Photo by The Victims’ Game Season 2: A Murder Mystery That Sacrifices Storytelling for Slick Production
The latest season of Netflix’s hit crime series, The Victims’ Game, has finally arrived, and I must say, I’m underwhelmed. The show’s attempt to juggle numerous characters and subplots simultaneously results in a convoluted mess that prioritizes style over substance.
Investigating the crime scene
The story picks up where the first season left off, with Joseph Chang’s detective, Fang, attempting to establish a normal life with his estranged daughter and girlfriend. However, the death of his former mentor prompts a new prosecutor to reopen a 15-year-old murder-suicide case, and Fang becomes the prime suspect.
Fang’s investigation leads to more questions than answers
As Fang delves deeper into the case, more bodies start piling up, each with a different organ surgically removed. The victims all have one thing in common: they were high school classmates of the two young lovers involved in the original case. The show’s relentless pace and gruesome crime scenes are reminiscent of its predecessor, but the plot twists and turns in ways that defy logic.
The evidence mounts up, but the truth remains elusive
The show’s writers rely heavily on unlikely coincidences and contrived motivations to mislead the audience, rather than crafting a genuinely complex storyline. The result is a mystery that is polished and slickly executed but sacrifices storytelling for the sake of shock value.
Fang’s Asperger’s syndrome makes him a social outcast, but heightens his powers of deduction
Joseph Chang’s portrayal of Fang is less than convincing, often reduced to twitching and incomprehensible mumbling. The supporting cast, including Tiffany Hsu as Hsu, are relegated to minor roles, with Tarcy Su’s Hsueh inheriting the role of prime sidekick to Fang.
The investigation continues, but the truth remains elusive
In the end, The Victims’ Game season two is a mystery that prioritizes style over substance, sacrificing logic and coherent storytelling for the sake of shock value. If you’re a fan of crime dramas, you might find this season entertaining, but for me, it’s a disappointing follow-up to the first season.
2/5 stars
