# The Stranger & Safe (Netflix) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, netflix\ **Created:** [February 12, 2020, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stranger-safe-netflix/847827 "2020-02-12T17:38:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stranger-safe-netflix/847827/1 "2020-02-12T17:38:16Z")
I just binged _The Stranger_ on Netflix and am halfway through _Safe_. Both are based on novels written by Harlan Coben. An 8 episode miniseries based on a novel means that things are kind of stretched out, but what the hey. Anyway, both series are listed as Season One. Anyone know _why_? How do you have a series based on a novel, get to the end of the novel, then have a season two? ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stranger-safe-netflix/847827/2 "2020-02-12T18:56:15Z")
Well, they are British shows (or at least _The Stranger_ is) and they’re notorious for labelling things as a series when they’re actually a one off. I suspect it’s just a naming convention though, makes it easier to do an internet search for the show and a full season like that can’t really be considered a miniseries. We need to normalize the “limited series” label for shows that aren’t really going to have another season with character continuity and the like. ---
**Author:** ![DerNils](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@DerNils](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DerNils)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2020, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stranger-safe-netflix/847827/3 "2020-02-13T14:13:13Z")
And you could have stuff like Fargo, where you do a similar tale every Season, but not necessarily linked or using the same cast. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stranger-safe-netflix/847827/4 "2020-02-14T16:18:07Z")
I binged (and I don’t normally) The Stranger a couple of weeks ago. I had a Monday off and just kept watching. I enjoyed it. I watched Safe when it first came out and enjoyed it, but I don’t remember if it had an actual ending. I feel like I’ve been waiting for another season. Did it have a conclusion? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stranger-safe-netflix/847827/5 "2020-02-14T16:25:34Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > I binged (and I don’t normally) The Stranger a couple of weeks ago. I had a Monday off and just kept watching. I enjoyed it. > > I watched Safe when it first came out and enjoyed it, but I don’t remember if it had an actual ending. I feel like I’ve been waiting for another season. Did it have a conclusion? Yes, Safe had a solid conclusion. The mom (Rachel?) and four of her friends were responsible for accidentally starting the school fire. The policewoman killed Chris to stop him from turning them in. Bobby killed himself. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2020, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stranger-safe-netflix/847827/6 "2020-02-14T16:27:30Z")
I enjoyed The Stranger but I couldn’t get through Safe because of the awful accent of Michael C. Hall.