The Pier - Season 2 - Blu-ray

Content: The second and final season of the romantic thriller series "The Pier"from "House of Money"mastermind Álex Pina and Esther Martínez Lobato picks up directly from the events of the first season. If you haven't seen this one yet, stop reading now, because there's a bit of a spoiler: after their relationship grew more intense, Alejandra (Verónica Sánchez) confesses to Verónica (Irene Arcos) who she really is. When she learns that Óscars (Álvaro Morte) wife has secretly forced herself into her life, she is disappointed beyond measure and never wants to see her supposed friend again. But after the initial anger fades, the women become close again. Together with Verónica, Alejandra wants to finally prove that her husband did not kill himself. Their joint investigation leads the women to a small village where they discover another lead that makes it clear óscar had other secrets they both didn't know about. But does this also prove that he was really murdered?

"The Pier - The Stranger Side of Love" is brought to a satisfying conclusion in eight episodes. The series clearly benefits from the fact that the story is not artificially dragged out over several seasons, but culminates in a good resolution after two seasons of 16 episodes in total. Sure: Some of the storylines seem a bit contrived and too thick. Still, even these aspects of the series work very, very well. This is due in part to the engaging imagery that immediately captures the viewer. The dark mystery surrounding Óscars death contrasts with the sometimes wonderful imagery, giving the series a very special atmosphere.

Besides the light thriller elements, the relationship between Alejandra and Verónica is clearly the focus of the story. Admittedly, the makers here now and then slightly touch the border to kitsch, but that is not too bad. Because not only that in this aspect of the story is pleasantly dispensed with many possible clichés. It's also managed to draw these two, very strong characters so authentically that what happens between them just feels believable. This makes this series not only rousing, but in many scenes also really poignant.

Although a very different story is told here than in "House of Money". Still, what both series have in common is that cleverly placed puzzle pieces gradually come together to form a coherent whole. Even things that seem unimportant or even trivial at first glance have meaning in the overall context. Even without a big bank robbery and lots of action, you'll be rooting for this much more intimate story. The plot of the second season builds consistently on the events of the first episodes, so that in the end the whole thing feels like a very long, but really good movie all of a piece. A good mix of romance, eroticism, thriller and drama and therefore also: absolutely worth seeing!

Picture + Sound: The final eight episodes of the series present themselves in good to very good TV quality. In the outdoor scenes, powerful colors and very high overall sharpness dominate the visual impression. But also in the interior shots, even small details come to the fore well. Only in darker moments are there slight drops, but they don't really stand out. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix is rather restrained, but provides again and again thanks to well-mixed ambient sounds for an atmospheric soundscape. Good!

Extras: As a bonus, there is only a booklet with an episode guide. Warning: there is heavy spoiling in the synopses, so don't flip through before watching!

Conclusion: "The Pier - The Stranger Side of Love" is brought to a satisfying conclusion with this second season. Álex Pina and Esther Martínez Lobato have crafted an engaging blend of romance and thriller that remains entertaining and very much worth watching right up to the finale, thanks to surprising twists and interesting characters. The Blu-ray convinces again with these final episodes with a good picture and sound quality. Only a little more bonus material would have been nice. All in all: Absolutely recommendable! Who does not own season 1 yet, which can also grab the complete box set appearing in parallel - it's worth it!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp