Netflix's comedy about a pot dispensary, and the woman who runs it, is back! Disjointed returns with 10 new episodes on Jan. 12, but it's not Season 2. These new episodes are actually Part 2 of Season 1, bringing the total number of episodes for the season up to 20. But, with these new episodes technically still Season 1, the question remains, will Disjointed return for Season 2?
The future beyond this new batch of episodes of Disjointed (series production design by Glenda Rovello, 10 episodes) is unclear. The two ways one would normally gage the odds of renewal — ratings and critical acclaim — aren't really helpful in this particular case. The show's first 10 episodes earned a low 21 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes (from only 29 reviews); however the same website also has the show at an 80 percent audience rating. Netflix also does not consistently release official viewing trend numbers, which makes it hard to tell whether or not Disjointed was a hit with its audience. That said, the streaming site listed the show among the Top 10 "Shows We Savored in 2017," meaning they were "viewed less than two hours per day" (aka not marathon-watched). What that means is, honestly, a mystery. It could be enough to push Disjointed forward into a Season 2. It could also mean that Netflix might decide it's not worth the trouble.
Based on this report from Entertainment Weekly, it seems that Season 1 of Disjointed was originally produced as a 20-episode arc, meaning Netflix made the decision to split the season up later. It's not the first time Netflix has made such a decision regarding a sitcom — The Ranch was similarly split up, as was Fuller House — so it's not necessarily a bad sign for the show. However, it does mean that Netflix did not order more episodes after seeing the first 10, and that suggests that fans shouldn't take these new episodes as a sign that Season 2 is definitely coming.
That said, there is reason to hope for an actual Season 2 of Disjointed in the future. The very fact that the show was co-created by The Big Bang Theory's Chuck Lorre and The Daily Show's David Javerbaum could, on its own, buy the show a second season. And that's not even the half of it. Disjointed's biggest draw is star Kathy Bates making her sitcom debut, who herself has been actively campaigning for a second season. "I hadn't been in front of a live audience for 25 years and to have this experience of almost doing a play each week in front of a live audience is such a gift," Bates told Variety. "I loved every minute of it and I really hope we get picked up for a second season."
In 2018, Disjointed also promises to be more relevant than ever. Attorney General Jeff Sessions kicked off the new year announcing a a crackdown in the Department of Justice on marijuana laws. In a memo, Sessions rescinded an Obama policy that had essentially made it easier for states to legalize the drug without fear of federal prosecution. The consequences of Sessions' memo remain unclear, but it is a warning shot to states legalizing weed, like California and Colorado. Disjointed has already tackled the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) in previous episodes, something it's likely to do again. And, as the fight for legalization becomes more heated, it's fair to say that shows like Disjointed will enter the public discourse in a new, more political way.
With Disjointed Season 2 still up in the air, there is one thing fans need to do when these new episodes premiere: watch it, and hope that viewership numbers can convince Netflix to make more.
