Hour: Season Two

The Hour Back and Better Than Ever
The minute I saw the preview for season one in 2011 this show was on my radar as a 'Must See', and it did not disappoint. After the season ended, I immediately pre-ordered the DVDs and have watched them repeatedly.

This year The Hour has returned with season two, and I have to say it has only stepped up it's game (which was a TALL order to accomplish in my book seeing as how I adored season one). In my foray through the world of tv I have found time and again that it is a rare show indeed that only gets better with season two, and this show is one of those rare gems. There is a reason it has received critical acclaim.

The writing is done brilliantly by Abi Morgan (Shame, The Iron Lady). It never fails to grip me and draw me into the characters and the conflicts which they face. What impresses me the most is both the dynamic writing for all of the characters and the fact that the historical setting (this year being the Cold War) is never romanticized, but...

Six More Episodes: This Period Workplace Drama Gets Tough On Crime And Institutionalized Corruption
When the BBC period drama "The Hour" premiered on American TV last year, critics were quick to draw comparisons to AMC's "Mad Men." While both shows might appeal to the same adult demographic, however, I never really gave much credence to this categorization. In fact, the two shows have little in common aside from being period piece dramas bolstered by an easy social atmosphere of drinking and smoking. While there is plenty of workplace intrigue inherent in both shows, Season One of "The Hour" also mixed in a fair share of government espionage. It introduced us to the birth of a TV newsmagazine show called The Hour (how appropriate) as it struggled to find its footing. With the six new episodes of Season Two, The Hour is battling to remain relevant in an increasingly competitive TV market (a timely subject that never seems to go out of style). Principle story threads include a nefarious local business man, a honey pot scandal, police corruption, racial unrest, as well as unexpected...

Engrossing, though not quite as great as season 1
Season 2 of The Hour will appeal to anybody who liked season 1, though in some respects it's quite a different program. It's much more of a thriller than a mystery (after the first two episodes, anyway). It involves the culture of celebrity and domestic corruption much more than superpower politics. Most significantly, the plot has much more to do with Hector and Marnie Madden than Freddie and Bel. Oona Chaplin steals the show almost as much as Ben Whishaw and Anna Chancellor did in season 1, and Dominic West gets some great scenes playing off of her (his final scene with her in episode 6 is striking and memorable, and his best work so far in this program).

The ending of season 2 is much more tense and scary than anything in season 1. There's nothing in this season as inexplicable as the suicide of Thomas Kish in season 1. It holds together pretty well.

I can't discuss the weak points without giving away much of the plot. Suffice it to say that I would have had...

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