Transplant Season 2 - What We Know So Far
The first season of Canadian medical drama Transplant premiered on NBC in September 2020. Bringing the show to American audiences was partially a way for the network to fill in the COVID-19 shaped gaps in their fall lineup (via Deadline). Regardless, the series proved to be a hit outside of its home country. A second season had already been commissioned by the series' original network, CTV, before it even aired in the US. After delivering solid ratings during its freshman stint on NBC, they decided to follow suit (via The Hollywood Reporter).
Transplant puts a unique and timely spin on the classic hospital-set nighttime soap formula. Dr. Bashir Hamed (Hamza Haq), known to his friends and colleagues as Bash, is a Syrian refugee living in Canada. Initially, Bash is unable to get a job working as a doctor due to his lack of Canadian credentials. That changes when his quick thinking and resourceful knowledge help him save multiple lives during a harrowing accident.
One of those lives is that of Dr. Jed Bishop (John Hannah), the head of the emergency department at Toronto's York Memorial Hospital. After seeing first-hand how talented of a doctor Bash is, Dr. Bishop brings him on as a resident.
Where will season 2 take Bash's story? Who will be returning for another shift at York Memorial? And when can viewers in the US expect to see more of this gripping series? Here's everything we know so far about Transplant season 2.
When will Transplant season 2 come out in the US?
According to a report by Deadline, season 2 of Transplant began production in February 2021 and isn't expected to premiere in Canada until later the same year. Given that the first season had its Canadian premiere in February 2020, it appears that the series will be shifted back significantly from its original schedule. What will this mean for its eventual US start date?
At the time of writing, NBC hasn't set a date for the American premiere of the series. Considering that the Canadian premiere has been pushed back, it seems likely that the same will happen to the US release date. Like season 1, the show's second season will have 13 episodes, according to a press release by CTV. That makes it easy to imagine NBC bringing it in as a mid-season premiere in 2022, as opposed to at the beginning of the fall/winter TV season.
While there's a chance that season 2 of Transplant will begin airing in fall 2021, don't be surprised if it ends up debuting in early 2022. Of course, until there's official confirmation from NBC, that is all speculation.
Who is returning for Transplant season 2?
Viewers who fell in love with the characters from Transplant's first season will be happy to hear that the core cast is returning for the show's second season. Per CTV's press release, Haq will once again play Dr. Hamed, alongside Laurence Leboeuf as Dr. Mags Leblanc, Ayisha Issa as Dr. June Curtis, Sirena Gulamgaus as Amira Hamed, Jim Watson as Dr. Theo Hunter, and John Hannah as Dr. Jed Bishop, among others.
Speaking of Hannah, we will be curious to see if he remains a cast member throughout the entirety of the second season. The first season ended with his character suffering an apparent stroke, and while he regained consciousness during the episode, he's not necessarily out of the woods just yet. While Hannah is listed as a series regular for season 2, surprising audiences by having a character die unexpectedly wouldn't be totally unheard of for a TV medical drama.
One other important piece of casting news is that Torri Higginson, who plays nurse Claire Malone, will be bumped up from a recurring part to a series regular for season 2 (via Deadline).
The questions we hope to see answered in Transplant's second season
It's a good thing that season 2 of Transplant is on its way, because season 1 left viewers with many lingering questions. The most immediate is how Dr. Bishop's apparent stroke will affect the staff and patients at York Memorial. The CTV press release teases that the event leaves things "destabilized" at the hospital. The press release also promises the arrival of some new staff to the emergency room, and we're sure they'll be bringing plenty of fresh drama along with them.
Another huge question season 1 left unanswered is that of the identity of the mysterious woman Bash and his sister Amira saw at the end of the finale. It's clear that she's a significant figure in their lives, but exactly who she is and how her arrival will change things for the Hameds remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, Bash and Mags (Bags? Mash?) shippers are no doubt dying to know whether the two will finally take the plunge and begin some Grey's Anatomy style hospital romance. They seemed closer than ever to taking their flirting to the next level by the end of the season, but neither has stepped up and made an official move. Whether or not they end up exploring their attraction to one another, expect their potential romance to play a factor in season 2.
While we may still be in for a bit of a wait for more Transplant, based on what we know so far about the upcoming second season, it will be worth it.