Is Born in Synanon Coming Back for Season 2? Born in Synanon Season 2 Release Date, Cast, Plot, Spoiler & Updates

Born in Synanon Season 2: If you are a fan of documentaries about cults, you might have watched Born in Synanon, a four-part series that premiered on Paramount+ on December 12, 2023. The series follows Cassidy Arkin, a woman who was born into Synanon, an experimental community that turned into a violent and dangerous cult in the 1970s. Through interviews and archival footage, Arkin tries to uncover the truth about Synanon and its charismatic leader, Chuck Dederich, who led his followers into a spiral of abuse, manipulation, and crime.

Born in Synanon has received positive reviews from critics and viewers, who praised its compelling and disturbing story, its personal and emotional perspective, and its extensive use of rare and shocking materials. The series has also sparked a lot of interest and curiosity about Synanon, one of the most notorious cults in American history. Many people are wondering if there will be a second season of Born in Synanon, and what it could explore. Here is everything we know so far about the possibility of Born in Synanon season 2.

Will There Be a Season 2 of Born in Synanon?

As of now, Paramount+ has not officially renewed or canceled Born in Synanon for a second season. The series was initially presented as a limited series, which means that it was intended to have a finite and conclusive story. However, that does not necessarily rule out the chance of a continuation, as some limited series have been extended or followed by spin-offs or sequels, such as The Act, Dirty John, and The Sinner.

The decision to renew Born in Synanon for a second season will likely depend on several factors, such as the ratings, the reception, the demand, and the availability of new and relevant information. Paramount+ has not released any official numbers on how many people watched Born in Synanon, but the series has generated a lot of buzz and discussion on social media and online forums. The series has also received mostly positive feedback from critics and audiences, who have given it an average rating of 6.6 out of 10 on IMDb and 86% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Another factor that could influence the renewal of Born in Synanon is the potential for new and compelling stories. The first season of Born in Synanon focused mainly on Arkin’s journey and her quest to learn the truth about Synanon and her family. However, there are many other aspects and angles of Synanon that could be explored in a second season, such as:

• The aftermath of Synanon’s collapse and the legal battles that ensued
• The current status and whereabouts of former Synanon members and leaders
• The impact and legacy of Synanon on the addiction treatment field and the cult phenomenon
• The stories and experiences of other people who were born in or joined Synanon
• The investigation and analysis of Synanon’s methods and practices, such as the Synanon Game, the lifestyle changes, the violence, and the brainwashing
• The comparison and contrast of Synanon with other similar or related cults, such as Scientology, Jonestown, and NXIVM
• The psychological and sociological factors that led to the rise and fall of Synanon and its appeal to its followers

Of course, these are just some possible ideas for a second season of Born in Synanon, and they would require a lot of research, cooperation, and creativity to be executed. It is not clear if Arkin, the director Geeta Gandbhir, or the producers are interested or willing to continue the project, or if they have enough material and resources to do so. Moreover, it is possible that some former Synanon members or their families may not want to participate or share their stories, or may even oppose or sue the production.

When Will Born in Synanon Season 2 Release?

If Paramount+ decides to renew Born in Synanon for a second season, it will probably take some time before it is released. Making a documentary series is not an easy or quick process, as it involves a lot of research, interviews, editing, and legal issues. The first season of Born in Synanon took about two years to make, from the announcement in November 2021 to the premiere in December 2023. Therefore, if a second season is greenlit, we can expect it to arrive sometime in 2025 or 2026, depending on the scope and complexity of the project.

Cast

The cast of Born in Synanon season 2 will largely depend on the theme and focus of the season. If the season continues to follow Arkin’s perspective and story, we can expect her to return as the main narrator and protagonist. We may also see some of the people who appeared in the first season, such as Arkin’s mother Sandy, her brother Josh, her aunt Linda, and some of her former Synanon peers and friends. However, if the season shifts to a different angle or topic, we may see new faces and voices, such as other former Synanon members, experts, journalists, or survivors.

Here is the table:

Name	Role	Description
Cassidy Arkin	Self	Cassidy’s mother, joined Synanon as a “square” (a non-addict) in 1971. She married Ed Arkin, another square, in 1973. They had two children, Cassidy and Jesse. They left Synanon in 1980, after witnessing the violence and corruption of the cult.
Sandy Rogers-Hare	Self	Cassidy’s father, who joined Synanon as a square in 1971. He was a musician and a teacher in the cult. He died in 2015 before the series was completed.
Ed Arkin	Self	Cassidy’s father, joined Synanon as a square in 1971. He was a musician and a teacher in the cult. He died in 2015 before the series was completed.
Paul Morantz	Self	A lawyer who sued Synanon on behalf of several clients who were harmed by the cult. He was also attacked by a rattlesnake that was placed in his mailbox by Synanon members in 1978. He survived the attack and continued to expose and fight Synanon in court.
Richard Ofshe	Self	A sociologist and a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He was an expert witness in several cases involving Synanon. He also wrote a book about the cult, called The Social Construction of Synanon.
David Mitchell	Self	A journalist and a co-author of the book The Light on Synanon, which was the first expose of the cult. He also testified against Synanon in court and received death threats from the cult.
Claire Clark	Self	A historian and a professor at the University of Kentucky. She is the author of the book Recovering the Self: The Cultural History of Addiction and Recovery in America, which includes a chapter on Synanon.
Geeta Gandbhir	Director	The director of the series. She is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker who has directed and edited several documentaries, such as I Am Evidence, Why We Hate, and Call Center Blues.

Plot

The plot of Born in Synanon season 2 will also depend on the theme and focus of the season. If the season continues to follow Arkin’s perspective and story, we may see her delve deeper into Synanon’s history and secrets, and confront some of the people who were involved in the cult’s crimes and controversies. We may also see her deal with the emotional and psychological consequences of her discoveries, and try to heal and move on from her past. However, if the season shifts to a different angle or topic, we may see a different plot, such as an investigation of Synanon’s aftermath, a comparison of Synanon with other cults, or an analysis of Synanon’s methods and practices.

Spoilers and Latest Updates

Born in Synanon is a docu-series that does not have a conventional plot or storyline. It is more of a historical and personal exploration of Synanon, its founder, its members, and its legacy. Therefore, there are not many spoilers or surprises in the series, as most of the events and facts are already known or documented. However, some revelations and insights might shock or intrigue the viewers, such as:

• The extent of Dederich’s control and manipulation over his followers, who had to obey his every whim and command, even if it meant giving up their children, their spouses, their possessions, their identities, or their lives.
• The brutality and cruelty of Synanon’s violence program, which involved beating, torturing, and killing anyone who opposed or criticized the cult, including former members, journalists, lawyers, judges, and even children.
• The hypocrisy and corruption of Synanon’s finances, which involved embezzling millions of dollars from donations, grants, and lawsuits, and spending them on lavish lifestyles, weapons, drugs, and legal fees.
• The psychological and emotional impact of Synanon on its members and survivors, who had to deal with trauma, guilt, shame, anger, fear, and confusion, as well as the loss of their families, friends, and identities.
• The resilience and courage of Arkin and other former members, who managed to escape, heal, and rebuild their lives, as well as to expose and confront Synanon and its crimes.

The series also provides some updates on the current status of Synanon and its offshoots, such as:

• Synanon officially dissolved in 1991, after losing several lawsuits and facing criminal charges. Most of its properties were sold or seized by the authorities. Some of its members dispersed or joined other groups, while others remained loyal to Dederich until he died in 1997.
• Synanon’s offshoot in Germany, called Charisma, still exists and operates as a commune and a drug rehabilitation center. It claims to have severed ties with Synanon and Dederich and to have reformed its practices and policies. However, it still faces criticism and controversy from former members, journalists, and authorities, who accuse it of being a cult and of abusing its residents.
• Arkin and her mother continue to live in Los Angeles, where they pursue their artistic and creative careers. They also maintain contact with some of their former Synanon friends and relatives and participate in support groups and reunions. They hope that their series will help raise awareness and prevent others from falling prey to cults.

Ratings

Born in Synanon has received mostly positive ratings from critics and viewers, who have praised its compelling and disturbing story, personal and emotional perspective, and extensive use of rare and shocking materials. The series has an average rating of 6.6 out of 10 on IMDb, based on 59 user ratings, and 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 7 critic reviews.

Official Trailer

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Where to Watch Born in Synanon?

If you have not watched Born in Synanon yet, or you want to watch it again, you can stream it on Paramount+. Paramount+ is a subscription-based streaming service that offers a variety of original and licensed content, including movies, shows, sports, news, and live TV. You can sign up for a free trial and then choose between two plans: Essential ($4.99 per month) or Premium ($9.99 per month). The Essential plan includes ads, while the Premium plan is ad-free and offers more features, such as offline downloads and 4K streaming.

You can also watch Born in Synanon through other platforms that have Paramount+ as an add-on channel, such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Roku. However, you will need a Paramount+ login to access the series.