The Rain Season 2 Review: Doesn't Quite Live Up To The Promise Of The First Season

NetFlix's Danish offering "The Rain" is back for a new season. See my previous review here In this world an unknown event has turned the rain deadly. Even one drop will kill instantly. But the rain isn't the only thing to be feared. The humans that are left are just about as bad.

Last year we were introduced to sister and brother Simone (Alba August) and Rasmus (Lucas Lynggaard Tonnesen). Their father worked for a company (Apollon) that is somehow responsible for turned the rain deadly. They also built a number of underground bunkers. The siblings hide in one for six years but were eventually driven out by hunger. We learn that Rasmus is the key to a possible vaccine. His suffering from encephalitis as a child made him immune to the rain's effects.

The Andersens eventually team up with Martin, Patrick, Jean, and Lea. They travel long distances in search of other bunkers, food and answers to what's going on. They eventually meet Dr Andersen. The news is bad. Rasmus has to die in order develop a vaccine from his brain and bone marrow. And if that werent bad enough, the virus has mutated and Rasmus is now a carrier. Frederick cant bring himself to kill his son and is knocked out by someone else. That was a short reunion.

Season 2 begins with a flashback. A woman gets into a mild fender bender. What she and his child dont know is that the approaching rain is about to kill them. This is reminiscent of the excellent first scene of the series where the Andersen family is desperately trying to get to the underground bunker while a storm closes in.

This time around the kids are trying to get Erasmus to another group who might be able to help (without killing him). The Apollonians and the Strangers are still after them. There's a few new characters this season. They include a scientist named Fee and a girl named Sarah. Sarah and Rasmus have feelings for each other but he can't touch anyone without killing them. In an interesting new development, when Rasmus gets angry, the virus is expelled from his body as a gas and kills everyone in the vicinity. That poor guy cant catch a break.

i wont go into specifics but there are a few shocking events in the last episode. Lives are sacrificed, people are murdered, and alliances change. It's generally cray cray. The last scene has a twist ending that would mean big changes for season 3 (should there be one).

Grade: 3 1/2 Monsters (out of 5). Although there were a few compelling elements, I wasnt as into "The Rain" the second time around. The actors are still great but the novelty of the world has worn off. With just six episodes total, it's a super fast watch though. Given the developments in the finale, I would still watch a season 3 (if there is one). I hope they concentrate more on the pacing of the story though. This one was a bit of a snooze.