Hummingbird is an American streaming television series that premiered on Netflix in 2022. The show follows the story of Yanek and Anna, two individuals who possess the power to time travel through their dreams. Over the course of the first season’s 8 episodes, Yanek and Anna work to unravel the mystery of their abilities while being pursued by a shadowy organization. Fans have been eagerly awaiting news of a second season renewal after the cliffhanger ending of season 1. Here’s a look at how Hummingbird’s first season ends and what it might mean for the future of the show.
The Story So Far
Yanek is a dockworker living in New York City who has had the power to travel through time in his dreams since childhood. When he sleeps, he travels to the past or future, inhabiting the body of another person. He meets Anna after discovering they share the same power, and they begin using their abilities to solve crimes and prevent disasters. A mysterious group called Prototype Research International (PRI) is revealed to have given Yanek and Anna their powers through genetic experimentation. PRI is now trying to track them down and eliminate them.
Throughout the season, Yanek and Anna learn more about PRI and the true nature of their abilities. Dr. Sebastian Vector, the head scientist of PRI, explains that they are part of a project to genetically enhance humans by splicing their DNA with hummingbird DNA. This gives them superhuman reflexes, strength, and the power to time travel through lucid dreaming. As Yanek and Anna evade PRI, they uncover evidence of the organization’s illegal activities and surgeons human experimentation. In the season one finale, Yanek and Anna infiltrate a PRI facility with plans to expose the company’s crimes.
The Finale: “The Storm”
In the finale episode “The Storm,” Yanek and Anna break into the main PRI headquarters during a heavy rainstorm. Inside, they find files confirming the organization’s unethical practices. As they are downloading evidence, an alarm is triggered and they are forced to flee from armed guards. During their escape, Anna reveals to Yanek that she has discovered Vector’s ultimate plan – he intends to create an army of time traveling super soldiers by continuing his experiments.
Yanek and Anna decide they have to destroy the facility to prevent Vector from succeeding. They fight their way through the facility, using their abilities to outmaneuver the guards. However, Vector corners them and reveals that he implanted a kill switch in their brains during the experimentation process. He can kill them at any moment using just a push of a button. As Vector prepares to activate the kill switch, Anna grabs a gun and shoots him in the chest before he can kill them.
Believing Vector is dead, Yanek and Anna set explosions throughout the complex to demolish PRI headquarters. As the building collapses, they embrace victoriously. But in the final shot, it’s revealed that Vector survived the gunshot and is dragging himself away. The season ends with his ominous promise: “It’s not over…”
The Cliffhanger Ending
The ending leaves things on a major cliffhanger in multiple ways:
- Is Dr. Vector really dead or will he return next season?
- Were Yanek and Anna able to permanently stop PRI’s plans or will the company rebuild?
- Now that Yanek and Anna know about their implanted kill switches, can they find a way to disarm them?
- Will Yanek and Anna be able to expose PRI’s crimes to the world?
By leaving these questions unanswered, the finale builds anticipation for a second season where the story could go in many different directions. Fans eagerly await finding out the fates of Yanek, Anna, and Vector as well as if PRI will face justice for their unethical experiments. The first season finale accomplished its goal – leaving viewers on the edge of their seats waiting for more.
Themes and Analysis
Beyond the exciting action and suspense, Hummingbird explores powerful themes about human nature through the lens of sci-fi. Here’s some of the deeper themes and questions raised by the first season:
The Ethics of Human Enhancement
By genetically enhancing Yanek and Anna without consent, PRI commits an unethical violation of human rights. The show examines the tension between advancing science and protecting human dignity. It prompts questions about whether abilities like time travel justify breaching moral boundaries.
The Allure of Power
Dr. Vector is driven by hubris and the allure of controlling great power. His obsession with creating super soldiers blinds him to ethical concerns. The show analyzes how the temptation of power can corrupt.
Identity and Purpose
By giving them powers without their knowledge, PRI robs Yanek and Anna of the chance to define their own identities. A key struggle for them is asserting their humanity and reclaiming purpose on their own terms.
Predestination vs. Free Will
Yanek and Anna grapple with questions of fate and freedom. Do their powers mean they have a predestined purpose? Or can they still choose their own destiny? These philosophical quandaries add depth to the sci-fi concepts.
Possibilities for Season 2
The open-ended finale leaves the door open for the story go in many different directions if Hummingbird is renewed for a second season. Here are some possibilities:
- Yanek and Anna could continue trying to dismantle PRI from the outside through activism and exposing their crimes.
- They may take the fight directly to PRI in an attempt to destroy the organization for good.
- There could be a time jump showing PRI rebuilding and starting new experiments, forcing Yanek and Anna out of hiding.
- Vector’s return would allow him to pursue his super soldier plans again.
- Yanek and Anna could search for a way to remove their kill switches and free themselves from PRI’s control.
- More people from the experiment could be introduced, expanding the universe.
Many avenues exist for the story to explore, providing ample content for future seasons. Fans wait in anticipation for the chance to see the next chapter in Yanek and Anna’s journeys.
Will There Be a Season 2?
As of October 2022, Netflix has yet to renew Hummingbird for season 2 or cancel it. The season one finale definitely sets up the potential for more story, but the show’s future likely depends on how well the first season performs.
Early reviews of Hummingbird were mixed to positive, with critics praising the original concept but critiquing the pacing and plotting. The show may need to improve some elements in a second season to win over more viewers.
Fans continue to campaign for a renewal, eager to see the cliffhanger resolved. But they may need to wait a while longer for Netflix to evaluate all the data and decide if Hummingbird will fly again. The story clearly has more to explore, leaving fans hoping this thrilling show won’t just be one season and done.
Conclusion
With its escapist sci-fi premise and engaging central characters, Hummingbird brought a fresh new series to the crowded streaming market. The ending sets up ample opportunity for more mind-bending time travel adventures and the chance to further explore thought-provoking themes. While the show’s renewal is still uncertain, fans remain hopefully they haven’t seen the last of Yanek and Anna. Whether Hummingbird returns or not, the first season delivered an exhilarating ride examining the thrilling possibilities and ethical dilemmas of genetic enhancement. The philosophical questions and cliffhanger conclusion will stick with viewers, leaving them eager to learn the fate of this world and its genetically modified protectors.
