I've just started watching but have to say this one is also based in an alternate universe.
In season 1 we saw that Muslims can only become "radicalized" in response to the US aggression or the inherent racism of Europeans.
In this one Venezuela is apparently not a Socialist country. It is ruled by some abstract dictator and the Leftists are in opposition.
Arg. It's frustrating because I feel like the show has so much potential, but it's just not hitting the mark. Last year it felt like it was neutered, but I wrote that off because of it being a first season. This year, it still feels the same. It's just out, so I won't get spoilery, but there are a few times when characters just do a stupid thing in order to move the plot along. That's frustrating when, especially when it's Jack doing it because he's supposed to be so smart. Why is he doing amateur hour stuff??
I like John in the role. The supporting cast was decent. The main storyline was middling at best. I didn't like the last 10mins of the season because it felt so telegraphed. There were two potential suspects for me, and I feel like they chose the wrong one. The other one would have been much more dramatic, but they didn't have the stones to write it. Such a shame.
Anyway... I really hope they give it another season and again, I really hope they step up their game.
Sidenote, how do you know the Leftists were the opposition? Was it stated in the show? I might have missed that. Lots of subtitles... I tried to keep up, but it's entirely possible that I might have missed it.
There is no main story. There was no need for that assassination. None.
But the same can be said about the series as a whole. What's the point of a political thriller which has no relation to real political conflicts or issues?
>>Sidenote, how do you know the Leftists were the opposition? Was it stated in the show?
Yes. I actually finished it although for the last 3 episodes I skipped most side-stories. They were pretty meaningless.
I loved how the opposition leader at some rally listed all the evil the regime brought on Venezuelan people - and these are all real things which exist in our world because of Chavez and his politics.
The assassination/attempts were because they were sniffing into the guy's business - when Jack makes his case initially. Everyone in the convoy was supposed to be killed, but Jack survived and became an even greater problem. The guy behind it knew Jack had to be dealt with as soon as possible, so the middle man was contacted to activate the assassin. SO, yes, there was a need for it. But by the end I was more 'meh' than anything else.
And you're right. I wasn't paying attention. When the whole political setup is outlined in Jack's lecture, he says the opposition is 'running on a social justice platform'. Anytime someone says that, I tend to tune out because I'm not sure 'social justice' truly exists. LOL
I don't want to post spoilers but they were sniffing for contraband arms. In the end of the day, the State Department wouldn't dig deep into a mining operation on foreign soil.
shareRight. Hard to talk about spy stuff without spoilers... lol
Yes, that was the reason, but the person who hired the bad guy didn't want them there obviously. Them being in-country at all was already too close for comfort for that person. So, I can see it as justified from their point of view.
One thing that did really bug me, and it happens a LOT with tv/films where there are motorcycles involved, is when the sound design guys CLEARLY aren't riders. There are two motorcycle cops shown riding numerous times in the season, and multiple times, the bikes are giving Harley sounds. Only once did I notice they sounded like the actual bikes that they are.
The other thing sound people almost always get wrong is shifting gears in the audio, but not timed with when the rider pulls the clutch in (left hand). There's nothing more aggravating for actual riders than finally seeing a good motorbike chase/action scene and the bike suddenly has 10 gears, but the rider never pulls the clutch in to shift! lol
Clutches are overrated!
shareI don't know what this show is. I just finished season 2 and it was weird. And it played to a myriad of action movie cliches. This show is pretty disappointing. I guess these movies just have nothing to say. There's not a passionate filmmaker with a message behind the lens. They're not about anything.
shareyeah, it is kinda of a weird alternative version of the world.
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