"Have you only come to mock me or do you actually want to know what I've found out?"
After Series 1, I was a bit in two minds about Vienna Blood. The setting was charming as were the characters, but at times it felt like someone was trying too hard to meet the expectations of British and American viewers by shoehorning every known stereotype of Vienna and cultural life in the early 1900s into the story.
Fortunately, S2 is largely unburdened by such issues, instead giving its characters ample time and space to shine.
This is in part due to the rather unfortunate circumstances surrounding the making of S2, better known as the global CoVid pandemic. Filming had to be pushed back by several months, and even then took place under strict precautions.
The effects are clearly visible throughout the three episodes, but - maybe surprisingly - this is not necessarily a disadvantage. I commend the writers' creativity when placing everything from large desks to whole bridges between its actors to ensure their safety while never making these devices feel awkward or out of place. At times they even enhance the suspense, when a villain is always a step ahead, in the shadows, never seen up close.
Of course the upper-class period setting helps as well - no public displays of affection in 1908, everyone always keeping their polite distance even during social gatherings.
We also see noticeably less of the supporting cast, presumably also to keep interactions between actors and crew to a necessary minimum. This may disappoint viewers who had hoped to see more of Amelia's life, more of Oskar's backstory or more of the Liebermanns. In fact, Max and his family are the only ones with any onscreen life outside of work at all, his father inflicting various social engagements on his reluctant son.
This is actually lampshaded in a scene between Oskar and the woman working at the police archives when they both admit to each other how their jobs have taken over their lives after losing their real families.
Personally, I appreciate this development beyond its off-screen necessity, because although this may sound strange, it adds to the authentic Viennese feel of the show.
In Vienna, even today you are not expected to advertise your emotional state of mind, let alone back in 1908. We have become so accustomed to seeing intense, intimate conversations on television that it's easy to forget how inappropriate such behavior would have been for these characters.
A significant reason for the success of Freud's methods were the cultural constraints of the era, forcing people to completely ignore their emotions and desires, sometimes with severe consequences for their mental health. Therefore, it makes sense to keep relationships between characters brief to give the audience a taste of the emotional distance and loneliness that entrenched their lives.
It also allows the relationship between Oskar and Max to stand out even more, easily making it the highlight of the show.
I cannot stress enough how enjoyable their interactions are, and how refreshing it is to watch a non-toxic male friendship on television. We have witnessed their relationship from the very beginning, seen Oskar's reluctance to acknowledge the value of Max's insights to his police work slowly fade and develop into a respectful acceptance of psychological analysis as a tool. But it's not just about old-fashioned Oskar coming to terms with new ideas. We also see Max lose some of his cockiness in the face of real danger, forcing him to admit that he needs Oskar's protection after all. But most of all, we see a strong friendship based on mutual trust, respect and the happiness that comes from enjoying each other's company.
And that's where the legwork of S1 really pays off, because now that all of the above has been firmly established, there is no need to keep reaffirming it. When Max tells his friend "it's good to see you, Oskar", the feeling is effortlessly mutual.
As an audience, we can rely on Oskar having Max's back, on Max pointing Oskar towards the truth, and on both men royally screwing up but somehow still saving the day. Who wouldn't want a friend like that?
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