Baptiste episode 2 review ★★★★★
In Baptiste episode 2, Julien (Tchéky Karyo) finds Natalie Rose (Anna Próchniak) and finds out as much as he can about the enigmatic Edward Stratten (Tom Hollander)
Tchéky Karyo in Baptiste, BBC One
‘Most of my life, I’ve looked for people who’ve gone missing. Perhaps trying to find their soul is a stretch too far.’
This is like a soliloquy for this series, a spin-off from the emotionally dark The Missing. Baptiste, as we found last week, is not about uncovering a disappearance and hunting the culprit. No, this is about uncovering a person and unlocking who they really are.
Edward Stratten (Tom Hollander), the very shady ‘uncle’ looking for a sex worker, is like the embodiment of an enigma, which retired detective Julian Baptiste (Tchéky Karyo) is determined to solve.
Footsteps and water: an exceptionally frightening scene on a house boat
The Chief of Police’s son Niels (Boris van Severen) is introduced in this episode. He’s given a sympathetic backstory, and grows deeply critical of Baptiste’s analyses (‘I have huge respect for the work you’ve done…’). Hopefully, he’ll prove to be more than just another doubting obstacle for Baptiste. Distrusting the cracker of famous cases, when the Amsterdam police have been so appalling, is a silly path to take. And it's not overly convincing.
Baptiste continues to be a thrilling, explorative noir that loves to conjure new questions. Why have the police been so clueless? It’s suggested by Natalie (Anna Prochniak) that the police are in cahoots with the fierce Romanian gang led by Dragonir Zelincu, which leads back to Edward. How involved is he? Is the chief of police involved? Is it a massive conspiracy?
It’s hard to know what’s true. But the head in Edward’s basement is starting to rot. Maybe he’s ready to be honest?
Baptiste continues on Sundays at 9pm on BBC One
This is like a soliloquy for this series, a spin-off from the emotionally dark The Missing. Baptiste, as we found last week, is not about uncovering a disappearance and hunting the culprit. No, this is about uncovering a person and unlocking who they really are.
Edward Stratten (Tom Hollander), the very shady ‘uncle’ looking for a sex worker, is like the embodiment of an enigma, which retired detective Julian Baptiste (Tchéky Karyo) is determined to solve.
Footsteps and water: an exceptionally frightening scene on a house boat
The Chief of Police’s son Niels (Boris van Severen) is introduced in this episode. He’s given a sympathetic backstory, and grows deeply critical of Baptiste’s analyses (‘I have huge respect for the work you’ve done…’). Hopefully, he’ll prove to be more than just another doubting obstacle for Baptiste. Distrusting the cracker of famous cases, when the Amsterdam police have been so appalling, is a silly path to take. And it's not overly convincing.
Baptiste continues to be a thrilling, explorative noir that loves to conjure new questions. Why have the police been so clueless? It’s suggested by Natalie (Anna Prochniak) that the police are in cahoots with the fierce Romanian gang led by Dragonir Zelincu, which leads back to Edward. How involved is he? Is the chief of police involved? Is it a massive conspiracy?
It’s hard to know what’s true. But the head in Edward’s basement is starting to rot. Maybe he’s ready to be honest?
Baptiste continues on Sundays at 9pm on BBC One
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| What | Baptiste episode 2 review |
| When |
On 24 Feb 19, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM |
| Price | £n/a |
| Website |