Annika Season 2 Episode 4 Review
There are a lot of antics on Annika Season 2 Episode 4. Between the witty banter, the misidentification of a frozen body, and the instances of people getting in over their heads, we’re on the verge of an hour-long comedy.
We hit the ground running by learning that Harper, the investigator who assisted the team a couple episodes ago, will be joining them to replace Tyrone. Given that being held at gunpoint with them hasn’t sent her running, we should be grateful.
It does also confirm that Tyrone has left with no fanfare beyond the brief goodbye from Annika. I’m glad to see another woman on the team, especially with Blair on doctor’s orders to stay out of the field, but the speed of the transition feels unfair to him.
So no, not everything is handled with humor, and for a show about solving murders, that’s probably a good thing. Misidentifying a body because it’s encased in face isn’t funny exactly, but it’s a new level of awkwardness for a show that excels in the field.
After a series of misadventures that involve meeting said “dead” guy and almost getting Michael blown up, the murder is connected to a young couple that includes a very pregnant wife. By the time the man is proved guilty, she’s in active labor.
Annika may have gone through this very thing herself, but it’s soon clear she’s not the person you want in the room as you go through excruciating pain bringing new life into the world while also learning your husband is a murderer. I know, I’m shocked, too.
All ends as best as could be expected considering the circumstances. At least the team has some training should they need to use it with Blair. That feels like just the kind of thing we might have coming for us in the season finale.
Elsewhere, things remain patchy in the relationship between Annika and Michael. They’re working well together, but his quip in the start of the hour about just how long she takes to share big news shows he’s far from letting this go completely.
Things don’t get any less tense when the two walk into a lecture hall to find a professor giving a very poorly timed lecture about the effects of bad parenting on child psychology. At least the man has credentials, being a child psychologist himself.
Jake spent a large part of season one as a great therapist for Morgan and then a strong potential beau for Annika. Yet he’s been nonexistent in the new season before this moment. It doesn’t take long for Annika to follow him and “settle their score”.
Sure enough, she sleeps with him. He’s been gone for so long that it’s hard to tell for sure whether we should be rooting for this or not. Morgan seems on board—but then again, that’s not accounting for the secret she has yet to learn.
One thing that that does seem to be ruled out, at least anytime soon, is a romantic rekindling between Annika and Michael. They both have the potential to find new healthy partners in their lives and I appreciate prioritizing that over any shipping drama.
What did you think of this episode of Annika? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Annika airs Sundays at 10/9c on PBS.
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Caitlin Wyneken
Caitlin is an elder millennial with an only slightly unhealthy dedication to a random selection of TV shows, from PBS Masterpiece dramas to some of the less popular series on popular networks. Outside of screen time, she's dedicated to the public sector and worthy nonprofits, working to make a difference in the world outside of media.