The Path season 3: What to expect

Hulu released the trailer for the third season of The Path, and it depicts trouble for the future of the Meyerist Movement.

The season 3 trailer for Hulu’s original series, The Path, is finally here. The show follows members of a cult coined the Meyerist Movement as they struggle to keep their religion afloat. After a series of blows to their reputation in season 2, this may prove easier said than done.

Warning: The rest of this article contains spoilers for the first two seasons of The Path.

Backlash from the public

The public views the Meyerist Movement with suspicion from the beginning of the series, but a series of dishonest financial moves in the second season flare a new wave of hatred for the group. Sarah Lane (Michelle Monaghan) bears most of the blame for this backlash, which seems magnified in the new season.

The season 3 trailer depicts an explosion that appears to take place within Meyerist headquarters.  From the depiction, it seems likely this is a terrorist attack on the facility. There is also a shot of members walking past an angry mob of protesters, further emphasizing the public’s unhappiness with the association.

The movement’s new leader

Eddie Lane spends the first two seasons of The Path struggling to resolve his increasing skepticism toward the Meyerist Movement. He eventually leaves to sort out his conflicting beliefs, compromising his relationship with his family in the process.

The second season concludes with Eddie’s return to the movement. He insists that Meyerism can achieve higher moral values if they cast aside the rigid institutions in place.

Judging by the trailer, the movement will embrace Eddie’s message in the upcoming season. His speech signals that Meyerism is “not just for a chosen few.” This new branding might be the only hope of improving the group’s standing in the public eye.

Cal’s loss of power

Cal Roberts’ drive for power plays a huge role in the series, as his character is constantly grappling between his own selfish desires and proclaimed beliefs. He’s gone to dangerous extremes to secure a leadership position in the movement. It’s clear he’ll let no one stand in his way.

It’s unnerving to watch Cal calmly declare Eddie as the movement’s leader for this reason. His statement leaves fans to wonder whether he’s truly in support of this new regime, or if he’s biding time until he can undermine it. The second option seems most likely.

The ending of the trailer shows Cal unraveling, shouting at someone off-screen. We’ve seen Cal come unhinged on multiple occasions, and this episode could stem from his declining influence. It seems certain that Eddie will face the impact of Cal’s rage at some point in season 3.

A foreboding message

The trailer ends with a warning from one of the founders of Meyerism: “The movement will grow, the son will die, and the cleanse will come.” It’s impossible to know exactly what her words mean, but they don’t bode well. And if Eddie is the prophesied “son” of the movement, he might be in serious trouble.

Next: What to watch on New Year's Eve

The third season of The Path releases on Jan. 17. That leaves plenty of time to re-watch the previous seasons before diving into the third.