REVIEW ‘The Law According To Lidia Poët’ Season 2 Defies Sophomore Slump

The Law According to Lidia Poët Season 2 starts at an underdetermined time after the events of Season 1. However, tensions remain inexplicably high for our determined protagonist. The law barring her from being a lawyer remains firm, but opinions sway. Old loves bristle while new loves emerge. And, for the titular Lidia Poët (Matilda De Angelis), the most daunting task turns into a labyrinth of conspiracy after the death of an ally.

As mentioned throughout the series, Lidia has a way of finding trouble. Given the setting, it’s no wonder trouble and Lidia go hand in hand. In Season 2, the women’s suffrage movement in Italy is rising, anarchists are plotting behind the scenes, and strides in evolutionary science coincide with a further escalation in eugenics. Historically, it’s a spicy time. This gives Lidia and the surrounding characters an extra layer to contend with as they navigate each case.

Similar to the previous season, The Law According to Lidia Poët Season 2 consists of six episodes that, by and large, follow the case-a-week storytelling style, with a wraparound narrative acting as a North Star for the characters. The first episode sets the stage for the wraparound, even if it comes across initially as the prototypical case of the week. Each episode brings us one step closer to solving the bigger mystery; however, the mystery is not the series’ strength this go round.

The strength of the story’s progression resides not in the mystery, which isn’t as delicately handed as the previous season, but in the constant ebb and flow of Lidia’s interactions with Jacobo Barberis (Eduardo Scarpetta). At the start of The Law According to Lidia Poët Season 2, tensions are high between Lidia, Jacobo, and Lidia’s brother, Enrico Poët (Pierluigi Pasino). Jacobo has done a great wrong against Enrico to start his enterprise. But, for Jacobo, the wrong lies with Lidia and her refusal towards him.

This particular issue hangs over Lidia and Jacobo like a constant reminder. Even as they work together towards a common goal in solving cases, the tension only festers until they resolve this giant issue. For actors Matilda De Angelis, Eduardo Scarpetta, and Pierluigi Pasino, their mutual chemistry makes their shared conflicts addicting to watch onscreen. Pasino, in particular, continues to play the part of the big brother exceedingly well.

Natural chemistry shines in The Law According To Lidia Poët Season 2.

In general, the characters have a refreshing air of maturity. More often than not, in TV series, things tend to pick up immediately where they left off. This can carry over into the personalities of the characters. But in The Law According to Lidia Poët Season 2, you can feel the impact of the previous season’s experiences on the characters. De Angelis’s Lidia holds herself differently. She still has fight in her, but there’s a wariness and guardedness as her Lidia navigates political waters.

Lidia’s influence (as well as what’s going on in the world) on both her niece, Marianna Poët (Sinéad Thornhill), and her sister-in-law, Teresa Barberis (Sara Lazzar0), resonate in their storylines this season. While much of Marianna’s arc revolves around an impending marriage, where she arrives at the end of the season, it could have only been accomplished through her involvement with Lidia, who she holds in confidence. The matriculation of Lidia’s influence is highlighted this season, regardless of how big or small her actions are.

It would be a crime worthy of Lidia herself if the costumes weren’t mentioned. This season’s costumes are positively exquisite, with colors perfectly accentuating the production design and set dressing in each new location. If there’s anything to be said about continuity, it’s that the below-the-line team knocked it out of the park with their work again.

Good news for timid viewers wary of investing with the threat of sudden cancellation: The Law According to Lidia Poët Season 2 wraps things nicely. There are no cliffhangers, but there is enough of an opening should the series’ second season succeed for further exploration. Given the actual Lidia Poët’s extensive career and long life, there is likely more to explore. But, as the series stands now, there’s enough resolution to satisfy viewers.

The Law According to Lidia Poët Season 2 defies the sophomore slump. With Lidia’s return, an era of further conflict and maturity arrives. Her experiences have shaped her, but that doesn’t permit her to look away from trouble. Instead, with much delight for viewers, she runs headfirst into trouble and inspires in the process.

The Law According to Lidia Poët Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.