Top Of The Lake

:

Season 2
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
6.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 37 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 37
  3. Negative: 9 out of 37
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User Reviews

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  1. DamnedThing
    Sep 13, 2017
    2
    Having Elizabeth Moss in a show is usually a good sign that it's something worth investing a bit of time in, add in Jane Campion and it really ought to be interesting at he very least. I loved the first series - it was odd enough to be interesting and good at slowly unravelling the story in a way that was compelling. S2 starts off in a similar vein, but it's not long before the detectiveHaving Elizabeth Moss in a show is usually a good sign that it's something worth investing a bit of time in, add in Jane Campion and it really ought to be interesting at he very least. I loved the first series - it was odd enough to be interesting and good at slowly unravelling the story in a way that was compelling. S2 starts off in a similar vein, but it's not long before the detective work starts playing second fiddle to an increasingly dumb and soapy drama. It's just awful. Nicole Kidman is utterly wasted in a role that wouldn't be missed if it ended up on the cutting room floor. Ditto for Gwendoline Christie's character's arc involving pregnancy - really, it's not enough to have a cop story about people smuggling surrogate mothers with the lead cop having daughter issues then being partnered with another female cop who's got her own pregnancy story with her and Moss's boss. No? Okay, throw in nearly every male character being needlessly misogynistic, some terribly clunky dialogue and wooden acting. There's usually a point in every long running soap opera where a killer is on the loose and a few favourite characters need culling because they cost too much and the network wants to stir things up. This is like those few episodes, except with better cinematography and a higher caliber of actor phoning it in.
    Moss is almost the best thing in it, but it's David Dencik who steals the show as the seedy Puss -
    he's the only one remotely believable as a character following his own destiny while everyone else makes dumb decisions because the plot needs them to. Pretty much everything else about this sucks.    … Expand
  2. temptershell
    Sep 14, 2017
    9
    Lighter mood with more sunshine and better-defined characters. Great and more recognizable actors and a very overwhelming investigation. I was waiting for a continuation long time and it was really worth it. It’s not only top of the lake, it’s top of crime series of XXI century.
  3. section20mi6
    Mar 14, 2018
    2
    Much like the case of True Detective, perhaps even worse, Top of the Lake Season 2 falls way shorter than the first season. Male characters are often portrayed as devious and even monstrous in this new season with obviously forced misogynistic attitude implemented. Although acting is generally adequate, the story line feels rather absurd with Robbin Griffin's personal and professional lifeMuch like the case of True Detective, perhaps even worse, Top of the Lake Season 2 falls way shorter than the first season. Male characters are often portrayed as devious and even monstrous in this new season with obviously forced misogynistic attitude implemented. Although acting is generally adequate, the story line feels rather absurd with Robbin Griffin's personal and professional life intertwined in a weird and unbelievable way. Campion once again wants to put the element of feminism into the series but simply made it ludicrous this time around.… Expand
  4. GlacierFanClub
    Jan 3, 2018
    3
    The first season is definitely worth watching, but the second season is straight up garbage. There are many better shows worth your time (if you haven't watched The Handmaid's Tale, check that out for starters if you like Elizabeth Moss).
  5. JLuis_001
    May 12, 2018
    7
    Inferior to its predecessor, not so much in terms of quality but because the story feels less focused and less attractive.
    There is enough to justify the time you invest in it but personally it did felt minor, yet I can fully recommend it.
  6. xactomundo
    Sep 18, 2017
    3
    I liked the first season, but after getting into episode 4 of season 2, there are some glaring plot holes (SPOILER no effing way she doesn't arrest that guy after he bites her nose, NO WAY). Add to that the fact that every male character is some combination of violent sex monster, snickering a**hole, or mewling idiot. Many of the female characters are awful too, but they at least haveI liked the first season, but after getting into episode 4 of season 2, there are some glaring plot holes (SPOILER no effing way she doesn't arrest that guy after he bites her nose, NO WAY). Add to that the fact that every male character is some combination of violent sex monster, snickering a**hole, or mewling idiot. Many of the female characters are awful too, but they at least have empathetic qualities. I get that this is from and by women and it has a feminist POV, but dial it down a notch, honey. All the women fold their arms and look sideways whenever a man opens his mouth. FWIW, Elizabeth Moss puts in a good performance.… Expand
  7. Emmecj
    Sep 30, 2017
    3
    Disappointing at best. Johnno, no longer played by Tom Wriggt, does something totally out of character. This was the flashing red warning sign that even the amazing Brienne of Tarth can not save season 2 of Top of the Lake
  8. geewah
    Jan 23, 2021
    6
    There is a good story to be told here, but it gets lost amongst the implausible screenplay.
    Disappointing

Awards & Rankings

77
#77 Best TV Season of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 21
  3. Negative: 2 out of 21
  1. The Atlantic
    Reviewed by: Sophie Gilbert
    Sep 12, 2017
    30
    Set against this much more conventional backdrop, the holes in Campion’s detective story are clearer, but the story and the dialogue have been heightened to the point of absurdist theater, as if to compensate. ... The ending of the final episode points to a third installment of Top of the Lake, although at this point fans of the first season might be more inclined to pretend the second never happened.
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  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ray Rahman
    Sep 11, 2017
    91
    Some of the most mesmerizing hours of television all year. [15 Sep 2017, p.66]
  3. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Lloyd
    Sep 11, 2017
    80
    Characters alive enough to care for. (Alive enough that you would prefer they think a minute and make the smart decision, even at the price of writing the series out of existence. Mostly they won't, fortunately, but sometimes they will--also fortunately.) Once you're in it, you're in for the duration.
    Read full review
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