The Tunnel Season 2

Right now you can watch The Tunnel Season 2 on and — and it earns its twists rather than manufacturing them. The 1-season run is exactly the right length for what it is doing. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Stephen Dillane sets the tone, and the ensemble matches it scene for scene. Start it whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Tunnel Season 2 is worth clearing space for. At its heart, The Tunnel Season 2 understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. While Elise Wassermann and Karl Roebuck are back to investigate the case of a French couple who are abducted from the Eurotunnel, the case gets complicated by a plane crash into the Channel. Stephen Dillane and Clémence Poésy lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was aired in 2016. What distinguishes the best crime dramas from the rest is whether the character work can carry scenes where the mystery takes a breath — The Tunnel Season 2 passes that test consistently. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For anyone who wants their crime drama to earn its twists, The Tunnel Season 2 delivers. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single week. Watch Stephen Dillane work — it is a masterclass in the genre. Few crime dramas earn their twists this consistently.