A new trailer for The Hunting Party Season 2 is fueling major questions about a central character’s fate. The preview for the NBC crime drama’s return focuses on the team hunting new serial killers, but one key member is missing. Oliver Odell, played by Nick Wechsler, does not appear in the footage after the first season’s finale left him poisoned and clinging to life. The trailer confirms the show will be back on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET on NBC.
The Missing Man Mystery
The biggest talking point from the Season 2 trailer is the absence of Oliver Odell. The first season ended on a dramatic cliffhanger in April 2025. After a confrontation with the escaped killer Jenna Wells, Oliver collapsed into Bex Henderson’s arms after being poisoned. The screen faded to black without revealing his fate. The newly released trailer shows Bex, Jacob Hassani, and Shane Florence working together in the field, but Oliver is nowhere to be seen.
This visual cue has led many fans to believe the character died from the toxins. However, official press materials from NBC continue to list Nick Wechsler as a series regular. This contradiction between the marketing and the cast list has created confusion and intense speculation online about whether Oliver survived, is recovering off-screen, or if his story will be told through flashbacks.
What Season 2 Will Bring
The new season picks up with the team continuing its mission. Their job is to track down the world’s most dangerous serial killers, who all escaped from a secret government prison known as “The Pit”. The trailer offers a first look at the dangerous new fugitives they will be hunting.
A major draw for the new season is its lineup of guest stars. The show has announced appearances by several well-known actors:
- Eric McCormack will play Ron Simms, a killer known as the “Boogeyman” who targets women looking for love.
- Niecy Nash-Betts appears as Detective Erica Burke in the second episode, helping with a case in New Mexico.
- Kelsey Grammer plays a cult leader and serial killer named Noah Cyrus.
- Other guests include Liz Gillies as a killer called “the Masseuse” and Jefferson White as a man targeting social media influencers.
Unresolved Stories From Season 1
Season 2 has a lot of storylines to address beyond Oliver’s fate. The finale revealed several other secrets that will impact the team moving forward.
One of the biggest shocks was the identity of Shane’s mother. It was revealed that Colonel Lazarus, the military officer who has been guiding the team with information about the Pit, is actually Shane’s mother. She was an inmate who was part of the secret GWB-45 drug program, an “empathy modulator” tested on prisoners. Her transformation into a seemingly successful and powerful figure raises major questions about her motives and what her connection to the program means for Shane.
Another personal revelation involved Jacob Hassani. The team discovered that Hassani has been a widower and single father for years, keeping his family life a secret from his colleagues. This lie, along with him being shot and hospitalized in the finale, will change his dynamics with the team, especially Bex.
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The Complicated Love Triangle
The relationships between the characters are also set for more complexity. The show has slowly built a potential connection between Bex and the steady, reliable Shane. However, Bex shares a long, complicated history with Oliver, her former partner and ex-boyfriend.
Actress Melissa Roxburgh, who plays Bex, has openly discussed this dynamic. She acknowledged supporting Bex and Oliver’s relationship due to their deep shared history. However, she also noted the appeal of Shane’s character as a safe and calm presence. This leaves the character’s romantic future uncertain as the new season begins.
Series co-showrunner Jake Coburn described Season 1 as Bex dealing with old wounds and making peace with a difficult past. The hope for future seasons is to see her grow from that reflection and be driven more by her current relationships.
Fan Reactions and Theories
Since the trailer dropped, fans have been actively discussing Oliver’s fate on social media and forums. Many are worried the missing character signals his death, while others hold out hope because Nick Wechsler is still listed in the cast. This mystery is the main topic of conversation as the premiere date approaches.
The Season 1 finale in April 2025 left fans demanding answers. Comments on recap articles at the time showed strong support for the show and its characters. One fan wrote, “Oliver has to be okay,” while another called the finale “both incredible, and also devastating”. The renewal for Season 2 means these fans will finally get some resolutions.
All episodes of The Hunting Party Season 1 are currently available to stream on Peacock. Season 2 will premiere with new episodes on NBC and stream on Peacock the following day.
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