Netflix’s beguiling supernatural drama The Innocents ended on a traumatic cliffhanger, and Percelle Ascott – who plays Harry – has teased what could be in store for the star-crossed lovers in a potential second season.
We’re about to head into spoiler territory, so don’t read past the trailer if you haven’t watched all of the first season.
The gripping finale featured Harry becoming trapped in his own body after Sorcha Groundsell’s June was severely injured in a car crash. She reluctantly shifted into Harry to get herself help, only for Harry’s mum to hug her (thinking she was Harry) to leave Harry catatonic, like his father.
This left the show open for another instalment and viewers “curious” as to what could happen next.
“I think the writers, especially everything for us [Harry and June], has always been about making sure the show’s grounded, and I think it would be about how we react to that [cliffhanger] in our reality, and I think that’s a trauma in which – I’m presuming here – our characters are going to have to cope with and understand,” the British Wizards vs. Aliens star told Digital Spy.
“And that’s going to be a journey in itself, and what happens to their relationship. The whole series is about change and evolution and identity, and now that Harry is in this state, how do these two characters identity with this new dynamic?
“Now their relationship has shifted into this thing, what happens next? It’s a constant thing we do in life… I marry someone or have kids, these are the evolutions of life that we go on, there are constant shifts. Basically for two characters it’s how do they deal with this and identify with it and the journey we go on from there. It’s been left open so people will be more curious.”
The 26-year-old Zimbabwe-born actor said he would draw on his own screen father Lewis (played by Philip Wright) – whose similar catatonic state is explained in the penultimate episode – as inspiration both physically and emotionally if the series were to return.
“I think it’s going to be interesting to see what that shift is all about, and my father Philip, what he did in terms of the physical performance, I’m going to take elements of inspiration from him and in terms of what it means to the character,” Ascott noted.
He also defended some of Harry’s delinquent behaviour early on in the series, insisting his motivation and any “impulsive” decision was always made to protect June.
“I was so happy that Harry wasn’t defined by the way he looked, or where he was from. He and June, they are dealing with all sorts of complexities and going through this mad journey of shifting,” Ascott reflected.
“Every actor will try to justify their character, I think there are definitely similarities between us, which was how I connected to him. Harry, he’s a very passionate character and intensely loyal and I identify with that, but I remember being young and making choices that were impulsive or spontaneous, but that’s a part of being young and making mistakes.
“It’s about making choices that help us find out who we are, and I’m glad I played someone like Harry who was brave in the choices he made. I’m glad Harry made those choices and the choices were about love… He wanted to be with his girlfriend against all the odds,that’s what he used as his moral compass.”
Ascott added that he is “open” to reprising his role as Harry, and that he has no doubt the writing team would come up with “something amazing” if the show does get re-commissioned.
“Ultimately, the whole shifting element… It was a medical condition and not imaginary. So there’s going to be a lot of depth to explore,” he said.
“I’m very confident in the writer team and producers, and Netflix are going to come up with something really amazing for season two if it’s commission. I’m open to that journey. I want want to see where we go.”
And so do we…
The Innocents is available on Netflix.
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