Yeah, that is a good point. I loved Jakob's style. Perhaps Alan Cubbitt is too close to be artistically objective. On the hand, he wants to tell and show the story he wants to tell and show, and on the other he has perhaps become too self-aware of the criticism of the first series that it impedes what he wants to tell and show the audience and the way he wants to do that. Who knows.
I'm kinda disappointed that the police now know the name of the killer and, from now on, it will just become a man hunt.
Before that, I'd have suggested that Spector's motive for going to see his living victim in hospital was to contaminate her memories, so that, even if she does "remember" Paul, really she's just remembering her counsellor.
But now the evidence firmly points to Spector, that theory doesn't work. Ah well. it's still a gripping watch.
It so happens that the diving team found the scissors in the two hours they had left before the money ran out and they had to pull the plug - and lo and behold, in doing so were able to pull a fingerprint on it. That sort of thing is my one pet peeve in detective shows. Grr!
It's a strange mixture of satisfying (great acting from the two leads) and unsatisfying (lack of plausibility). So far it hasn't been particularly interested in providing insight into why people might behave in a certain way - certainly not if one discounts psychoanalytic tautologies a-go-go - instead it fetishises violence towards women and positions Katie according to the rules of bondage-porn and male fantasies about the awakening sexuality of teen girls. Rather than dig deeper it prefers to show, excite and titillate, hoping that we won't see the cracks that undermine its credibility as a believable (enough) account of a serial killer-cum-bereavement counsellor on the run in Belfast. It expects us to believe that any old 'counsellor' can just turn up at the bedside of a victim and be accepted at face value. Even in NI that isn't how the health service works but it does allow the central conceit (a bereavement counsellor who is also a serial killer: sweeeet juxtaposition) to be aired once again along with the continued airing of loved ones who don't have a clue or are prepared to be complicit for psychological reasons of their own. I'm talking about Paul's wife who seemed to have put two and two together at the end of series one but clearly made five because that's what loved ones of serial killers do
Maybe the series as a whole will pull it all together as part of the denouement and we will get to know what the rituals and fetishistic posing of victims signify for Paul and understand the linkage with whatever happened in his past. Maybe there won't be any linkage and pop psychology explanations will be dispensed with.
So far series two hasn't lived up to the first four episodes of series one which were really gripping. There's still another four to go so I'm keeping my fingers crossed but for me, thus far, series two (and episode five of series one) is illustrative of what happens when a series becomes much more popular than expected and much needed sustained critical judgement takes too much of a back seat.
I have mixed feelings about this show in it's second series.
Too many things stretch credibility, but I'll stick with it.
Perhaps it would be better (and I'm sure some of you have done so) to watch the first series again and then follow on with this in effect treating it as one continuous show.
I wonder why unlike Happy Valley (in which the criminals, including Tommy Lee Royce) the story wasn't concluded in the first series and then the second could've been about another crime?
There are creditability issues in series two, that I didn't really spot much at all in the writing of the first. However I am willing to go along with it as the plot is good and performances do convince me. But some issues are with how the writer wants to explore Spector urge to meet his victim yet as viewers we as asked to suspend our disbelief in order to sustain the scenes.
Gillian Anderson is mesmerising. Indeed the main characters are so well realised that it completely compensates for an implausible plot line that would have been concluded in the last series if it hadn't become so popular (for BBC 2) and been recommissioned.
Watched it last night, Gillian Anderson had me falling asleep with her slow, whistling through her teeth voice.
Seems she's a bit like marmite, either love her or hate her!
Personally I'm with auddem, I thought she was dire and very contrived. She seemed to have only one facial expression and one tone of voice. Annoyed me immensely.
I'm really enjoying it, despite the often risible plot contrivances. It's still one of the best things on TV, and it's gripping, but it's hard to deny that it's not as good as the first series.
Now I'm almost tempted to re-watch Spector's assault on Annie just to see if there are any clues to make her give that look.
No need to re-watch the assault. If/when she remembers it is from when he stole her driving licence from her purse.
She was at the bar and he pretended she had dropped her purse and spoke to her as he handed it back.
You can watch that scene in the recap at beginning of episode 3 on iplayer (available till Thu 12:20am )
No need to re-watch the assault. If/when she remembers it is from when he stole her driving licence from her purse.
She was at the bar and he pretended she had dropped her purse and spoke to her as he handed it back.
You can watch that scene in the recap at beginning of episode 3 on iplayer (available till Thu 12:20am )
Oh, yes, of course! Thank you:) Well remembered. Now that's a major cock-up on his part.
I missed series one when it was shown last year, but caught up on it via iplayer, and agree that it is good to watch the two series close together.
A lot of series 1 was hard to watch, as it was so graphic, but Spector's character seems so changed in the second series.
Before he was careful, meticulous, planned his assaults and was c areful to cover his tracks.
But now he seems to be going out of his way to be caught:
Calling the police, discussing the photofit with the "blonde" girl on the train (who get the award for dimmest female in the series, stalking the babysitter (second prize in dim female comp), visiting Annie.
It expects us to believe that any old 'counsellor' can just turn up at the bedside of a victim and be accepted at face value. Even in NI that isn't how the health service works but it does allow the central conceit (a bereavement counsellor who is also a serial killer: sweeeet juxtaposition) to be aired once again along with the continued airing of loved ones who don't have a clue or are prepared to be complicit for psychological reasons of their own.
.
He didn't just turn up at her beside.
He got a letter from Alice Munroe trust asking him to counsell Annie, I assume they git his details from whichever agency he works for.
No need to re-watch the assault. If/when she remembers it is from when he stole her driving licence from her purse.
She was at the bar and he pretended she had dropped her purse and spoke to her as he handed it back.
You can watch that scene in the recap at beginning of episode 3 on iplayer (available till Thu 12:20am )
Damn it - I was just reading through all the posts and I was going to mention this very point but you've beaten me to it
And I'm in the camp that believes Gillian Anderson's performance is very annoying ... I think I'd enjoy the series a whole lot better if she wasn't in it. I know she's supposed to be cool and all, but all through this drama and the first series her performance seems to be very 'one note'.
He didn't just turn up at her beside.
He got a letter from Alice Munroe trust asking him to counsell Annie, I assume they got his details from whichever agency he works for.
Yes, this is true, but the idea that not a single person thought 'Oh, he looks just like the Photo-Fit' was ridiculous!
I bet Cubitt wished he'd never introduced the Photo-Fit at the end of series 1 as it's led to all sorts of problems in series 2.
I'm glad that Spector's name is now known though as hopefully things will become a bit less far-fetched.
Is anyone else finding Spector a lot less creepy in series 2? I actually feel sorry for him as he's surrounded by some horrendous females e.g. his pug-faced wife and that dreadful babysitter.
Yes, this is true, but the idea that not a single person thought 'Oh, he looks just like the Photo-Fit' was ridiculous!
I bet Cubitt wished he'd never introduced the Photo-Fit at the end of series 1 as it's led to all sorts of problems in series 2.
I'm glad that Spector's name is now known though as hopefully things will become a bit less far-fetched.
Is anyone else finding Spector a lot less creepy in series 2? I actually feel sorry for him as he's surrounded by some horrendous females e.g. his pug-faced wife and that dreadful babysitter.
He was quite clever, telling her parents that she might react to him (the consellor) negatively in case she reacted badly to him as her attacker.
Is anyone else finding Spector a lot less creepy in series 2? I actually feel sorry for him as he's surrounded by some horrendous females e.g. his pug-faced wife and that dreadful babysitter.
I swear I will cheer if and when that obnoxious little bint meets her maker >:(
I missed series one when it was shown last year, but caught up on it via iplayer, and agree that it is good to watch the two series close together.
A lot of series 1 was hard to watch, as it was so graphic, but Spector's character seems so changed in the second series.
Before he was careful, meticulous, planned his assaults and was c areful to cover his tracks.
But now he seems to be going out of his way to be caught:
Calling the police, discussing the photofit with the "blonde" girl on the train (who get the award for dimmest female in the series, stalking the babysitter (second prize in dim female comp), visiting Annie.
There's definitely a difference in the style of series 2. As you say, series one was difficult to watch, yet complelling at the same time.
This series, so far, has been more like a standard drama series. For me, the tension is missing, even when he's up to his tricks, like turning up in Rose's house in the middle of the night. Just wasn't as scary as season 1. Must be in the direction and editing.
Comments
That's what I was thinking too.
Before that, I'd have suggested that Spector's motive for going to see his living victim in hospital was to contaminate her memories, so that, even if she does "remember" Paul, really she's just remembering her counsellor.
But now the evidence firmly points to Spector, that theory doesn't work. Ah well. it's still a gripping watch.
It so happens that the diving team found the scissors in the two hours they had left before the money ran out and they had to pull the plug - and lo and behold, in doing so were able to pull a fingerprint on it. That sort of thing is my one pet peeve in detective shows. Grr!
Maybe the series as a whole will pull it all together as part of the denouement and we will get to know what the rituals and fetishistic posing of victims signify for Paul and understand the linkage with whatever happened in his past. Maybe there won't be any linkage and pop psychology explanations will be dispensed with.
So far series two hasn't lived up to the first four episodes of series one which were really gripping. There's still another four to go so I'm keeping my fingers crossed but for me, thus far, series two (and episode five of series one) is illustrative of what happens when a series becomes much more popular than expected and much needed sustained critical judgement takes too much of a back seat.
Titillation is all well and good but ultimately everything depends of the quality and depth of the climax
So true
Too many things stretch credibility, but I'll stick with it.
Perhaps it would be better (and I'm sure some of you have done so) to watch the first series again and then follow on with this in effect treating it as one continuous show.
I wonder why unlike Happy Valley (in which the criminals, including Tommy Lee Royce) the story wasn't concluded in the first series and then the second could've been about another crime?
Seems she's a bit like marmite, either love her or hate her!
Personally I'm with auddem, I thought she was dire and very contrived. She seemed to have only one facial expression and one tone of voice. Annoyed me immensely.
No need to re-watch the assault. If/when she remembers it is from when he stole her driving licence from her purse.
She was at the bar and he pretended she had dropped her purse and spoke to her as he handed it back.
You can watch that scene in the recap at beginning of episode 3 on iplayer (available till Thu 12:20am )
Oh, yes, of course! Thank you:) Well remembered. Now that's a major cock-up on his part.
A lot of series 1 was hard to watch, as it was so graphic, but Spector's character seems so changed in the second series.
Before he was careful, meticulous, planned his assaults and was c areful to cover his tracks.
But now he seems to be going out of his way to be caught:
Calling the police, discussing the photofit with the "blonde" girl on the train (who get the award for dimmest female in the series, stalking the babysitter (second prize in dim female comp), visiting Annie.
He didn't just turn up at her beside.
He got a letter from Alice Munroe trust asking him to counsell Annie, I assume they git his details from whichever agency he works for.
Damn it - I was just reading through all the posts and I was going to mention this very point but you've beaten me to it
And I'm in the camp that believes Gillian Anderson's performance is very annoying ... I think I'd enjoy the series a whole lot better if she wasn't in it. I know she's supposed to be cool and all, but all through this drama and the first series her performance seems to be very 'one note'.
Yes, this is true, but the idea that not a single person thought 'Oh, he looks just like the Photo-Fit' was ridiculous!
I bet Cubitt wished he'd never introduced the Photo-Fit at the end of series 1 as it's led to all sorts of problems in series 2.
I'm glad that Spector's name is now known though as hopefully things will become a bit less far-fetched.
Is anyone else finding Spector a lot less creepy in series 2? I actually feel sorry for him as he's surrounded by some horrendous females e.g. his pug-faced wife and that dreadful babysitter.
He was quite clever, telling her parents that she might react to him (the consellor) negatively in case she reacted badly to him as her attacker.
I swear I will cheer if and when that obnoxious little bint meets her maker >:(
Indeed. She's worse than he is, with no redeeming features.
There's definitely a difference in the style of series 2. As you say, series one was difficult to watch, yet complelling at the same time.
This series, so far, has been more like a standard drama series. For me, the tension is missing, even when he's up to his tricks, like turning up in Rose's house in the middle of the night. Just wasn't as scary as season 1. Must be in the direction and editing.
Well quite, at least he's easy on the eye ;-)
The babysitter? You won't be the only one cheering!
and that's such an important consideration while you're being slowly suffocated to death;-)