Murder Mindfully Season 2 Review: Bringing back the chaotic and mindful mayhem of the first season of this German series, Murder Mindfully Season 2 is more absurd and insane, but with a touch of emotion. The season follows Björn, who is once again going through his emotions and trying to get to the bottom of his anxiety and hurt while juggling some very shady business and a hint of romance.
There’s less murder in store for the lawyer-turned-reluctant criminal as Björn tries to maintain inner peace while bad news just keeps on following him. But, then again, if you try to fulfil your inner child’s wishes constantly, things will obviously be a handful and a half. The first season was a super hit on the platform, and this season explores the consequences of using his path to self-discovery to do morally bad things. The crime-comedy continues to be bizarre this season and is entertaining because it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
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Who is in the Murder Mindfully Cast?
Tom Schilling, Britta Hammelstein, Murathan Muslu, Peter Jordan, Emily Cox, Friederike Kempter, Bastian Reiber
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Who is the Director?
Martina Plura
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What is the Original Title of Murder Mindfully?
Achtsam Morden
The second season has 8 episodes, each with a runtime of around 35 minutes, and is based on the bestselling book series by Karsten Dusse.
Murder Mindfully Season 2 Review
A Plot That Balances Therapy Sessions With Criminal Chaos
The season is a little less about funny moments surrounding Björn committing murders, but is more about him understanding himself and overcoming his inner obstacles while balancing family, business and organised crime. The series balances Björn’s psychological ups and downs while he tries to get away from the ties of the criminal underworld. However, to do so, he has to come to terms with himself and find a way to get over his childhood trauma.
The season, once again, presents outrageous situations and twisted plans in the most sincere way possible. The humour is infectious, and the series knows when to let off the seriousness so that these moments can shine. The contrast that his mindfulness technique has this season with whatever crazy criminal thing he plans continues to be hilarious, although the season is quite bloated in a way as well.
The season is also able to step away from repeating the same situations from the last time and introduce something more innovative. As we journey through Björn’s psyche and what makes him tick, it feels rather personal. Starting right after season 1, it gets under your skin with the topics that it explores surrounding mental health, while the scheming and murdering continue to be the most unusual and unserious part of the show.
Direction & Execution Keep the Absurdity Grounded
As always, the series handles tonal shifts quite well, leaving viewers to smoothly transition from something completely off the rails to something more mature and grounded. It never feels jarring, and the visual storytelling remains restrained. The murders or murderous topics are handled with ease and calmness, which makes it all the more disturbing. The humour also lands effectively as a result. Moreover, many of the decisions Björn makes also reflect his growing maturity and understanding of himself underneath all the planning and plotting.
But then again, the way he weaves in and out of the legal system remains delightful, funny and unhinged. Thankfully, despite his maturing, we get to see some of these unhinged sequences that made the first season so enjoyable. Director Martina Plura keeps the motivational clichés to a minimum, focusing instead on seeing them through a more ironic lens. It’s great that the show understands that it’s a bit ridiculous, but it never showcases that aggressively.
Murder Mindfully Season 2 also continues to be unpredictable, especially sometimes when it tries to balance satire, thriller and emotions all at once. These moments do become messy, but it works for this season quite well.
Tom Schilling Continues To Carry the Series Effortlessly
Tom Schilling makes Björn into an enjoyable antihero. His deadpan expressions and sometimes violent outbursts can be quite hilarious, considering the situations, but there’s also a surprising amount of restraint in his performance. Björn tries to break the fourth wall and tell us that all the decisions that he is making are to satisfy his inner child, but the truth has an infectious ring to it.
However, it’s Murathan Muslu whom I enjoyed the most as Sascha. He, too, is deadpan, but the way he handles different situations and then plays with kindergarteners is the most ironically hilarious thing this series has to offer. Everyone else, including Emily Cox, Bastian Reiber and Britta Hammelstein, is great as well and adds their own unhinged flavour to this quirky story.
Beneath the Violence Lies a Surprisingly Smart Commentary
Beneath the funny humour and the random murders, the series does a great job of exploring themes of burnout, emotional detachment and modern self-help culture. We continue to wonder whether mindfulness and healing your inner child can be used as a crutch to do whatever we want, consequences be damned. Does Björn use Breitner’s teachings for his own selfish reasons and justify his actions more efficiently?
The show expertly twists mindfulness concepts, showcasing the darker side of them and how easily they can be misused. The thematic contrast is also quite interesting and gives the show depth. Björn is simply trying to control his unbridled emotions for a better life, but at what cost? The satire works because it’s so relatable and reflects modern anxieties, making this a complex yet light-hearted watch.
Final Verdict
Murder Mindfully Season 2 continues to be a unserious yet deeply enjoyable satire that handles several complex themes efficiently. The performances continue to be fantastic, with its biggest asset being its refusal to become a conventional crime thriller. The pacing stumbles here and there, and there are definitely some threads that feel unnecessary and unexplored. The series will definitely be worth watching simply for the chaotic protagonist and his henchman.
What are your thoughts on Murder Mindfully Season 2 on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!
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