Season two Only managed to deal with a mysterious disease, as Fortitude falls a new nightmare. Someone kills a visiting explorer and kidnaps his severed head. And Governor Hildur under a contrived pretext is removed from office, threatening a criminal case. The former sheriff, Dan Andersson, first goes missing, and then suddenly declares himself insane. His successor Eric, Hildur’s husband, fails to cope with the investigation, and meanwhile, events in the town take an increasingly sinister turn.
The second season was weaker than the first. Looking at the number of episodes (there are only 10), one might think that it is a crisis of ideas. But just the creativity of the writers hits the key – there are demons, and shamans, and another terrible infection, and secrets of the KGB, and the pharmaceutical mafia. Only to link all this together, to come up with a clear “justify” and remove the contradictions did not work.
First, it’s not clear that the disease that turns people into eyeless aggressive zombies is still the same parasite, or something new? And in general, what is it, where did it come from and how does it relate to the demon? There is no explanation.
Secondly, the final series of the season, which is full of technical and logical blunders, is especially disappointing. I do not understand why the helicopter exploded: the flare is not a MANPADS. Of course, you can think of an accidental hit in the fuel tank ... but why should the viewer think of something? And why the mercenaries wanted to kill Michael, it made no sense, he had already told half the city what he knew.
Yes, by the way, the fact that instead of special forces, rescuers and scientists from Oslo sent the “victor”-fuck Munch, and even then as a result of the intrigues of corporations ... very strange.
In reality, the population of Fortitude after the “miracles” of the first season would be evacuated to the mainland, and in place of the town would be a secret military base. However, the amazing inertia of the authorities is a worn-out stamp of horror films, where, for example, a maniac can carve out half a city, and the FBI will not itch.
But pretty bad. In fact, the series itself is still quite deliverable. The arctic atmosphere has not gone anywhere - snow, auroras, icy formidable sea. The actors play well, especially this time I want to mention Dennis Quaid, who played Michael Lennox, one of the main protagonists of this season. Well worked Robert Sheehan (Vladek Klimov), Michelle Fairley (Freya Lennox), duet Mia Nielsen-Exen and Alexandra Moen (police girls Ingrid and Petra). Well, Richard Dormer is still great as Dan - what only his manic smile is worth!
Many swear for the second season because of the fact that in addition to the NF, there was a mysticism here - but another season of fighting unknown relic infections would be simply boring. In addition, mysticism is not so obvious here - if desired, what is happening can be explained rationally. And, frankly, from solid scientific "Fortitude" was far from the original.
Horror this season has become even more, in any case, suspense has not decreased, and the “shock content” has increased. The detective part is rudimentary, evil overtakes the defenders of the law many steps ahead. Who is considered evil is not an idle question. It is diverse, from lawful to chaotic. The shaman seems to have a good goal, but the means to achieve it are questionable, to put it mildly. And the future demon helps to expose the political conspiracy – however, for his own purposes.
The element of drama has diminished. Here the relationship of the heroes is only the background for the events taking place. However, this does not mean that the characters have become flat and schematic. For example, the difficult fate of Michael and his family is revealed enough to understand his character and motives.
Summary: Despite the fact that the second season of Fortitude is weaker, it is still worth watching. It still delights the eye with harsh Arctic landscapes and can tickle nerves with gloomy devilry and bloody secrets. Well, the third, it seems, will have to watch one way or another - unlike the first, the second season is not independent and ends with a cliffhanger.
8 out of 10 Original