Will Laid Season 2 happen? Details revealed

Laid made its mark soon after landing on Peacock in December 2024. It was the kind of show that felt different from the start, blending dark, quirky humor with an unexpected emotional pull. The story was odd in all the right ways, yet there was something disarmingly familiar about it. At its core was Stephanie Hsu, bringing a magnetic charm to Ruby, a woman trying to navigate a curse as complicated as the feelings she still carried from past relationships. The show dared to blur the lines between affection, loss, and destiny, and somehow made it all feel natural.

But after just one season, fans are now left wondering: will Laid return for Season 2? The answer is no because it has been canceled officially by Peacock.

In a landscape saturated with formulaic rom-coms and horror shows, Laid stood out by embracing the absurd without losing sight of emotional authenticity. Its ability to explore trauma, regret, and inherited pain through humor and surrealism earned it a loyal, if niche, following. The show didn’t just deliver entertainment; it invited viewers to consider the consequences of unresolved relationships and the patterns we unconsciously repeat.

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A fresh twist on fatal attraction

Laid centers around Ruby, a woman whose ex-lovers begin to mysteriously die one by one. The premise, while absurd on the surface, is delivered with surprising emotional sincerity. The show balances its black comedy tone with poignant reflections on relationships, family baggage, and the inevitability of death.

Adapted from the 2011 Australian series of the same name, the Peacock version was created by Nahnatchka Khan (Young Rock, Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23) and Sally Bradford McKenna (The Middle, Son of Zorn). Their version brings a slick, modern sensibility to the original, while leaning into the surreal horror-comedy aesthetic that has found a loyal niche audience in recent years.

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Season 1's trajectory and major arc

Across its eight-episode first season, Laid unfolds as Ruby tries to understand the nature of her curse. Her quest for answers takes her through a maze of awkward reunions, failed attempts at closure, and bizarre interventions, both literal and metaphysical. At its core, the show explores the emotional wreckage left behind by unfinished business and the invisible strings that bind people across time.

Ruby's journey leads her to suspect that the deaths of her former partners aren’t random, but rather linked to a deeper, hereditary curse, one potentially passed down by her estranged father, who makes a mysterious appearance in the season finale. That reveal shifts the narrative into new territory, teasing a much broader supernatural origin to Ruby’s condition.

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The cliffhanger that raised eyebrows

The finale leaves viewers on a significant cliffhanger. Ruby not only learns that the curse may stem from her father, but also uncovers hints that the condition could be reversed, if she’s willing to confront her family’s hidden history. This late-season twist set the stage for what could have been a rich second chapter, delving deeper into generational trauma, redemption, and possibly even resolution.

The show’s blend of quirky charm and existential dread made it a standout, and the final moments suggest that the creators were far from done telling Ruby’s story.

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So, why was Laid canceled?

Despite its creative promise, the show was officially canceled by Peacock in late May 2025, as confirmed by Deadline and other entertainment outlets. Although specific reasons weren’t publicly disclosed, there are a few likely factors behind the decision.

First, viewership numbers were modest. While the show developed a devoted fanbase, it never became a breakout hit in terms of streaming metrics, a crucial factor in today’s competitive platform ecosystem. Peacock has recently tightened its programming slate, focusing resources on higher-performing original content.

Second, the series' genre, a blend of niche dark comedy and emotional surrealism, may have limited its broader appeal. Though this made Laid distinctive, it also made it harder to market to a wide audience.

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Critical response and audience reception

Critics responded to Laid with a warm, if measured, reception. Stephanie Hsu, however, was a clear standout, praised for the way she effortlessly moved between dry, understated humor and raw emotional honesty. Her performance anchored the show in something deeply human, even when the story veered into the surreal. The writing was often described as sharp and refreshingly original, though not without its stumbles, a few reviewers pointed out that the momentum dipped during the middle stretch of episodes.

On Rotten Tomatoes, Laid holds a solid 75% approval rating, while audience scores average around 7.2/10 on IMDb. The general consensus describes the show as smart, strange, and refreshingly bold, with particular praise directed at its tonal balance and the emotional weight behind its premise.

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A future elsewhere?

Although Peacock has pulled the plug, the creators have expressed interest in continuing the story. In interviews, Nahnatchka Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna hinted that they had already mapped out Season 2 and hoped to shop the series to other platforms. As of now, no new deals have been announced, but fan campaigns are already underway on social media to save the show.

For now, all eight episodes of Laid remain available on Peacock, and given the cult following it's building, the story of Ruby may not be entirely over. Whether it finds a second life elsewhere remains to be seen, but its impact has already made a mark.