Notorious Boss Talks Jake and Julia’s Finale ‘Moment,’ Reveals Twisted Plans for Potential Season 2
Spoiler alert: This article contains major reveals from the season finale of Notorious. Unlike that headstrong Julia George, you might want to proceed with caution.
Thursday’s Notorious season finale ended on a surprisingly high note, with Jake & Co. liberating Julia from El Toro and returning to Los Angeles in one piece — until the episode’s final moments, when we learned that Maya Hart has (presumably) committed suicide.
“We had a big role for Melina Kanakaredes [as Maya’s mother Dana] in the next episode; she’ll be crucial if the show gets picked up [for a second season],” showrunner Josh Berman tells TVLine. “Basically, everything you think you know about that character, you really don’t. … It turns the entire story on its head.”
Below, Berman answers all of our burning questions from Thursday’s finale, then offers a glimpse into the series’ hypothetical future:
TVLINE | OK, let’s start with Julia: How might she emerge from this ordeal a different person?
I imagine that anytime one gets kidnapped, their priorities get reevaluated. On the way back, that moment when she puts her head on Jake’s shoulder and he kisses her hand … as much as they haven’t given into their feelings for each other, because work has always come first, I think Julia’s experience has obviously brought them closer together.
TVLINE | I know Julia and Jake are based on real-life people who claim they were never romantic, but was there ever talk of getting them together?
If they physically consummate their feelings, it would fundamentally change the series. I worked on Bones for four seasons, and there was always the question about when Booth and Brennan were going to hook up. We knew that would change the show forever, and it did. I don’t think we ever thought Jake and Julia would get together in Season 1.
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TVLINE | Julia got to flex her interviewing muscles, albeit unwillingly, this week. Any chance she’ll be doing more of that?
The character of Julia George — and I’ve talked about this at length with Piper Perabo — loves being the boss. In media, even though the people in front of the camera are the faces of the news, the ones behind the camera are making the news. She’s right where she wants to be. She never wants to be the face of a story.
TVLINE | We just met Avery, but I already hate her. Will she, hypothetically, remain a thorn in Megan’s side?
Hypothetically, yes. There was actually a scene cut from the finale that showed some sparks between Avery and Megan. It’s a storyline we’ll save for the future, fingers crossed.
TVLINE | Wait, like, romantic sparks? Or just tension?
Shockingly, romantic sparks. We’ve never delved into Megan’s backstory, so we don’t know what her sexuality is. There was great chemistry between those two ladies on the set, so we were going to use Avery as a way of going into Megan’s past.
TVLINE | I guess I should have asked this first: Is there hope for more episodes?
There’s absolutely hope for more episodes. ABC is paying to keep our sets, as opposed to striking them, which is obviously a costly endeavor. So that’s always a good sign. Our audience has stuck around from the beginning, but Thursday is a tough night.
TVLINE | And now [network president] Darin is out of a job. Do you envision the team rallying to get him back?
Actually, if we do come back, there’s a whole storyline we hope to tell where he gets hired at a competing network, which would put his son [Ryan] in a compromising position.
TVLINE | Was there anything else you had planned for those last three episodes before the order was cut down to 10?
The last few episodes were really going to dig into Jake’s past; we were going to meet both his adoptive parents and his biological parents. We had people in mind, and Daniel [Sunjata] was really excited about doing it.
Are you pulling for a second season of Notorious? Grade the finale below, then drop a comment with your full review.
We love Notorious. Hopefully, it will return for more seasons.
Andy, you’re mixing up your shows. Maya Hart is on Girl Meets World. It’s Maya Hartman on Notorious. :)
The show is not coming back for a second season. An episode order being cut or a show getting yanked means unofficially cancellation. People are really delusional if they think this is coming back for another season. This,Conviction,Pure Genius all unofficially cancelled. Pitch,The Exorcist are capped at 10 and won’t be back next season.
I actually liked Conviction – the leads (Haley and Eddie) are marvelous. It could use a tweak or two, but the core is solid.
I watched every single episode of this show and tbh I’m fine either way… canceled/renewed.
I love the Gregorian Bros though, wish they were the main focus of the show.
As for Julia, Louise, Megyn, Ryan, Ella etc; after 10 epis, I feel exactly the same way I felt about them in the pilot..nothing/indifferent.
I’m not sure if it was the writing or the actors but it was hard to relate/connect with these characters.
Actually ABC on Thursdays is a pretty cushy slot. Especially following Grey’s. I watched the pilot and I really wanted to like the show, but it was trying WAY too hard.
I absolutely cannot wait until season 2. If there isn’t one I’m starting a riot. I instantly fell in love with Julia from the first second I saw her (it doesn’t help that Piper is extremely sexy and talented) and the chemistry between her and Jake is undeniable. AMAZING!!
Love this show and continue next year👍👍
I seriously love this show and i’m praying we get a 2nd season. The finale was awesome stuff! The show keeps growing as it progresses. I hope we see more.
My husband and I love vie notorious. It definitely needs to return for season two. We did not realize it was only 10 episodes to season 1. Please renew notorious
I watched this show for Piper and had gotten used to her in this role after those seasons on Covert Affairs… I am good either way..
I’ve loved this show from the start…I really hope there is a 2nd season.
Haven’t watched the finale yet, but I have to say I have mixed feelings about its imminent demise. The show was reliably ridiculous each week, especially in its obliviousness to the concept of either legal or journalistic ethics (a harbinger of the next four years perhaps?). And Jake and Julia’s ongoing chaste flirtation was in marked contrast to a general level of vulgarity to the weekly plotlines. Yet it was compulsively watchable.
I realize Notorious probably isn’t coming back, but it’s my favourite Thursday show and I’d love to see more.
I loved last night’s Season One Finale of Notorious! I won’t go into any details, but, I really hope they bring it back for a Second Season. There’s so much they can do with the show, and it looks like they already have some plans for it, which is really cool. :o)
Love the show really hope it comes back. I’ve always liked Piper in everything she has done
Here’s my story with that show.. Liked the first episode, but knew it could go either way.. Then second one did not hold up to little expectations I had.. Skipped a few and when I came back it got better. I’m fine either way, but would like for it to come back… As for ratings, I think network need to reconfigure how they evaluate success as people watch tv less and less, but dvr and stream more. Personally I stream this show on CTV the next day
Love Notorious! Definitely need to have a Season 2!!!
I didn’t even realize Notorious was on this Thursday. I assumed the previous episode was the fall finale. I’m excited there’s an episode to watch, and worried that it may be the last one. I really hope ABC doesn’t cancel it. Notorious is must watch TV for me. It’s the first show I watch, to see what happened from the last week’s cliffhanger. I’m invested in it. This is Us is a great show too, but I’m not as invested. Designated Survivor and Notorious are the only new shows that I’m anxious to see what happened next each week.
Please renew!!!
Renew renew renew! Love the women who rule this show!!
I like the pace and tensions in the story lines. Each and every actor is superb in their roles. Piper Perabo is my favorite actress and I miss her and the team already! Wish I had the money and power to own and run the show with 25 – 30 episodes per full season!!! Good luck to all the cast and crew!!!!! Love you all! R. Vizcaino
Absolutely a second season of Notorious, in a better time slot. Piper Pirabo supported 5 seasons of Covert Affairs and could go the long-haul if ABC would get its act together. I don’t like tuning in and seeing a stupid baking show! Daniel Sunjata worked out very well co-starring with Piper. Bring them back!!!
The show really shocked me as I expected it too be terrible, and it was actually pretty decent, if not good. I like it a lot though. Hope that it can come back for the next season! I really enjoy the suspense and how all the pieces eventually fit together.
Let be the show! Hoping it returns. I wish networks would give shows a minute to find their footing. Thus show has lots of possibilities!
Plz Plz bring back NOTORIOUS for a 2nd season!!