Black Sands season two has arrived on U, bringing another gripping Icelandic crime thriller for fans of Nordic noir and shows like Broadchurch. The series resumes 14 months after the first season, with the coastal town of Glerársandar still reeling from the revelation that a serial killer lived among them undetected.
Plot and Characters
Central to the new series is police officer Aníta, who is adapting to motherhood while battling an urge to return to active duty. Her life is thrown into turmoil when a woman dies in a suspicious car accident. Aníta involves herself in the investigation, working alongside her friend and colleague Fríða, who leads the official police inquiry.
As the case progresses, sinister secrets from the town's history surface. The investigation traces back to a former foster home with connections to Aníta's own family, revealing decades of suppressed trauma and unresolved mysteries.
Critical Reception
What first seems a tragic accident evolves into a more intricate puzzle, with startling revelations and catastrophic repercussions. Throughout eight episodes, audiences can expect numerous plot twists as long-concealed truths are exposed, relationships face strain, and suspicion falls on many townspeople. As tension escalates, Aníta grapples with both the investigation and her personal demons.
Review writer Kelly Luchtman said: "Black Sands is a very satisfying series with fantastic acting, especially by Steinunn Ólína Thorsteinsdóttir, who has mastered the dangerous charm of Elín's character. We can feel the oppressive sadness of the town, and empathise with Aníta, even if it's her own bad decisions that are the impetus for her return. People have criticised the running time of the series and the agonising slowness of solving the crime. I agree it could have been 6 episodes instead of 8, but I still binged it."
Release and Availability
Season two of Black Sands arrived on U on 20th June, with all episodes available to stream from launch day. The show has garnered acclaim from critics, though viewer reactions have been mixed.
