Today Stan releases a second season of its surprise hit The Tourist.
It’s always a mixed feeling when everyone involved said it was a one-off series, but the popularity of the first season has resulted in a return to the Jamie Dornan-led thriller.
The first season of The Tourist told the story of an Irish man (Jamie Dornan) who after a car accident had amnesia and set on a quest with police officer Helen Chamber (Danielle Macdonald). Answers were found in the Australian outback and the ambiguous ending wrapped everything up.
Or so we thought.
When we return it’s clear that the man, Elliot Stanley, and Helen have committed to each other and are travelling the world together. In Ireland, the duo are blissfully happy until Helen receives a letter from Tommy, claiming to know Elliot from the past life he’s forgotten.
Elliot soon finds himself kidnapped by a vicious family gang, the McDonnells, made up of Donald (Diarmaid Murtagh), Orla (Nessa Matthews), and Fergal (Mark McKenna). For Elliot, the family hold many answers and just as many secrets.
Helen joins up with Ruairi Slater (Conor MacNeill), who takes on the case, but it’s clear that he is also hiding a complex secret.
Creators Harry and Jack Williams have defied the sophomore slump with a premiere that sets up the season ahead. And in the first two episodes provided for review, Dornan and Macdonald get to show both their dramatic and comedic talents.
We might be in a new country, but The Tourist still has just as many twists and turns.
4.5 Stars
The Tourist is now available to stream on Stan.