paddlin_jones

I watched season one a while back and was very impressed by all facets of the production, but it all starts with a great story. 8 stars.

Season 2 I got into just last night, and finished tonight. 9 stars, even though the season was shorter.

Whip smart script, terrific cast, very competent direction and production. It helps that the spy thriller/sci fi (or is it fiction?) blend that addresses one of society's huge concerns -- and one over which we are sleepwalking straight over the cliff on. Witness the influence of the very concentrated, very powerful, historically disruptive, obscenely rich, big tech sector, in a broad sense, upon the stability of societies around the globe.

We need more stories like this one.

Season 1 is excellent, all around.

Season 2, the clichéd writing, bizarre plot directions/ twists and plot theft from, minimally, "Designated Survivor" (itself a mediocre series) drags the entire production down... way down. The production crew and the stellar cast deserved much better material to apply their talents to. Why does Netflix apparently continue their practice of killing the potential of brilliant series opening seasons by inflicting poor writing and/or directing on those subsequent?

If Netflix doesn't promise to fix, in season 3, whatever it was they broke in season 2, then the cast should simply walk away.

I was holding off cancelling my Netflix subscription while waiting for season 2, which I hoped would be the equal of season 1. I hold out little hope for a worthwhile season 3.

If the showrunners were looking for an affected Kate, impacted by the season one-ending bomb, they certainly have one. Unfortunately, IMO, the writers (are they the same as season one or cheaper replacements?) seem to have misplaced the core of who Kate is and replaced it with a ditzy, credulous imposter suddenly addicted to uppers.

In this episode, or was it the one previously, evident Whitehall palace intrigue and the place of Dennison within it, is accepted hook, line and sinker by the ambassador without a scintilla of skepticism. And her running around the place, telling anyone within ear shot that "they're done" in advance of "they" being actually "done" is just silly writing for the character, who deserves much better.

Episode 3 had me actually wondering whether continuing watching was worth my time, or has Netflix sunk yet another great show by a lack of $$ support? I'm guessing no one has come up with a plot path that goes beyond finding out who actually blew of the ship and talking them out behind the barn. The End.

We'll see if episode 4 turns things around but the cliché of the DCM whistling and smiling into the office after the fireworks the night before doesn't bode well.