The highly anticipated second series of The Night Manager finally made its debut on BBC One on New Year's Day, marking a full decade since the first season captivated audiences. The return sees national treasure Tom Hiddleston, 44, stepping back into the shoes of former intelligence operative Jonathan Pine.
Mixed Reactions to a Slow-Burn Premiere
As the first of six new episodes aired, a common theme emerged among viewers on social media: many found the pacing deliberate and admitted to struggling to recall the intricate plotlines from 2016. The significant ten-year gap between series left some fans questioning the narrative continuity.
Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their thoughts. One viewer wrote: 'Sorry but the night manager? Does anybody even remember the last season? What’s the point'. Another commented: 'I remember it was good but apparently it’s been like a decade since it was on?? I can’t remember a show I saw last year let alone this!'.
Some were more critical of the premiere's pace, with one stating: 'Enjoyed the first series of The Night Manager, but found the start of the second series very tedious. Hope it improves, but fear it won't.' Another viewer switched allegiance, saying: 'I watched the first episode of #TheNightManagerS2 earlier. However, I felt there were quite a few holes in the plot. So then I binged watched #RedEyeS2 which I really enjoyed.'
Returning Faces and New Alliances
Despite the critiques, the premiere also garnered praise. Other fans were more forgiving of the slow start, with one noting: 'The Night Manager season 2 a bit slow to begin with but is getting interesting'. Another declared the first episode 'outstanding'.
Olivia Colman, 51, returns as intelligence officer Angela Burr. However, there is a new leading lady, as Camila Morrone, 28, steps in to replace Elizabeth Debicki as the primary love interest, playing the character Roxana Bolaños.
The story picks up four years after the explosive conclusion of series one. The action opens in Syria, where Jonathan Pine successfully blew up arms dealer Dickie Roper's (Hugh Laurie) deal and siphoned off his $300 million. Roper is declared dead in a secretive Syrian morgue scene, with Angela Burr ensuring he remains a 'missing person'.
A New Threat Emerges
Now living under the alias Alex Goodwin, Pine is running a low-level MI6 surveillance unit in London. His quiet life is shattered by a chance sighting of a former Roper mercenary, propelling him into a violent confrontation with a dangerous new adversary: Colombian businessman Teddy Dos Santos, played by Diego Calva.
This encounter draws Pine into a perilous new mission to infiltrate Teddy's arms operation in Colombia with the help of Roxana Bolaños. He is once again plunged deep into a deadly plot involving arms deals and the training of a guerrilla army, where betrayal lurks at every turn.
The expanded cast for series two includes Indira Varma as Mayra, Paul Chahidi as Basil, and Hayley Squires as Sally. Alistair Petrie, Douglas Hodge, Michael Nardone, and Noah Jupe also reprise their roles from the first series.
