“Pagan Peak,” Season 2 – TV series review

“Pagan Peak” (originally titled “Der Pass”) is a German police procedural, and Season 2 continues the sleuthing of detectives from that country and Austria who teamed up to solve a series of murders with implications for both nations. Ellie (Julia Jentsch) is assigned to liaise with her Austrian counterparts, headed by grizzled Gedeon (Nicholas Ofczarek). In the first season, they faced a ritualistic serial killer that left both protagonists with serious damage from the rigors of nailing him.

As this season opens, Gedeon is in a coma from being shot in retaliation for his work in the first season. Ellie is suffering from nightmares and visions that cause her to freeze at a couple of critical moments. She’s ordered to take personal leave to heal. When a new cross-border crime occurs, she designates an enthusiastic young detective, Yela (Franziska Von Harsdorf), to take her place in with the team of the Austrian police.

This new gruesome murder of a young woman soon shows itself to be the work of a new psycho, and part of an unfolding pattern. During the season, fans of the first will be pleased by Gedeon’s recovery and return, though residual impairments limit his participation to an advisory capacity. Yela proves herself worthy of the assignment. Ellie returns to duty after a year of convalescence to join the effort. We know who the killer is long before the detectives. The perp, Alexander (Dominic Marcus Singer), delivers a fine portrayal of his psychopathy. He’s from a rich and powerful family, with an older brother (Christoph Luser) using his significant influence and resources to cover up his sibling’s atrocities.

The thematic crime is a good one. The resolution comes very slowly, stretching perhaps 5-6 episodes worth of story into eight. There’s surprisingly little gore displayed, considering the grisly manner of Alexander’s mutilations and murders. The killings are all off-camera, and views of the remains are quite restrained. Though Alexander’s motivation is perversely sexual, little nudity is shown. The script aims more for the cerebral than the visceral. The presentation also requires close attention, since flashbacks occur without warning, and timelines may be difficult to follow.

The idea of cops from two countries cooperating on crimes that straddle their boundaries has become quite popular ever since “The Bridge” played so well in Scandinavia, spawning successors and imitators in many countries, including the US-Mexican border. Most that I’ve seen offer faster pacing and somewhat more physical action. This one features an intriguing set of characters and secondary issues, including political and economic factors which complicate the process of finding the killer. The forested mountain setting offers a superb backdrop that contributes to the crimes as well as enhancing the visual dimension.

Regrettably, a significant plot twist occurs in the middle resulting from pure, unlikely coincidence. Despite that, this season is worth a look – especially for those who liked the first. It ends without cliffhangers, though a few questions linger to whet appetites for a third, if the Gods of Production Financing so ordain.

“Pagan Peak” (“Der Pass”) Season 2, mostly in German with English subtitles, begins streaming on Topic on May 12.

RATING: 2 out of 4 stars