'Baptiste' was watched with high expectations when Season 1 was first advertised. Absolutely loved 'The Missing' for most of its run and one of the biggest reasons was the mesmerising acting of Tcheky Karyo. The cast was also a very talented one, and Season 2 was also watched with high expectations because of being generally very impressed by the first season. Certainly enough to make me want to continue. Am a fan too of this genre, so would watch anything in it.
Some viewers loved 'Baptiste', others hated it. Especially Season 2. Can personally see both sides, being someone who was and still is in retrospect very conflicted on her feelings of the series. While really liking Season 1, though not quite as much as any episode from 'The Missing', Season 2 in most aspects was a real disappointment and felt like a completely different series to what came before it. Was really struggling which rating to give 'Baptiste', with it being a series of two very different halves.
There are good things here. The two consistent best things in both seasons are the very atmospheric locations and Karyo knocking it out of the park once again as Baptiste, he has such a great ability of telling so much in such a charismatic yet moving way while saying and doing little and that is something very special in an actor that is not seen a lot these days this viewer feels.
Did think that Season 1 had a lot to admire. Outside of those two particularly great aspects, the photography was gritty and moody and loved the Scandanavian mystery thriller-like mood that was suspense laden. The music had presence while not overpowering. Other members of the cast performed very well, with chilling Alec Secareanu immediately standing out.
Against all those good things, in my view it was too obvious too soon about there being an inside job betrayal and did have an inkling who it was.
Regarding Season 2, other than Karyo and the locations, as well as some stylish photography, it was incredibly disappointing. The story is excessively convoluted nonsense, to the point of incoherence with so much left vague or completely skimmed over and the ridiculousness was insulting. It really could have done with slowing down and not trying to cram in so much, with the second half particularly feeling rushed and over-stuffed.
Writing also isn't as taut and can be soapy and there is a real lack of tension and suspense, because the viewer is continually struggling to comprehend what is going on. The acting is noticeably inferior to that in the first season, am someone who usually loves Fiona Shaw but despite some moving moments her acting mostly was overwrought.
Very conflicted overall and can see both sides of liked it and hated it. 5/10.
