The Night Manager Season 2 Finale Review: Bait and Switch

Critic’s Rating: 5 / 5.0

5

I haven’t had a mad on like this for a while.

Maybe it’s on me that I didn’t realize The Night Manager Seasons 2 and 3 were pitched as a two-season arc, meaning that Hugh Laurie’s monstrously brilliant and unwaveringly evil Richard Roper would survive to plague the world for another season.

But. SERIOUSLY. It’s been weeks since I screened The Night Manager Season 2 Episode 6, and my outrage hasn’t settled AT ALL.

(Des Willie/Prime)

The Night Manager Season 2 Finale

The bar for finales is set higher than for standard episodes. There’s an expectation of something more spectacular, more immersive, more satisfying. On two of those three requirements, The Night Manager Season 2 Episode 6 delivers.

Unsatisfying is such an understatement. It’s infuriating. We no longer live in the era of “To Be Continued…” cliffhangers. “To Be Continued…” is not acceptable. Especially after waiting TEN YEARS for the further adventures of Jonathan Pine.

Part of it is the times we live in. We need closure in a world so full of unpredictable and chronically dispiriting news.

The other part — and I’ll get to my begrudging acknowledgement of the brilliance of art imitating life — is that we just aren’t used to bad guys chalking up such a WIN. It chaffs at the very core of our sense of justice. It rages for reversal, demands vengeance, balance.

(Des Willie/Prime)

Credit Where It’s Due

Now that I’ve got that out of my system (sort of), we can look at The Night Manager Season 2 Episode 6 as the masterpiece of the spy thriller genre that it is.

Because it is every bit the pinnacle of heart-pounding, intellectually-confounding action-adventure that leaves us salivating for resolution.

In the most meta bait-and-switch set-up, the writers led us down a garden path towards a mirage of assured success only to have Roper outmanoeuvre our heroes with his unseen contingency plans.

“Nothing is so precious that it cannot be sacrificed. Nothing and no one.” –Richard Roper

For the first 45 minutes of the finale, all the pieces appear to fall into place according to Jonathan’s plan. They avoid Roxana’s trap thanks to Teddy’s warning. Carrascal might’ve died a little sooner than planned, but that was within acceptable parameters.

Sally has the judge involved. They’re ready to unveil the coup attempt by hijacking the EMP delivery.

In London, Angela’s closing the vice on Sandy and Mayra. Mayra looks appropriately terrified.

(Des Willie/Prime)

That Damned Red Rose

But then it all falls apart. While our eyes were on Pine and his team setting up Roper’s downfall, Tricky Dickie had moved all the pieces on the board.

Once the real delivery lands in José Cabrera’s hands, it’s just one tragic scene after another. It’s not a coincidence that Roper kills Teddy with a shot to the head, mirroring Teddy’s execution of Alejandro, with less emotion than when he put down his dogs.

Martín and Tavo rescue Jonathan, only to have Martín run decoy like the Big Damn Hero he is. The gunshot that rings out in the jungle brings to mind the one in the Holland Park house.

And in London, Mayra quickly regains her equilibrium, leaving a stunned Angela with an airy promise to visit her in France sometime. She’s horrifyingly quick in following through on that.

(Des Willie/Prime)

What Could Possibly Be Next?

If The Night Manager were a Richard Roper story, Season 2 wraps everything up perfectly for him. He’s back in the UK, has a beautiful estate, enormous resources and connections, and his son Danny at his side.

But this is Jonathan Pine’s story. And the Columbia operation has been a complete disaster. The coup has destabilized the country. One can only assume Judge Consuelo is in the new regime’s custody or dead.

Mayra will make sure Jonathan’s MI6 connections are obliterated. He and Sally are so burned, their heat signatures probably register in space.

While we clearly saw Angela’s body, we didn’t see Basil’s execution, so there’s a tiny sliver of hope he somehow Houdini-ed his way to safety. Same goes for Martín, I guess. Although I’d expect more of John McClane act from our ex-cop P.I.

Sigh. All signs point to Roxana being Jonathan’s key ally come Season 3. Firstly, her shipping company can provide cover for him moving around globally. Secondly, she’s connected on both sides of the law. Lastly, she’s definitely still alive.

(Des Willie/Prime)

As she boarded her flight to Miami, Roxana looked a little guilty at the chaos she was leaving in her wake. Rightly so. A Season 3 redemption arc would do wonders for her, but if Jonathan couldn’t forgive Angela, I can’t see him trusting Roxy, despite his lack of options.

Perfectly Infuriating

By any measure of craft, planning, pacing, and execution, The Night Manager’s Season 2 finale is a monument of excellence in production and narrative. It stokes our anticipation, teases our anxieties, has us leaning in for the promised resolution.

Then rips it to shreds and burns it all down.

Our anguish at Roper’s triumph is directly proportional to the hopes we’d built up. Our disbelief, a by-product of how quickly the dream unravels. And we wouldn’t despair like this if the build-up hadn’t seemed so rock-solid.

Yes, it is the perfect monolith of ash from which Jonathan Pine must rise in Season 3. But that doesn’t mean I’m not still mad. And I don’t think I’m alone, am I, Fanatics?

Hit the comments with your personal response, and please don’t feel you need to show the restraint I have here.

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