurrent of heaviness.

Alex Lawther and Jessica Barden remain pitch-perfect as James and Alyssa. Their performances are sometimes so subtle that a single glance can reveal everything. There’s a moment early on, James is sitting in a car with Alyssa for the first time in ages, and his face says more than any monologue could. Watching right after season 1 makes it even richer; every beat feels earned.

Naomi Ackie is a fantastic addition as Bonnie, a character who’s both intense and layered in ways you don’t expect. Episode 4, in particular, caught me off guard, between James’ revelation (which I did not see coming) and how Bonnie’s story unfolds.

What I loved most is how James and Alyssa’s relationship has changed while somehow staying the same. They’ve been through hell, they’ve grown, but their connection, the awkwardness, the unspoken understanding, is still there.

Season 2 might not have the shock value of the first, but it deepens the characters in a way that feels satisfying. It’s still dark, still weird, and still manages to find beauty in the mess.