The Horror of Dolores Roach Season 2: Everything We Know So Far
“The Horror of Dolores Roach” is a dark comedy horror series on Prime Video in July 2023. Based on the off-Broadway play “Empanada Loca” and its namesake podcast, the series took audiences on a darkly comedic journey through the eyes of Dolores Roach, a woman returning home after 16 years in prison.
Justina Machado’s electric performance brought Dolores to life, infusing the character with grit, vulnerability, and a touch of morbid humour. Her chemistry with the equally talented Alejandro Hernandez, playing her stoner friend Luis, crackled with desperation and loyalty.
Aaron Mark, the show’s creator, deftly navigated the tonal tightrope between horror, dark comedy, and social commentary, keeping viewers both entertained and unnerved. The series is a unique blend of humour and horror, and the critical reception praised its acting, direction, and exploration of gentrification.
The niche genre and limited marketing campaign proved obstacles in a crowded streaming landscape. However, “Dolores Roach” remains a hidden gem in the world of streaming. Its exploration of themes like second chances, societal disregard for the marginalised, and the horrors lurking beneath the surface of gentrification resonates deeply.
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Official Announcement on The Horror of Dolores Roach Season 2
The Horror of Dolores Roach is a series based on a one-woman play written by Aaron Mark titled Empanada Loca. The play was later adapted into a podcast before it was adapted by Amazon Prime Video into a series.
The Horror of Dolores Roach premiered on Prime Video in July 2023. The series received favourable critical and audience reviews, with many fans calling the series a contemporary retelling of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Despite all the positive waves made by the series, In November 2023, Amazon Prime Video cancelled the series. No specific reason has been provided for the cancellation, which led to speculation that the show did not garner enough viewership numbers.
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Previous Seasons and Episodes The Horror of Dolores Roach
In May 2020, the off-Broadway play and podcast, The Horror of Dolores Roach, was decided as the source for a new series developed by Amazon Prime Video. Dara Reznik was appointed the showrunner, with Aaron Mark also on board.
Soon, the series took shape and premiered on Prime Video in July 2023 with an amazing cast, including Justina Machado, Alejandro Hernandez, Kita Updike, Marc Maron, and K. Todd Freeman. The series had eight episodes that were up to 30 minutes each.
When the series released, it received generally favourable reviews, with the performance of Justina Machado eliciting maximum praise. The plotline, mostly, stayed true to the play and the podcast. However, in the season finale episode, it deviated from the podcast to create a cliffhanger.
This tickled the curiosity of many fans, and they patiently await The Horror of Dolores Roach season 2.
Where to watch The Horror of Dolores Roach
The Horror of Dolores Roach is an Amazon studio production. Viewers can stream the series on Amazon Prime Video in all countries, including the USA, UK and Canada.
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Google Trends Data Analysis on The Horror of Dolores Roach Season 2
The Horror of Dolores Roach was an off-broadway play that gained critical acclaim and later became a podcast as well. Due to this, the story has had a dedicated and loyal fan following since before the series was aired.
Google search trends for The Horror of Dolores Roach were at their peak when the show premiered on Prime Video in July 2023. Later, it gradually dropped, but fans continued to search for more information and news on the series as they waited for season 2.
In November 2023, Amazon cancelled the series without mentioning any specific reason, dashing the hopes of many fans. The search volumes for The Horror of Dolores Roach season 2 picked up in short bursts during September, October, and December 2023 but have been dismal due to the news of the cancellation.
The ambiguous ending of season 1, where the fate of Dolores Roach was unclear, left fans unhappy. However, the hope of the fans is resting on season 2 of the podcast of The Horror of Dolores Roach, which continues the story.
Social Media Engagement of The Horror of Dolores Roach Season 2
The trends on social media platforms followed a similar path as Google Search. The buzz and activity surrounding the Prime Video series was at an all-time high during June and July 2023. Later, it dipped, only to pick up once again in November 2023 due to the news of the cancellation.
All activity surrounding the series was concentrated on Facebook and X (Twitter). Most of the shares, likes, and discussions were on these two platforms, where ‘How-To’ articles took up a major chunk of the activity.
Fans were keen on how to find and watch the series, its podcast, and the play created by Aaron Mark. Interviews with the cast and crew also generated a buzz as the fans were hungry for news on the series.
Expected Plot of the Upcoming Season of The Horror of Dolores Roach
Despite the sad news from Prime Video regarding The Horror of Dolores Roach season 2, the story of Dolores Roach does not end with the finale of season 1. Since there is a play and a podcast about this story, we can be sure that the murderous rampage of Dolores Roach did not end.
At the end of season 1, Dolores Roach had killed most of the main cast and made a run from law enforcement. She tried to frame Nellie for all the murders, and to get a clean break, she burnt down Empanada Loca.
In her dark and twisted mind, Dolores continues to hate and target her ex-boyfriend Dominic for all her troubles. She plans to track him down and punish him. In fact, the closing scene is that of Miss Roach’s evil laughter in front of Dominic’s home.
If we get a season 2, it would depict the further deterioration of Dolores Roach’s mental stability and humanity. Since she is on the run from law enforcement, the series would also depict how the law closes in on her.
It would be interesting to see if Dolores finds any salvation towards the end.
Important Characters of The Horror of Dolores Roach
1. Dolores Roach
Justina Machado portrays Dolores Roach, the main character. Her former partner, Dominic, caused her to receive an incorrect sentence in a marijuana possession case sixteen years ago. Her years in prison have turned her mind into a complex roller coaster of emotions.
Stress is increased when she enters a culture that has undergone significant change since her time. But beyond the rugged exterior, there’s a burning anger and a yearning need for normalcy. She goes to startling lengths when her stability falters, making it difficult to distinguish between the victim and the monster.
Dolores is a survivor, a sombre reflection of the darkness that lies under the glossy exterior of gentrification, and an example of the human spirit’s enduring if warped, endurance.
2. Luis
The stoner confidante of Dolores is Luis. He drifts through existence like a wisp of oregano haze. Luis is a devoted buddy who enjoys rolling blunts and philosophising. Despite his laid-back exterior, he has a sinister side.
Dolores’s fiery personality captivates and terrifies him in equal measure. He is captivated by her power and disgusted by the path of blood she leaves behind. Luis becomes Dolores’s partner in the kitchen, turning victims into the shop’s secret ingredient because he is torn between upholding his conscience and defending his buddy.
Even though he frequently provides comedic relief, Luis struggles with the ethical implications of their violent alliance and his easy-going demeanour crumbles beneath the weight of their grim agreement.
3. Jeremiah
Jeremiah is a ray of unanticipated generosity. A tough meat seller with a golden heart, he looks beyond Dolores’s outward fury and finds her fragility. He provides her with a lifeline by offering to assist her go out of the city and live in the open.
However, his well-intentioned actions conflict with Dolores’s spiral into evil. After seeing her bloody trail, Jeremiah is left with a moral choice: protect his companion from her own irrational desires or flee the mayhem she leaves in her wake.
His trip is a moving examination of loyalty and the battle to keep someone alive even when all odds point to their irredeemability.
4. Nellie
The cashier and server Nellie at Empanada Loca is a perfect example of how gentrification can be tragic. She is half-Chippewa and half-American, torn between two worlds, pining for the free-spirited past while fighting to make ends meet in the cold, modern reality.
Nellie was Dolores’s confidante at first, but her suspicions regarding Jonah’s abduction placed her in danger. Nellie is made a victim of the system that drives its people to the verge of despair as well as Dolores’s wrath after being used as a pawn in Luis’s plot to frame Dolores.
Her sad journey serves as a sobering reminder of the human cost of development and the susceptibility of individuals left behind.
5. Flora Frias
Flora Frias isn’t a major character in “The Horror of Dolores Roach,” but her influence is unsettling. A budding dramatist captivated by Dolores’s narrative puts on a gruesome play that portrays Dolores’s misdeeds. She meets Dolores in her dressing room in search of the truth and is overcome by the darkness she discovers.
Flora is a warning story because the boundaries between the storyteller and the subject are blurred as her infatuation turns into a dangerous fixation. Dolores’s final, mysterious demise is a chilling afterthought to her journey, implying the long-lasting damage one’s deeds might inflict on those who venture too far.
Important Crew Members The Horror of Dolores Roach
1. Showrunner: Dara Resnik
Dara Resnik is “The Horror of Dolores Roach”‘s showrunner. She oversaw the writing, production, and execution of the whole season and was in charge of the show’s overall creative direction and management. Resnik was the main force behind the series’ conception and implementation, even if Aaron Mark was its creator and executive producer.
She ensured that the programme stayed true to the original concept while also tailoring it for the television medium by closely collaborating with Mark and the writing team.
2. Writer: Aaron Mark
Although the television series “The Horror of Dolores Roach” credits several writers for separate episodes, Aaron Mark, the author of the play and podcast, is acknowledged as the primary writer behind the adaptation. As executive producer and creator, he made sure the programme stuck to his vision while adapting the preexisting narrative for the small screen.
He maintained creative control and was instrumental in establishing the TV show’s overarching plot, cast of characters, and tone. The adaptation effectively showcases his particular voice and dark comedy sensibility, rendering “The Horror of Dolores Roach” a fascinating and unusual television experience.
3. Directors: Roxann Dawson and Hiromi Kamata
For various episodes of the show, different filmmakers were involved. Roxann Dawson directed the pilot episode, which establishes the tone for the whole show. Renowned for her roles in television series such as “Star Trek: Voyager” and “Foundation,” she is also a famous actor and director.
Her skill at dark humour and drama made her an ideal choice to bring the distinct universe of “The Horror of Dolores Roach” to life. Hiromi Kamata is another well-known filmmaker who contributed to the series.
She has also contributed to other significant projects, such as “Let the Right One In” and “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters”.
4. Author: Aaron Mark
The creator of “The Horror of Dolores Roach,” Aaron Mark, crafts his sinister vision in a variety of media. His first creation was a one-woman piece called “Empanada Loca,” which delves into Dolores’s past. Ultimately, he changed the narrative for Prime Video, expanding the reach of Dolores’s bizarre story.
Raw honesty and dark humour permeate Mark’s writing, compelling the reader to have awkward conversations about gentrification, survival, and the duality of the human spirit. He’s a storyteller who loves the dark and isn’t hesitant to reveal the disturbing realities that lie just under the surface.
Similar shows as The Horror of Dolores Roach
Here are more shows that deal with the theme of mental illnesses, oppression, and rebellion.
1. Swarm
Swarm, a miniseries created by Donald Glover and Janine Nabers, is a genre-bending whirlwind that dives into the dark side of obsession. Dre is a young woman whose infatuation with a pop star named Ni’Che spirals into a chillingly unpredictable path.
Through Dre’s increasingly erratic lens, we witness a distorted reality where fandom blurs into delusion. As she chases Ni’Che’s every move, Dre’s own sense of self unravels, leading to disturbing acts fueled by a twisted sense of devotion.
Swarm is a satirical commentary on the toxic side of fan culture and the dangers of blurring the lines between admiration and obsession.
2. The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart
Uncovering mysteries inside the colourful outback of Australia, “The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart” blossoms with a moving story of fortitude and family reconciliation. Nine-year-old Alice seeks comfort in her estranged grandma June’s wildflower refuge as she is plagued by the fire that claimed her parents.
A lady shrouded in murmurs, June provides a sanctuary for women fleeing difficult pasts; each woman is a “flower” in her own garden. As Alice blossoms into maturity, she confronts the shadows of June’s mysterious past and the betrayals that split her family as she discovers the truth behind the fire.
3. Harlan Coben’s Shelter
Teen angst collides with dark secrets in “Harlan Coben’s Shelter”. Mickey Bolitar is a high schooler reeling from his father’s sudden death. Moving in with his aunt Shira in the seemingly idyllic town of Kasselton, New Jersey, Mickey soon stumbles upon a chilling mystery.
A fellow student, Ashley Kent, vanishes without a trace, leaving behind a trail of cryptic clues. Fueled by grief and a thirst for justice, Mickey teams up with his quirky friends Spoon and Ema to unravel the truth.
Their amateur sleuthing leads them down a rabbit hole of buried secrets, uncovering a decades-old conspiracy that could shatter the facade of their quiet community.
4. Dead Ringers
Dead Ringers is a horror drama that came out in 2023. In Manhattan, identical twins Beverly and Elliot Mantle, brilliant but troubled gynaecologists, dream of revolutionising childbirth. Their shared brilliance is shadowed by darker desires.
Elliot’s seductive charisma hides a manipulative streak, while Beverly’s gentle empathy masks a hidden mental illness. As they blur the lines between patient and lover, their intertwined lives spiral towards a dangerous precipice, threatening to unravel their shared ambition and expose the chilling secrets buried beneath their perfect mirror image.
5. The Power
The Power depicts the world as a familiar mirror with cracks appearing. Teenage girls suddenly wield electricity, sparking a global shift. Their jolts ignite fear, rebellion, and a chain reaction. Older women awaken the Power too, reshaping societies where men now fear the spark.
Three women – a rebellious teen, a disillusioned politician, and a mysterious boy – face their own revolutions as the world convulses, testing the meaning of power, sisterhood, and what it means to be human.
