Set in a post-apocalyptic world, creatures known as Klaxosaurs threaten humanity to the brink of extinction in Darling in the Franxx. To combat the Klaxosaurs, artificially created "Parasites" are young cadets recruited in boy-girl pairs to pilot giant mecha known as Franxx. The series focuses heavily on the unlikely romance between Zero Two, a human-Klaxosaur hybrid and exceptional pilot, and Hiro, a former pilot prodigy.
When Hiro fails to synchronize with his current female partner and complete the training program, he has a fated encounter with Zero Two. Despite the rumors that Zero Two's partners ultimately perish after pairing with her by the third time, Hiro volunteers to become her new partner. Zero Two affectionately refers to him as her "darling."
Darling in the Franxx aired with 24 episodes from January 2018 to July 2018. Despite its controversial reputation, it was well-received and generated its own adoring fanbase; its relatable and lovable characters have been the inspiration for cosplay, fan art and fan fiction. During its ongoing hiatus, dedicated fans have been anticipating news on when to expect another season.
How Did Darling in the Franxx Season 1 End?
Hiro and Zero Two's complicated relationship seemed to reach its fairytale ending in "Never Let Me Go," the final episode of the first season. In the finale, VIRM, an alien race determined to conquer Earth, wages war with Strelitzia, the mecha that Hiro and Zero Two cooperatively operate.
From his frequent partnership with Zero Two, Hiro begins to undergo a physical mutation, developing horns and fangs that are characteristic of a Klaxosapien hybrid. Ultimately, Hiro and Zero Two sacrifice themselves in Strelitzia, and the Earth is restored to its prosperous state thanks to the surviving Parasites. When we last see Hiro and Zero Two, their souls have been reincarnated as children and the pair are reunited in another life.
What Should We Expect From A Possible Darling in the Franxx Season 2?
Overall, despite its many ups and downs, Darling in the Franxx concludes its heartwarming action-romance by supporting the notion that soulmates will always find one another again, even in death. Hiro and Zero Two's souls live on together in everlasting eternity. Still, the series leaves much to be desired. If the potential for another season is completely out of the question, Hiro and Zero Two died as martyrs without the need for continuation; however, reincarnating their souls as children creates the opportunity for another narrative entirely.
As the last scene fades out, a title card appears that promises the start of "a new story." Given that transparent cliffhanger, it's no surprise that many viewers believe the writers plan to extend the story, in which Squad 13 has been relieved of duty and are presumably leading fulfilling lives while Hiro and Zero Two cross paths as adolescents. If nothing else, it would be both amusing and uplifting to see Squad 13 reunite with Hiro and Zero Two in some corresponding circumstance.
If VIRM keeps its promise to return, the Parasites would perhaps need to don their pilot uniforms once again and return to the battlefield. If Hiro and Zero Two reach adulthood, they may need to reinstate the Parasite program to protect Earth from destruction.
Judging by the dialogue exchange during the cliffhanger scene, Hiro and Zero Two have suffered amnesia during reincarnation and fail to recognize one another. In the afterlife, they exchange vows to "become one" and Hiro is almost unrecognizable as a fellow hybrid. However, when fates align again in rebirth, it seems that both are completely human. Zero Two is lacking her iconic red horns, but the stark contrast between her human childhood and her hybrid backstory is the most shocking. She and Hiro meet under much less troublesome terms and exist as equals without Zero Two suffering as an outcast -- a comforting thought in itself.
If another season is in the cards, not only will Hiro and Zero Two fall in love all over again, but so will their adoring fans. The first season of Darling in the Franxx can be streamed for free with ads on Crunchyroll.