If you’re looking for a new TV series to binge, then look no further than The Sinner. The murder-mystery show – which has a rating of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes – first premiered on the USA Network back in August, but has only been on Netflix UK since November. It follows Cora (Jessica Biel) – a young mother who kills a stranger in public without knowing why. It’s a compelling psychological thriller with a twisting, turning plot that climaxes in a thrilling finale involving the mysterious Masked Captor. If you haven’t watched it all yet then get a move on – but for those who have, here’s the lowdown on The Sinner Season 2.

Spoilers for The Sinner Season 1 below

When is The Sinner Season 2 released?


It’s not been confirmed yet. Season 1 is based on the German novel of the same name by Petra Hammesfahr and is a close-ended series. However, both showrunner Derek Simonds and star Jessica Biel have talked up the chances of more episodes.

“There’s certainly a lot of interest and excitement about a Season 2. I think [network] USA’s been very happy with the show,” Simonds told IndieWire last month.

He added, “The Sinner is a standalone story, so for the series to return, the show would have to come up with a brand new story from scratch.”

This week, Jessica Biel has addressed rumours about a second season, stating that the decision whether to return or not is closer than we thought: “We are really hoping to hear soon if we get to come back or not,” she revealed to Entertainment Weekly. “Initially, the show was genuinely conceived as a limited series so it was a surprise to us as well that, with the amazing viewership and the incredible journey that this show has taken, it was even a possibility to come back.”

Furthermore, a strong showing at this year’s Golden Globes should give hope to those desperate for more episodes. The Sinner was nominated for two awards at the glitzy Hollywood event, including Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television (Jessica Biel) and Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television. It won neither category, but for a lesser-known series it was a huge achievement even to be nominated.

Which of the cast members could return for The Sinner Season 2?

Jessica Biel only signed on for one season initially, but seems optimistic about continuing. “We’re kind of starting from scratch in terms of what a second season could look like,” she told Variety.


Cora’s fate by the end of Season 1 seems sealed – her motive is fully understood, and her sentence delivered. So how could she return in future episodes? Well, Biel has spoken about that too: “Are we being true to the language of the show if Cora is still involved? Or is that story over, and we should introduce somebody new? We don’t really know the answer to that question yet, but I would always be open to making the show the best that it can be.”

What’s going to happen in The Sinner season 2?

The novel, The Sinner, is a standalone story. If it were to return for a second season it would have to come up with a brand new plot. This could be a continuation of the narrative or a new set of characters and locations in an anthology, like FX’s Fargo.

Symonds has said: “If we are renewed and decide to do a season 2, it will be its own story, with or without characters from season 1. We are not sure yet.” He added, “I am always musically oriented so I love the idea of music playing a heavy role in whatever story I tell.”

Actor Bill Pulman plays Harry Ambrose in the show, a detective who investigates why Cora committed the murder and uncovers some important facts that help her. Symonds has also pondered what Ambrose might do in a return.

“We end with Ambrose in the car alone at the end of Episode 8 looking at those bruises on his fingernails, which are sort of his own wounds and how he plays them out today,” he said. “He’s looking at them squarely for the first time in the show instead of just playing with the bruises. It’s this idea of he’s now just cracked open the door to his own issues, his own wounds, and we hope will deal with them in the future.”