NBC’s crime drama “The Hunting Party” made a dramatic return for its second season with the unexpected death of a main character. In the season premiere that aired on January 8, 2024, viewers learned that Oliver Odell, played by Nick Wechsler, did not survive the poisoning he suffered in the season one finale. The confirmation of his death occurred offscreen, as FBI agent Bex Henderson, portrayed by Melissa Roxburgh, was shown mourning her former partner.
The announcement of Wechsler’s involvement in the season two cast, released by NBC, added to the surprise surrounding Oliver’s demise. Executive producer JJ Bailey explained to TVLine that the creative team faced significant challenges regarding Oliver’s character arc. “One thing that we sort of faced was creatively, it was hard to involve [Oliver] in the field and to find stories that felt like it really serviced what we wanted to do with the character and with Bex,” Bailey stated.
Co-executive producer Jake Coburn elaborated on the decision, noting the importance of Oliver’s connection to Bex’s past. “At a certain point, we processed a lot of that story and emotion. It felt like going forward, we were more looking in terms of the characters that were going to be part of her future story,” Coburn said. The producers ultimately decided that they had explored Oliver’s storyline to its fullest potential.
Roxburgh, who expressed surprise at Oliver’s fate, conveyed her hopes for closure regarding the Bex-Odell relationship. “It was left on a cliffhanger, so I’m like, ‘OK, maybe there’s hope that he’s not dead.’ But you know what? It’s a great plot twist, I think, that coming into season 2… audiences will be more inclined to tune in because I think that they weren’t expecting that,” she told TVLine.
As season two unfolds, Bex is tasked with reassembling her team to pursue the escaped serial killers from a secret underground prison known as The Pit. A new character, Eve Lazarus, played by Kari Matchett, steps into the role of team leader, although her mysterious past as a former inmate raises suspicions among Bex and her colleagues. Roxburgh indicated that the dynamics within the team will be intriguing, emphasizing that they “are always going to be suspicious” of Lazarus.
“The Hunting Party” airs on NBC on Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET, with episodes available for streaming on Peacock the following day. As the season progresses, viewers can expect further twists and turns as Bex navigates new challenges in her quest for justice.
