Netflix's Carmen Sandiego ended its second season on a very intense note, with a major secret coming to light about Carmen's past. She's been haunted by how Shadowsan found her in Argentina as a baby before VILE (Villains' International League of Evil) turned her into a master thief. After his defection, Shadowsan revealed what really happened -- and it's given Carmen a new mission.
VILE has made changes as well, while ACME (Agency to Classify & Monitor Evildoers) is set to hunt Carmen after another dispute. With that in mind, here's everything you need to know for Season 3, which hits Netflix Oct. 1.
Carmen Finally Knows Her Origin
Coach Brunt, who acted as a mother-like figure to Carmen in VILE, told her Shadowsan killed her father, leading to Carmen confronting her ally. Shadowsan, however, painted a much more heartbreaking picture and confirmed Carmen's dad, Dexter Wolfe, was one of VILE's high-ranking criminals. They realized he was getting out the game secretly and deployed Shadowsan to kill his former stealth teacher.
However, a task force also made a raid that same night in Argentina and an agent shot and killed Dexter. Shadowsan set the place on fire and took Carmen with him to remove evidence, bringing her to VILE. They decided to raise her to take her dad's mantle, with Shadowsan succeeding Dexter on the council.
Shadowsan also grew tired of VILE's antics, which is why he joined Carmen after she ran away. He wants to stop the evildoers and help Carmen live a life free from what VILE predetermined for her.
ACME Won't Be Friendly Anymore
ACME initially thought Carmen was with VILE and tried to capture her. However, their Chief quickly realized they were on the same side and formed an uneasy alliance, since they all wanted to bring VILE down. Unfortunately, Shadowsan also told Carmen who killed her dad: It was none other than the Chief, in her younger days as Tamara Fraser.
She then formed ACME following the death of Dexter and has been on VILE's tail ever since. Carmen hacked ACME to corroborate Shadowsan's story, digging up data to reveal her mom, "Vera Cruz," faked her death to avoid getting caught and she may be still alive.
That's their new mission, but the hack has angered Fraser, who reactivates a bitter agent, Devineaux. Julia will likely clash with him, however, because she knows Carmen's a force for good. It'll get nasty and personal when Carmen and the Chief meet again.
VILE's Gotten Nasty Upgrades
With Shadowsan out, VILE spent Carmen Sandiego Season 2 unsuccessfully trying to land a replacement, until Roundabout proved his mettle with a diamond project in Botswana. Now, the Brit seems to have a master plan to bait Carmen with a dangerous heist.
From the trailer, viewers know other field soldiers including Neal the Eel, Paper Star, Mime Bomb and Tigress will rejoin the hunt. New additions Spinkick and Flytrap will also try to ensnare her as her team trots the glob, robbing VILE's assets and using the money for charity.
Carmen could be distracted and thus, caught. With Ivy and Zack now overseeing a new headquarters, Carmen pursuing her mom, her ongoing issues with Shadowsan and the possibility Player (her handler and tech-guy) could be hacked, she has people to lose. Gray (her electrician in the field) could also remember he was a VILE agent prior to a lobotomy, ruining a potential romance.
There's a mysterious woman in the Carmen Sandiego Season 3 trailer, who suggests Carmen is emotionally compromised -- so this could be her mother, who isn't what she expected. Fans believe it's someone pretending to be "Vera," as part of Roundabout's sinister scheme.
Starring Gina Rodriguez and Finn Wolfhard, the first two seasons of Carmen Sandiego and Carmen Sandiego: To Steal Or Not To Steal are currently available to stream on Netflix.