Season 2 is better than season 1 by a significant amount. If you enjoyed The Tunnel on PBS or it's Danish counterpart The Bridge, you will enjoy Absentia.
The 3 clues that say any show was a very well done production.
The 2nd season of Absentia hits the mark on all three counts. Heusinger, Jackson and especially Thebold got a chance to shine with their characters and did it well and consistently. Bonanni continued his fine work from season 1. Katic remained the dominant force, but it was not as noticeable because everyone around her was doing very well. Quarshie as Oduale, the psychiatrist was a gem.
There were many times when fun all the actors were having playing their characters just jumped off the screen. Even in dark scenes, as most were, you saw the electricity. For example the scenes with Alice and Oduale alone were memorable. In the fight scene between Emily and Tommy, Bonanni and and Katic were having way too much fun. Heck, all the scenes they had together, they were having great fun. Electric. Stana obviously loves the fight scenes and the stunts. She loves them the same way Cruise does in all the crazy stuff he does. The little shot were Emily, in her gas mask, gives Oduale her Ripley stare. Their fun breaks though an infects you.
You know that the writing and directing are well done when the small parts are top grade. The script gives an actor who will only be involved for a short time the breath and depth to great work. The director gives them the room to do it. The two that come to mind immediately both die quickly - Emily's mother and Cal's friend from the Moldavian bar who dies in the battle with Rex. For that matter the actor who plays Rex and the one that plays the old sniper who owns the cabin in the woods. There are more, but those 4 actors got a chance to shine because the parts were well written and the directors gave them space to work.
I enjoyed each of those things in the moment. They were so well done that they did not interfere with the moment and the moments around them. So, I can look back on the entire 10 episodes of Absentia 2nd season and say that this was an outstanding piece. I had lots of fun watching it.
The 3 clues that say any show was a very well done production.
- The actors got a chance to shine and they did.
- More than that they were having fun doing their work.
- The smaller parts done well.
The 2nd season of Absentia hits the mark on all three counts. Heusinger, Jackson and especially Thebold got a chance to shine with their characters and did it well and consistently. Bonanni continued his fine work from season 1. Katic remained the dominant force, but it was not as noticeable because everyone around her was doing very well. Quarshie as Oduale, the psychiatrist was a gem.
There were many times when fun all the actors were having playing their characters just jumped off the screen. Even in dark scenes, as most were, you saw the electricity. For example the scenes with Alice and Oduale alone were memorable. In the fight scene between Emily and Tommy, Bonanni and and Katic were having way too much fun. Heck, all the scenes they had together, they were having great fun. Electric. Stana obviously loves the fight scenes and the stunts. She loves them the same way Cruise does in all the crazy stuff he does. The little shot were Emily, in her gas mask, gives Oduale her Ripley stare. Their fun breaks though an infects you.
You know that the writing and directing are well done when the small parts are top grade. The script gives an actor who will only be involved for a short time the breath and depth to great work. The director gives them the room to do it. The two that come to mind immediately both die quickly - Emily's mother and Cal's friend from the Moldavian bar who dies in the battle with Rex. For that matter the actor who plays Rex and the one that plays the old sniper who owns the cabin in the woods. There are more, but those 4 actors got a chance to shine because the parts were well written and the directors gave them space to work.
I enjoyed each of those things in the moment. They were so well done that they did not interfere with the moment and the moments around them. So, I can look back on the entire 10 episodes of Absentia 2nd season and say that this was an outstanding piece. I had lots of fun watching it.