Two years after the UK debut of the first season of David Mitchell’s quirky murder mystery, Ludwig has officially returned with a brand-new installment that blessedly avoids a sophomore slump. If there is one thing the British do well, it’s coming up with new ways to tackle the formulaic crime procedural, and Ludwig is undoubtedly one of the best series to make its way across the pond, by way of BritBox. The 6-episode season maintains a tight grasp on the overarching plotline, while still delivering case-of-the-week-style mysteries that make cozy crime shows so compelling.
Mitchell stars as the reclusive puzzle setter John “Ludwig” Taylor, whose life was turned upside down in Season 1 by the mysterious disappearance of his twin brother, Cambridge’s DCI James Taylor. With the encouragement of his sister-in-law, Lucy (Anna Maxwell Martin), John began to impersonate his brother, believing that his puzzle-making skills might help them unravel the truth behind his disappearance. The status quo is much the same in the new season, though Ludwig does (rather quickly) bring John and Lucy even closer to understanding why James flew the coop, and it raises the stakes immediately.
‘Ludwig’ Season 2 Is the Perfect Blend of Low and High Stakes Mystery
For longtime fans of Mitchell’s unique brand of exasperated humor, made famous by his run as Mark Corrigan on Peep Show, and various sketch series with Robert Webb, Ludwig delivers. The series even alludes to an iconic 20-year-old bit from That Mitchell and Webb Look, which is now forever immortalized as an oft-used and too-apt meme stateside. While John is a far cry from being characterized as a baddie, he is just as bumbling and aloof as he was in the first season, and no less the puzzle-solving, case-cracking savant.
One of the first mysteries Ludwig faces at the start of Season 2 is the inexplicable disappearance of Chief Constable Ronan Ziegler (Ralph Ineson), which poses quite the challenge for John, who has been brought on as a consultant at the constabulary, with the caveat that he stop impersonating his brother — and cease his investigation into his disappearance. Ziegler’s absence, paired with the introduction of the duplicitous politician Joanne Kemper (Sian Clifford), sets Ludwig and Lucy up with a whole new line of inquiry into James’ whereabouts.
Anna Maxwell Martin Is Officially a True Co-Lead in ‘Ludwig’ Season 2
Despite being a rather integral part of both James and John’s lives, Lucy wasn’t much of a major player in Ludwig Season 1. Here, however, Anna Maxwell Martin is given the opportunity to play to her strengths, and the results ensure that Season 2 is infinitely more entertaining than the first. As fun as it is to see Mitchell play into John’s social awkwardness episode after episode, Ludwig was smart enough to shape Lucy into a savvy and capable budding journalist. This, of course, brings her close to dangerous members of the community, which adds a new layer of intrigue and emotional turmoil for John.
This narrative shift also makes way for an unexpected dilemma that Ludwig is unlikely to explore (even if it should). With James out of the picture, and John playing house as his absent twin, the pair have undeniable chemistry, which is only emboldened by how well-suited they are as a crime-solving duo. While romantic overtures are rarely the focus of an ever-growing slate of cozy British mysteries, audiences can’t be faulted for wishing for a little brush of passion in the midst of government conspiracies and Midsomer Murders-esque deaths.
'Ludwig' Season 2 Is Another Winner for BritBox
Ludwig’s ensemble remains well-rounded in Season 2, with DCI Russell Carter (Dipo Ola) and Lucy’s son Henry (Dylan Hughes) getting more screentime and involvement in the central plotline, alongside Season 2 newcomers, newspaper editor Gareth Fisher (Mark Bonnar), and DC Ethan Cole (Ben Ashenden) and DC Caitlin Sullivan (Rumi Sutton). Series creator and scribe Mark Brotherhood’s scripts are still top-notch, with smartly interwoven mysteries and deftly crafted character development.
Though there are plenty of mysteries and puzzles left to be solved, it is no mystery that Ludwig remains chart-topping entertainment. The best part of watching is not only the assurance that a third season is already on the way, but that in a few months, fans will be treated to one of the most age-old British traditions — a Christmas special to tide us over until the new year!
Ludwig Season 2 premieres October 13 on BritBox.