Apple TV ‘Where's Wanda?’ Season 2 Review - The Family Returns for Another Murder Mystery

And we are back with another season of Where’s Wanda, which means we have another murder mystery on the cards. Season 2 opens with Wanda’s parents at a carnival and a voiceover of them claiming how much things have become better since the last time we saw Wanda. Just as you begin to believe them, we get the shock. A curtain on stage opens, and we see a dead body lying in a pool of blood. But that is not everything. What is surprising is that Wanda is there, in utter shock, holding a blood-clad trophy, looking over the body. That makes her an instant suspect even before she can clarify anything to the people. She is arrested and sent for questioning, where she tries to explain her side of the story, which is that she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

We can see that Wanda hasn’t fully recovered from the Katarina Vinson case even as of today, as she frequently refers to the current victim by the name of Katarina. Wanda even tries to explain her side: she saw a man with bloodshot eyes, looking as if he wanted to kill the victim. Do the police believe her? No. And they don’t have any reason until the investigation is completed. On the other hand, we see her parents being worried sick about her. Why wouldn’t they be? No parent wishes to see their child undergo an ordeal that they already went through once. This is where the whole plot starts to unravel. There are so many questions that come forward: who was the victim? What was Wanda doing there? Who is the man she claims to have seen? What has been happening?  The case wraps up in 7 episodes, with each episode representing a day of the week. The murder is discovered/ took place on a Monday, and by Sunday we get to see who was behind all this.

There are many good things about Where’s Wanda? Season 2. For example, the makers kept that air of suspense right from the start. Even when the parents' voiceover was going on, we could sense that something wasn’t right. And in no time, we got to see Wanda over the dead body. In this aspect too, the story writer ensured that we don’t have to wait up until the second or the third episode to see what went wrong. In the first few minutes itself, we saw a murder and Wanda being taken away for questioning.

What caught my attention the most was the character development. The Klatts as a family are pretty well written. They are determined to save their daughter. In that bid to do that, we don’t see them being much of their senses. Some of their attempts are very much questionable. It is noteworthy that in a case like this, where a daughter is undergoing a hard time, the writers were sensible enough not to make them perfect. They are allowed to lose their minds and sleep over things; they are allowed to be imperfect in their approaches to protect their daughter. While, of course, this plot is not very relatable to a common family, their being imperfect is an indication that not all families are perfect and flawless.

Makatsch and Stein are central to the show’s appeal mostly because the story depends on balancing genuine anxiety that comes with parenthood, and nothing can beat their feelings. We can see the pain they have for their daughter. Their feelings are what form the core of Where’s Wanda? Season 2. Their characters are driven by fear, love, and an urgency to save Wanda. As and when the investigation develops, the line between helping Wanda and interfering with the truth becomes blurred. Whether, as parents, they overstepped or not is something that I leave to your judgment.

Now coming to the main character, Wanda. I felt this season her arc was quite interesting. Her apparent involvement in the murder cases makes her the center of the mystery. What adds to all this is her complicated relationship with her parents. Another thing that must be addressed is the dark humor used in Where’s Wanda? Season 2. Some of it is dark but witty humor. So if you are someone who enjoys genres like these, this show is perfect for you.

Final Score - [8/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times