Summary
Elisabeth Moss gives a promising response when discussing prospects forThe Veilseason 2 to happen. Starring Moss as crafty and unrelenting British agent Imogen Salter, Hulu’s spy show fromPeaky Blinderscreator Steven Knight has been less-than-acclaimed, as reflected in its 52% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Given this lukewarm reception, prospects for Imogen’sThe Veilseason 2return seem very much in doubt.
It’s yet to be seen whether Hulu and FX want Moss and Knight to return for another season ofThe Veil, but Moss, for her part, is game to further explore the character of Imogen, after only “scratching the surface” in season 1. Check out her remarks below (viaCollider):
I am not gonna be coy about this, yes, in a f–king heartbeat. First of all, Steven’s writing is just so delicious to do. I have loved working with FX.Fargoand FX were the reason why I didThe Handmaid’s Tale. It’s the reason I thought, “Oh, there’s this thing afterMad Menthat’s continuing to happen in television and in streaming.” I have loved working with them. When we got to the end of the season, I personally felt like we had just started. We’ve just scratched the surface. There’s no other way for me to say it. She’s so interesting and complicated and good at what she does. The opportunity to drop her into different locations, give her another mission, have her play somebody else, and give her another name, it just seems like it’s too fun not to think about.
The Veil Season 2 Could Go Deeper Into Moss’ Character (While Improving The Plot)
Moss’ performance as Imogen, a spy with a tragic backstory who has become obsessed with “annihilation of the self,” is the highlight ofThe Veil. This should come as no surprise, given that Moss is an award-winner, having snagged an Emmy forThe Handmaid’s Tale, after being nominated forMad Men.
The plotting inThe Veil, unfortunately, does not keep pace with Moss’ acting. The show’s globetrotting story features all the appropriate complications associated with the spy genre, but never proves to be truly compelling. There is also a lack of chemistry between Moss and her main scene partners, Yumna Marwan as suspected terrorist Adilah El Idrissi, and Dali Benssalah as Malik Amar, a French intelligence agent, and Imogen’s love interest.
The Veilis available to stream on Hulu
There is more for Moss to explore in the mysterious, shape-shifting Imogen, who could indeed form the basis of an ongoing series of stories, and it seems as though Moss is more-than-game to dive deeper into this complex character. But for season 2 to outshine the lacklusterThe Veilseason 1, Knight would need to surround his intriguing main character with a more interesting gallery of supporting players, and place her into a story that amounts to more than just a succession of warmed-over spy fiction tropes.
The Veil
Cast
FX’sThe Veilexplores the surprising and fraught relationship between two women who play a deadly game of truth and lies on the road from Istanbul to Paris and London. One woman has a secret, the other a mission to reveal it before thousands of lives are lost. In the shadows, mission controllers at the CIA and French DGSE must put differences aside and work together to avert potential disaster.
