Symmetry JunctionDeath 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.
#bbc #deathValley #gwynethKeyworth #melanieWalters #owenTeale #timothySpall
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