AGGGTM Season 2 + book series spoilers ahead
To begin I would like to say that while I am a huge AGGGTM fan, I have not read the books in over 3 years, so throughout this review I will be making references to the book plots and they may be a tad off, if they are I apologize to any die hard fans. I am simply a fan-girl doing my best.
Additionally, I wrote this review as I was watching the show so these were my thoughts in real time. Though every episode was amazing, there were some episodes that had me more talkative than others, so not every episode will have a lot of commentary.
Episode 1:
Off to a great start, right off the bat the season opens with the scene that literally had me in TEARS while I was reading it in the book. I will not speak too much about what this scene is until we get to the episode 6 portion, but it was rough to both read and watch.
Pip and Ravi are soooooo cute!!! I remember LOVING their chemistry in the books, and I think the actors and writers have done an amazing job portraying that in this adaptation. They have their witty banter, they balance each other perfectly, are always there to level out the other when the weight of life gets too heavy, and they are so passionate about protecting and taking care of each other.
The concept of having a murder mystery party in this season is interesting as this season is based on the second book, but as far as I can remember there was not a murder mystery party until the 4th book, the prequel novel Kill Joy. Though it definitely was not a bad thing to see, it helped properly introduce Jamie and Conner, as well as Jamie’s odd behaviors that kickstarted the season’s mystery.
Henry Ashton is a little too good at playing Max Hastings, in the nicest way possible. Every time Max enters a scene I get literal chills. I already hated his character in the books, but Ashton is truly able to bring out that uncomfortable, sticky aura that the name alone held on the pages.
Emma Myers is such a fantastic Pip and I will die on that hill. So many people on social media are being negative towards her, as well as the adaptation as a whole, but Pip and the show is everything I imagined and more. I think Emma does an amazing job at portraying all of Pip’s fun quirks and characteristics, and watching the show feels so much like reading the books did!
“Labor” by Paris Paloma is a genuine legendary song choice!!! It perfectly embodies so many of the female characters in the series, especially Pip! It gives a well executed hint at the unfortunate lack of justice for Max’s victims this season.
“Way Down We Go” by KALEO is another amazing soundtrack choice, it just perfectly encapsulates the vibes by once again foreshadowing the traumatizing things Pip and those close to her are going to be put through this season.
The calamity party scene was so cool, and really fun, yet disorienting. And the switch between Max and Robin from Pip’s perspective was so cool to show Pip’s lack of differentiation between them this season as they are cousins and she views Robin as just as evil as Max.
The contrasting scenes between Pip and Max are really cool. While they listened to the same podcast episode, then were both washing their faces, it’s an amazing good vs. evil parallel.
The Holly Jackson cameo in the prison was also a really fun touch on their part!
Episode 2:
The golf scene is so cute. Their golf outfits are adorable, and I love to see more of Pip’s relationship with her father as well as Ravi. Though I am confused that Stanley is a golf club security guard?
Pip and Ravi investigating together again, their dynamic is incredibly adorable this season.
Episode 3:
The court scene was perfectly executed. The level of second hand anxiety and irritation I was feeling was unreal, and when Pip was screaming at the stand I could feel her raw emotion in my bones.
Max hiding his drugs in a video game case titled As Good as Dead *chefs kiss*.
Cara and Pip’s fights are heart breaking because neither of them are necessarily wrong, and they both have valid points. Cara is allowed to be mad because she is still grieving the loss of her father and mother, which in some ways is at Pip’s hands. But Pip is also just trying to do the right thing and help get justice for those who she believes cannot get it for themselves.
Nat’s speech in court is heartbreaking; amazing acting from her. The pain in her voice really resonated with me.
“Left-hand free” by alt-J is another fantastic song choice. It has carried a strong weight since Outer Banks, and is giving Pip’s rebellion scene genuine personality as acting out in school is very unlike her.
“You’re still ringing 🤨”. Insanely hard line from Pip and she delivered it amazingly. This whole scene was done fabulously; Pip being ON Robin since the moment he walked in and Ravi backing her up, incredible!
“Hayloft II” by mother mother is a fantastic choice of a credit song. It keeps the viewers on edge knowing that something is about to happen.
Episode 4:
Conner and Ravi are funny; Pip is the brave one deciding to split up and the two guys decide to stick together. It really does a great job at reflecting that Pip is the real mastermind behind the investigations and everyone else is just following her lead.
Watching the Layla catfish plot unfold is so fun, and watching them put each individual piece together is entertaining!
The tension between Max and his mother is interesting, and it really shows how terrible he truly is, seeing as he is willing to intimidate and threaten his own mother.
Also, Pip accusing Dan Da Silva in every book/season will never not be hilarious. And Dan and Pip working together to intimidate Max is a top tier scene.
Episode 5:
“Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene” by Hozier?!?!?! BEST CHOICE THEY COULD POSSIBLY MAKE!!!!
“Achilles Come Down”?!?!? Genuinely an amazing choice for this scene, seeing as like the Greek warrior Achilles, Pip pushes herself too far. She believes that as long as she is helping do the right thing, she herself is expendable or unbreakable, but in reality that mindset makes her lose control and get taken down and if she does not “come down” on her own, she is going to get herself and everyone she cares for hurt.
The scene where Max is declared not guilty is astronomically heartbreaking. It is unfortunate that something so awful has to happen in order to bring Pip and Nat together, and then the scene cuts to Becca crying in the prison, so incredibly sad.
“To Build A Home” by Glenn & Ronan is such a perfect song for when it is believed that Jamie is dead. It seems that all hope is lost for Pip, and this song does a great job reflecting it.
The rain scene with Pip and Ravi where Pip admits that she can be a hypocrite and made the podcast in order to feel less guilty is top tier cinema. It reminds the viewers that Pip is not just a detective, but she is also a teenage girl who is still trying to learn to understand herself, and let others in to help her.
Episode 6:
Charlie and Stanley’s argument in a way feels like a dark mirror of Pip and Cara’s argument from the earlier episodes. Cara and Charlie are just looking for what they believe is justice, and they believe they can find that justice in attacking/hurting those closest to the source of the problem: Pip/Stanley.
“He was better” is such a heartbreaking line knowing that all Stanely wanted was a peaceful, normal life. The scene of Pip trying to save Stanley was shot amazingly; just as sad as I remember. She was fighting so hard to keep him alive because she knew that he was a good person who had gotten put into a bad situation much like herself. “The Home” by the cinematic orchestra is such a sad but fitting song choice.
“Partner in crime, help you hide a body, all that shit” – Cara. + “Doomsday” by Lizzy McAlpine when Pip reveals the message left on her laptop = genuine chills as someone who knows what is coming in season three. Also, the last line/lyric being “don’t get a choice in the matter, why would I? It’s only the death of me”. These two moments were genuinely amazing and thoughtful nods toward what is to come for Pip and her friends in season 3.
Overall thoughts:
I love the elements throughout the sets indicating how many days Jamie’s been missing (behind his missing poster, on the bulletin board at school, the traffic sign, and the door mat)
I love the switches between Pip and Jamie when she retraces his steps. It feels like criminal minds or Hannibal when the detective is at the crime scene trying to get into the mind of the killer.
My only dislike is that Stanley is the golf course security guard as opposed to the journalist like in the books. Because while his book character may have been annoying, at least his character reveal was more shocking because he was not just a new random character recently introduced. He served a prior purpose in the first book. Also, him being a journalist seeking the truth and justice made sense seeing as what his father did, and forced him to do.
Considering how amazing everything else was and that is my only critique I would say this season was a success!