Death Valley series 2 – some thoughts

With the recent UK heatwave, I had only enough energy to get to iPlayer and select Death Valley series 2 and hit play. There’s a chance of some mild spoilers, hopefully nothing shattering. I’d already seen episode 1 and if you haven’t time to read much more, I liked the whole series and fully expect more.

What’s to like with Death Valley series 2

The whole show feels a little calmer. Series 1 perhaps took a little too much time establishing characters, now we can dive in and get on with the show. The writers backed away from the John Chapel (Timothy Spall) relationship with DI Janie Mallowan’s (Gywneth Keyworth) mother Yvonne (Melanie Walters) and focused more on the core of the show.

Series 1 had a slightly hidden arc, this series has a theme. Since promotion, DI Mallowan is finding work/life balance a challenge. When her mostly absent father Michael (Owen Teale) arrives, he becomes a catalyst. With the inevitable reactions of anger and hope, there’s a rebuild of relationship and a threat DI Mallowan might leave at the end of the series. If you’ve not watched, I just say I expect another series.

There’s been some character growth, improved detective skills and a good mix of murders (chip van owner, runner on TV show, hippie and more) all leading to interesting stories, neatly resolved.

As to Chapel, the scripts are littered with references to his career and even a suggestion he turned down a preposterous part in the Harry Potter films for a character able to change into a mouse. A bit “meta”, but I was amused.

What did you think? Are you still watching? Liking it? Bored? Let me know in the comments.

“Morning Clouds, Lake Manly” — Morning clouds and distant mountains reflected in Lake Manly, Death Valley.

Arriving at Lake Manly to photograph on this late-February morning, I would have rated the conditions as “OK but not stupendous.” I was hoping for a colorful desert sunrise over the reflecting waters of the temporary lake, but clouds muted the intensity and color of the light. My practice is to not give up but to instead find other ways of seeing the landscape. I kept photographing, and soon realized that the morning was special in different ways than I had expected…more: https://gdanmitchell.com/2026/05/27/morning-clouds-lake-manley/

#deathvalley #lakemanly #photo #photography #photoOfTheDay #lensCulture #landscapePhotography #photographyLovers #naturePhotography #fineArtPhotography #nature

Eroded Hills” — Eroded hills of dark material dotted with desert plants.

This is, in several ways, kind of an odd Death Valley photograph. The fine-grained gravel covering the slopes and hills here are not widespread in the park — in most places the ground tends to be lighter in color. On the other hand, the curving shapes and runoff erosion channels are seen elsewhere, as are the plants. (If you look very closely, you will see not only the larger green plants but lots of small wildflower shoots just emerging.)…more: https://gdanmitchell.com/2026/05/25/eroded-hills/

#deathvalley #photo #photography #photoOfTheDay #lensCulture #landscapePhotography #photographyLovers #naturePhotography #fineArtPhotography #nature

“Snow-Capped Telescope Peak” — Winter snow-cap on Telescope Peak, Panamint Range.

Although it might see counter-intuitive for a place like Death Valley National Park, these mountains typically are snow-capped in the winter. The highest point in the Panamint Range is Telescope Peak, at an elevation of just above 11,000′. That puts it in the alpine zone, and although moisture is usually scarce here, when it does come it can produce snow at that elevation. A cold storm had recently passed, and the snow level in the photo is lower than usual…more: https://gdanmitchell.com/2026/05/21/snow-capped-telescope-peak/

#deathvalley #photo #photography #photoOfTheDay #lensCulture #landscapePhotography #photographyLovers #naturePhotography #fineArtPhotography #nature

“From Valley to Mountains” — Sunrise view spanning the distance from Salt Creek to the base of the Panamint Range.

Photographing in the area around Salt Creek in Death Valley has long been a challenge. The place is intriguing, with its surprising creek flowing on the valley floor and its population of endangered pupfish. But visually it has generally not spoken to me. The light can also be challenging, especially with a large mountain range blocking late-day light. But I think there are possibilities in the area and I continue to visit from time to time…more: https://gdanmitchell.com/2026/05/19/from-valley-to-mountains/

#deathvalley #photo #photography #photoOfTheDay #lensCulture #landscapePhotography #photographyLovers #naturePhotography #fineArtPhotography #nature

Death Valley series 2 — first thoughts

Death Valley series 2 is upon us, and while the BBC is but one episode in, you can actually catch the whole series already on iPlayer. On the evidence of this, if you liked series 1 (and many did) I can’t imagine you not liking this.

A few months has passed since the cliff-hanger ending, and newly promoted DI Janie Mallow (Gwyneth Paltrow) has still to forgive John Chapel (Timothy Spall) for being involved with her mother. Of course it only takes a murder to bring them back together and re-establish the (sort of) status quo they had before.

Last series surprised me by sneaking in a bit of an arc, and I suspect the forthcoming arrival of Janie’s father will lead to another. I may rush the episodes, so at some point expect some overall thoughts as well as some audience tracking. Until then, if you’ve yet to watch, enjoy!