'The Night Manager' Season 2: A Risky Extension of an Original Classic

'The Night Manager', tracing its roots from the novel by John Le Carré, managed to etch an imprint on the viewers around a decade back, with its picturisation of vibrantly beautiful locations and a star-studded cast. The series seemed to flag the start of a revival for Le Carré's work. When it aired, the series was noted for its stunning vistas, and the adaptation was relatively close-ended, leaving little room for continuation.

Now, as 'The Night Manager' returns with a brand new season featuring Jonathan Pine, the once soldier turned hospitality professional turned spy; changes are palpable. David Farr, the screenwriter, ventures beyond the novel's storyline, merging elements from the original with changes in director, production partner and location. By placing the plot in Colombia, the series continues to feature magnificent landscapes and fascinating mysteries. Despite these additions, after watching all six episodes of the second season, there seems to be a question mark on the necessity of revisiting and expanding the concluded storyline.

The new season is set nine years post the events of the first season, with Jonathan now part of a remote surveillance squad within the Foreign Office known as the Night Owls. Jonathan is still haunted by his history with Richard Roper, an arms dealer living a plush life funded by violence. The appearance of one of Roper's associates again draws Jonathan into the whirlwind pursuit of Roper's Colombian arms dealer successor, Teddy Dos Santos.

Colombia provides the scenic backdrop expected of 'The Night Manager', coupling it with a history of civil unrest that adds an edge to Teddy's manoeuvres. Despite the intrigue, Jonathan fails to evolve into a figure like George Smiley, another renowned Le Carré character, who could knot together unrelated narratives over multiple books. Jonathan's personality suitable for espionage tends to make him a less memorable hero.

As the second season unfolds, strains of the first are tied together, though not without raising questions as to why Farr didn't explore another Le Carré story instead. The success of the first season didn't necessarily warrant a follow-up, and while season 2 provides its share of intriguing moments, it fails to substantiate the risk of revisiting what was essentially a closed chapter. The first three episodes of 'The Night Manager' Season 2 will be streaming on Amazon Prime Video from Jan. 11, with the remaining episodes available weekly on Sundays.