The Purge Season 2 Episode 1 Review: Have They Fixed The Problems From Last Time Around?

A new season of "The Purge" has arrived on the USA Network. I'm a big fan of "The Purge" franchise. There have been four movies to date. For those that are nor aware, here's the basic premise.

In 2014 a group called the New Founding Fathers of American (NFFA) overthrows the US government. They instate the 28th amendment (which makes all crime including murder legal during a 12 hour period from 7 PM to 7 AM once per year). The idea is that if anyone can do anything they want during that time, they'll be law abiding citizens the rest of the year. The NFFA boasts of their success. After all the unemployment rate is 1% and crime rates are well low-- so it must be working. The truth is minority communities, the poor, mentally ill and homeless are disproportionately targeted during the Purge. The Purge cleanses the country of the people the government doesnt want to support. The government even sends secret death squads to ensure enough people are being murdered.

Rules:

ALL crime is legal. Kill anyone you want except for government officials ranking 10 or higher. They are exempt.
The police, fire and other emergency departments will NOT respond during the Purge.
Class 4 weapons or lower can only be used-- so no WMDs people!
If you do NOT wish to participate, shelter in a fortified area and do not leave under any circumstances.
There are several Purge-free zones such as hospitals.

I had some issues with the first season of the TV series. It has some shocking visuals but the story fizzled in the end. This time around, I hope they have develop characters we can care about.

Here's the new people we hae met thus far:

Esme- Does surveillance for the NFFA. Via CCT, she sees someone she cares about killed on Purge Night. The killers were looking for some sort of file or code. Esme secretly downloads a bunch of files at the office. Is she going to get caught by whomever is paid to watch her?
Marcus and Michelle- Were hunkered down in their house during the Purge but it seems someone has been stalking Marcus. Luckily, he survived the night. Who is after him and why? They may act before the next Purge so better get prepared. Also are the couple the only people of color in their neighborhood? On first look, that's what it seems like.
Ben- He and a frat brother are tasked to go outside during the Purge. They need to take a picture of Suicide Bridge. Of course everything goes wrong. Ben is captured and Turner (instead of staying to help Ben) just runs away. Ben is almost raped and killed. He fights back but may be deeply scarred by the event.
Bank robbers Ryan and crew- We learn that if you're on private property at the exact second the Purge ends, you will be charged with whatever crime. Tommy is now flagged for extermination because he did not heed Ryan's warning. We also learn that if someone is discovered with a Class 5 weapon (such as a bomb), they will be marked for execution. Are all felonies punishable by death? I'm a little fuzzy on the specifics.

We also see various groups cleaning up after the Purge. Just hire Zippy Maids and they'll remove all those pesky bodies from your yard. On the day after the Purge, it seems like a regular morning in America. That might be scariest part of all.

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). Season 2 is off to a good start. I loved the season 2's opening sequence in which has a woman auditions to read the Emergency Broadcast System PSA. Hence the episode title-- "This Is Not A Test". I just hope they have fixed the issues from last season. It had potential but fizzled in the end. We need fleshed out characters we can care about and a good story. Oh, and lots of crazy purging violence.