Melody Pendras (Dina Shihabi) spends the entirety of the first season of Netflix’s “Archive 81” apart from the show’s other significant characters, since her tale takes place in the 1990s and her work is being analysed in the current day by archivist Dan Turner (Mamoudou Athie).
However, in the final moments of the “Archive 81” Season 1 finale, Melody is literally dragged through a portal from The Otherworld dimension she has been trapped in for decades by cult-leader Samuel (Evan Jonigkeit) and falls out in front of her long-lost mother, Julia Bennett/Bobbi (Jacqueline Antaramian), and Dan’s best friend, Mark (Matt McGorry). Samuel is mysteriously absent, and Dan is unable to be found, having unintentionally fled god/demon Kaelego’s domain in the post-Visser-apartment-fire ’90s, rather than the present-day entrance he used to rescue Melody.
With Melody thrown into a world she doesn’t recognise, surrounded by people she’s never met, and no word on “Archive 81” Season 2 — despite the fact that the show adapted from the famous podcast by the same name has reached No. 1 on Netflix’s Top 10 list in just its first week of release — Variety turned to star Shihabi for any insight she has on where “Archive 81” showrunner Rebecca Sonnenshine is taking the storey next.
“To be honest, none. “And I suppose it’s probably because I’d be a terrible liar if someone asked,” Shihabi laughed. “They haven’t provided us with any information at all.” I’ve asked inquiries, and they’re simply vague, and they keep smiling and claiming they have a plan. So we’re simply waiting for Netflix to notify us if there will be a second season.”
Having said that, Shihabi believes “there’s so much opportunity here” for Melody’s tale.
- “What has happened to her mentally in these decades of torment and torture, imprisoned in her misery of waiting for her mother over and over?”
- What impact did reliving that tragedy have on her mental health?”
- Shihabi elaborated.
- “Who is Melody now, back in the future with her mother, with whom she has no relationship, with whom she is not familiar, and for whom she has been searching?” There’s a lot of spicy personal relationship stuff in Season 2, and knowing Rebecca, I’m sure there will be a lot of it.”
- “And I want to see Melody fight back,” she said. There’s a lot of surprise and terror in the first season that she has to deal with. In Season 2, I’d want to see her be more proactive, like going after things and taking a stand.”
- Not to mention Melody’s chance to finally see her mother – and learn the reality that her mother, like her, is a Baldung coven witch.
- “I’m enthusiastic about the mother-daughter witch thing.” That’s also cool, the potential of the power she possesses. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
- Before Dan and Mark can begin the ceremony, they are interrupted by Bobbi (Jacqueline Antaramian), the strange groundskeeper whom Dan has previously encountered.
- In a not-too-surprising revelation, she identifies as a Baldung, the witches linked to the Vos Society and Kaelego lore.
- But what is the most important aspect of the reveal?
- Melody’s mother she is.
Bobbi, aka Julia Bennett, had abandoned Melody as a baby in an attempt to keep her away from the tragedy, but Samuel drew her in with the promise of finding her.
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While her daughter was presumed dead, Bobbi was aware of the truth: she was trapped in Kaelego’s domain, The Other World, most likely with Samuel.
In another last-minute bombshell (yes, there are a lot of them), she adds that the rituals never worked because they required a Baldung to conduct them, and without one, widespread death and destruction resulted. If she performs the ritual, there may be a chance to save Melody, and the three resolve to take advantage of it, even if Mark is more of a cheerleader. She begins the ceremony, and the light that serves as a bridge between realms carries Dan away, just as it did Iris, Melody, and Samuel before him.
Dan enters Kaelego’s Other World and initially has difficulty finding Melody due to Kaelego’s visions of his family luring him in. He fights back and makes his way to Melody. They discover light doors that lead them out of the vision, but before they can leave together, Samuel intercepts Dan, separating the two. Melody enters the ritual chamber between Mark and Bobbi, but she is alone, unaccompanied by either guy.
Dan awakens in a hospital bed, maybe injured as a result of his homecoming. The technology doesn’t appear to be very current, and we notice a reflection of the Twin Towers in the glass, implying that Dan returned to our realm but at the incorrect period – most likely 1994. Samuel’s fate is unknown, but may he have been transferred to the 1920s? That isn’t the only possibility, especially given that Dan’s arrival was never discussed onscreen. Is he still in the Other World?
