What a pity that we are unable to leave separate review scores for each season. My score for season 2 would have been a 7, with the first three episodes only scoring a 5/6 each, as they were slow, boring and generally incomprehensible. Thankfully the pace and storytelling picked up from episode 4 onwards, however this second season is sadly lacking when compared to season one.
I was initially pleased to see Tom Hughes appearing, but alas his character is woefully underwritten and ultimately quite silly and implausible. Loved him in Victoria and here he plays in identical character with an identical voice and even haircut. Am hoping he's better than than this, so will put this down to script issues. James Purefoy's performance is impressive and lifts the whole thing out of the doldrums at mid-point so let's give a cheer for him.
I would love to know what went so wrong with this production, particularly in the early episodes, as it was hugely promising at the end of the first season. Suddenly we got cartoon caricatures of villains, implausible and ridiculous storylines and poor quality CGI of Elizabethan England. The pacing went totally to pot as well - new writers? Script editors?
Anyway, by the end of series two it had picked up and is more or less back on course albeit with far less credibility than before.
The whole s2 is available to download on Sky in the Uk. Interesting that it seemed to attract only review scores of 9/10 before it became available to view. Cast and crew perhaps?
