Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

The Sinner: Season Two Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 24, 2022

The Sinner was originally conceived for a a single season but the show's breakout success led to an expansion for the series, resulting in three more seasons which together form not a continuous story but rather an anthology of disturbing human behavior and off-kilter realities that make for absorbing television. Season two proves every but as compelling as its original season one counterpart, beginning with an unthinkable, out-of-the-blue tragedy which spirals into a tangled web of everything from the curiously odd to the bizarrely macabre.

Official synopsis: "The Sinner" Season 2 lures Detective Harry Ambrose (Bill Pullman) back to his hometown in rural New York to assess an unsettling and heart wrenching crime -- parents murdered by their 11-year-old son, with no apparent motive.

Season two really runs with the whole concept of playing similarly to the first season in terms of the essential setup but it quickly becomes apparent that even if there are a few things shared, those few things are truly the precious few in terms of quantity and quality (not that the things that are no more from season one were not quality) and that the writing and acting are certainly enough to move the franchise forward from the fantastic freshman outing. Bill Pullman returns as the only real tangible connective glue, but the themes and narrative constructs certainly ring familiar yet also unique from the opening moments when another unspeakable and unexplainable murder takes place. The show propels forward with a compelling eight episodes that build to a very satisfying close, making this every bit the unforgettable follow-up to an unforgettable first season.

But why? Why does it work so well? For starters, the show both clings to expectations and discards them. The story is completely unpredictable; it begins predictably enough but that quick establishment of unique approaches and personalized twists quickly set it apart from the previous season. The show is never content to simply slow drip questions and spoon feed answers to the audience in between dark character arcs and angles; no, the season frequently upends its own playbook and the audience's own expectations not with glee because it can but within the sobering reality that it must be true not to its universe but to its own individual DNA. Additionally, performances are spot-on, specially from holdover Bill Pullman and also from newcomers like Carrie Coon, Natalie Paul, and Tracy Letts in dynamic roles and unforgettable performances.

The following episodes comprise season two; summaries are courtesy of the complete series Blu-ray packaging:

Disc One:

• Part I: A troubled detective returns to his hometown to investigate why a young boy would kill his parents.
• Part II: Ambrose and Heather begin to unravel where Julian is from, as Julian is thrust into a new world.
• Part III: Heather makes a starting realization about Marin, as Vera and Julian are dealt a hard blow.
• Part IV: Ambrose returns to Mosswood to confront Vera about the commune’s work.

Disc Two:

• Part V: As Ambrose zeroes in on a new suspect, a rift develops between him and Heather.
• Part VI: Vera reveals Mosswood’s past to Ambrose, leading to a turn in Julian’s case.
• Part VII: Heather and Ambrose search for Julian.
• Part VIII: Heather and Ambrose continue their search for Julian as Marin’s past is unraveled.

The Sinner: Season Two Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The 1080p transfer is excellent. The picture is crisp and sharp. Season two does nothing to revolutionize Blu-ray or even advance greatly from a fairly basic aesthetic, and it doesn't have to. The picture is perfectly pleasing in all ways, revealing satisfying textures across the broad array of necessary elements such as faces, clothes, and environments, and it does so in every lighting condition, inside or out, though certainly the level of raw visible detail is influenced simply by visibility. But in well-lit and daytime exteriors this one approaches the best the format has to offer. Colors are likewise solid for accuracy, depth, and brilliance. The palette is not so vivid as to absolutely leap off the screen, but the stability and general accuracy are very welcome. Black level depth is terrific, white balance is solid, and skin tones are fine. Light noise does pop in from time to time but there are no serious encode issues to report. This is a very nice looking image; fans will be satisfied.

The Sinner: Season Two Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The included DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack delivers a satisfying, well-rounded listen. The track is not one to set the world on fire; the sound design does not call for that sort of steady sonic bombardment from more action-oriented films, but even still this one's credentials allow it to soar in its own way. One of those ways is by a steady sense of ambient immersion into every location. Listeners will feel a part of every shot, scene, and sequence with precision audio cues and often subtle, but mood-critical, surrounding detail. Spacing is very good and while back channels are not teeming with activity there's just the right balance to build a world. Musical cues are clear and engaging across the front with some surround support and just enough low-end depth to provide realistic weight. Dialogue is the main driver here, of course, and it presents clearly and naturally from the center channel.

The Sinner: Season Two Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Unlike season one, which included a few deleted scenes, no extras are included on either Blu-ray disc. No DVD or digital copies are included with purchase. This release does not ship with a slipcover.

The Sinner: Season Two Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Sinner's sophomore season is a winner. It's every bit as good as the first season while it both rings familiar yet forges its own way forward. Excellent narrative tentacles entangle the viewer into a compelling story, supported by several terrific performances. Universal's two-disc Blu-ray is solid, offering satisfying video and audio presentations. The only downside is the complete absence of supplemental content, but this package still earns a solid recommendation for all of the other pieces.