Channel 5's psychological thriller "The Game" continues to captivate audiences with its intricate plot and compelling performances in its second season. The series, which follows a retired detective's obsession with his neighbor, suspected of being a serial killer, has returned with a fresh narrative that even saw a key character's dramatic exit.
The first season concluded with detective Huw, portrayed by Jason Watkins, in critical condition after a confrontation, while his wife Alice, played by Sunetra Sarker, appeared to meet a tragic end. However, the second season opens with Huw still entrenched in his investigation, seemingly driven by an unshakeable belief in his neighbor Patrick's (Robson Green) guilt.
Despite Patrick being incarcerated, the psychological battle between the two men escalates. The narrative introduces a new element with prison officer Jackie (Tanya Franks), who becomes an accomplice, carrying out Patrick's menacing directives from behind bars. This allows the core dynamic of the show to persist, with Patrick orchestrating threats and Huw meticulously piecing together clues.
Reviewer Christopher Stevens highlights the intense confrontations between Huw and Patrick, particularly a face-to-face meeting in the prison visiting room that amps up the claustrophobic tension. Stevens likens Huw's persistent need to investigate Patrick to an addiction, quoting the detective's plea, 'He's in my head!'
While the series employs dramatic plot devices and a degree of "schlock value," its strength lies in the constant push and pull between the central characters. "As long as The Game keeps delivering its set pieces between Huw and Patrick, I'll want to keep watching," Stevens writes, indicating the show's success in maintaining its enthralling, albeit twisted, dance between the killer and the detective.
The review also touches upon minor television news, noting ITV's release of extra footage from their chat show "The Assembly" as "The B-Sides" on YouTube, questioning if this practice has been overdone.