“Criminal UK” Season 2 Netflix Review by Brooke Daugherty : Pop Culture Leftovers

“Criminal UK” Season 2 Netflix Review by Brooke Daugherty

September 27, 2020 10:22 am |

Criminal UK returns to Netflix with four new episodes just as interesting and well acted as the first season.

The Criminal anthology series on Netflix isn’t an ordinary procedural. Each episode is set in an interrogation room, the viewing room, behind the famous mirror, and the hallway outside. Season 1 had three episodes set in the United Kingdom, three in Germany, three in Spain, and three in Italy, with all four filmed on the exact same set. Criminal: UK seems to be the only one renewed for a season 2.

As in season one, all four episodes were written by George Kay and directed by Jim Field Smith, creators of the show. The premise doesn’t seem like it could support so many episodes, but the writing and directing really shine in every episode. The constraints of few actors and limited sets does not hinder Kay or Smith in their jobs. In fact, what could be perceived as hindrances, give both permission for creativity.

The acting all around is top notch. Most of the main police cast from season one returns with Katherine Kelly as Detective Inspector Natalie Hobbs, Lee Ingleby as Detective Inspector Tony Myerscough, Mark Stanley as Detective Constable Hugo Duffy, Rochenda Sandall as Detective Constable Vanessa Warren and Shubham Saraf returning as Detective Constable Kyle Petit. Joining the squad is Aymen Hamdouchi as Detective Sergeant Jamie Reiss.

The accused is a different actor in each episode and all four brought their A game. Episode one Sophie Okonedo brings a nuanced performance of Julia Bryce, estranged wife of a pedophile. If you are unfamiliar with her, she also has roles this fall in Racheted and Death on the Nile. Kit Harington, of Game of Thrones fame, stars as Alex in episode two as a pretty boy stuck between a rock and a hard place. HBO’s Divorce creator, Sharon Horgan portrays Danielle Dunne in episode three, a mother who has taken the law into her own hands. Episode four Kunal Nayyar plays a convicted murderer Sandeep Singh, in the stand out role of the series. If you have only seen him in Big Bang Theory as Raj, this role really shows his acting chops.

If you haven’t seen season one-no worries. Although we get some of the same characters with the inspectors, you don’t need to watch season one first or even in order. Make an afternoon of it and watch season two. Or make a day of it and watch both.

PCL Rating: Tupperware

Rotten Tomatoes Rating: FRESH 🍅