TV Review: Black Summer Season 2 (2021)

Black Summer Season 2 (2021) created by John Hyams and Karl Schaefer

See my review of Season 1 here.

The fight (though it's more of a race) to survive the zombie apocalypse continues with the reunion of mother Rose (Jaime King) and daughter Anna (Zoe Marlett). The story jumps four months into the future, which apparently lands the characters in the middle of winter. They have also moved out of the city/suburbs. The action is now in a rural area that features few buildings, so very little shelter from the elements and the zombies. Other characters are involved in this plotline. Two or three groups are in conflict, trying to grab resources and shelter. Everyone seeks a plane that has been dropping supplies in the wilderness. Presumably the plane can take them to safety, if they can make it to the landing strip.

The storytellers use the same techniques from the first season. There's a lot of long, handheld shots that works well with the action and tension of zombie apocalypse survival. Often an episode opens with a dramatic bit from the middle or end of the episode, creating some suspense or intrigue about how the characters will get to that point. This particular technique is a little overused, especially in a few instances where it highlights moments that don't make a lot of sense or are much less significant than the editing indicates. Some episodes have all the scenes put together out of chronological order, which could work to heighten the drama. I found it merely less coherent. The actors do a good job but the characters are underdeveloped. I was much less invested in their fate than I was in the first season.

Not recommended--the first series was fairly average and this one is a step down in storytelling and coherence. 

Streaming on Netflix as I write this review (July 2021).