The highly anticipated second series of ITV's gripping police drama, After the Flood, made its return to screens on Sunday, 18 January 2026, but it left fans voicing a unified point of confusion.
A New Mystery for Detective Jo Marshall
Viewers were reunited with Detective Jo Marshall, portrayed by Sophie Rundle, a year after the events of the first series. The new season picks up with Jo, now promoted from PC to detective, embarking on a complex murder investigation. The town of Waterside is now facing the threat of devastating moorland fires and potential further flooding when a body is discovered under strange circumstances.
Jo's determined pursuit of the killer brings her into direct conflict with the town's most powerful figures, dragging her into a deeply personal probe. To uncover long-standing corruption within the local police force and her own family, she must operate in secret.
Viewers Question the Show's Title
Despite the compelling new storyline, the reaction on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) was dominated by one recurring observation. With the central threat now revolving around fire rather than water, many fans suggested the show's title, After the Flood, no longer seemed fitting.
One viewer quipped: "There seems to be a flood of non-flood-related things going on #AfterTheFlood." Another commented: "In a show called #AftertheFlood there should technically (if not realistically) be another flood."
The shift in theme prompted humorous speculation about future series, with one person posting: "So Flood then Fire .. series 3, locusts on the moors? #AfterTheFlood."
Sophie Rundle on the New Series
In an exclusive statement, lead actress Sophie Rundle teased what audiences can expect from the new episodes. She explained that the show, much like her character, goes "hurtling down that rabbit hole" and "right to the brink."
Rundle promised a "well-deserved continuation" that delivers a gripping murder mystery while further developing the characters viewers have grown to care about. She emphasised that the new series expands the story in a compelling way, ensuring fans will be rooting for the characters and eager to discover the outcome.
After the Flood continues weekly on Sundays and Mondays on ITV. All episodes are available to stream on ITVX.
