Streaming series review - Iskander Season 2

Iskander Season 2 ***½ (out of 5) (NR) Season 1 of this French TV crime drama began streaming on Topic last week, and was reviewed here on its own. This round expands to six episodes, and moves our lead detective, Chloe (Stephane Caillard) from the tropics to her snow-covered hometown of St. Pierre et Miquelon - a French territory off the coast of Newfoundland. She goes back because of her mother’s sudden death by suicide, and to provide for her brain-damaged younger brother, Francois (Axel Granberger).

Though watching the first year is not essential to enjoying this one, there is a significant carryover element that makes more sense for those who have. The season opens with a brief recap, but that won’t be as effective in linking her past to this present. lAs before, there are some supernatural/occult aspects to the crimes Chloe confronts. The first problem is her brother being accused of murdering a couple of local louts. Her attempts to clear the lad are deeply resented and resisted by the local cops, despite her mother’s tenure as their highly-respected leader. Chloe was apparently something of a bad-ass in her youth there, causing many to hold grudges despite her having evolved to the right side of the law.

As the mystery unfolds, Chloe discovers a laundry list of serious felonies swirling in that quaint, idyllic island community, subjecting her to threats on several fronts, with little reliable support. This season delivers more action and plot complexity than the first, maintaining suspense throughout. It serves as another compelling binge one may be spurred to complete in a day. OK. Maybe that’s just me; you may have more stuff to do.

Chloe isn’t the most likable of cops to head a dramatic series, but we’re solidly in her corner all the way. Her shortcomings are more humanizing than off-putting. Granberger’s performance as her mentally-challenged brother with some fascinating interests is a substantial asset for both our emotional engagement and the suspense factor. The tone of Season 2 is as different from the first as the climate of its setting, but the scripting and breadth of the cast make it even better.

(Mostly French with subtitles, streaming on Topic as of 1/13/22; also known under the title Maroni)