Van Der Valk Season 4 Episode 2 Review: Safe in Amsterdam, Part 2

After a tense and confusing first half, the opening episode of this season amps up the emotional stakes on Van Der Valk Season 4 Episode 2, “Safe in Amsterdam: Part 2.”

In the unfolding case, we learn that while Bibi didn’t have her son killed, she did order the death of the young woman in the case he was set to testify in. His own fiery demise then came at the hands of that girl’s father, who briefly threatens her other son.

The past that comes to light between Piet and Kalie isn’t quite as brutal, but his dog did die under her care while they were together. That’s enough to be a dealbreaker even when she steps in to help the team out during a standoff.

Elsewhere, Eddie manages to overcome his captors and save himself along the way to providing his own support with the case. Hendrik, though, faces a more uncertain distant future as we basically confirm some form of likely life-threatening illness.

As I’d hoped, the questions left in the air by part one of this installment soon come full circle with this continuation. A bumpy and somewhat awkward narrative gets smoothed out as the parts of the puzzle finally come together in a cohesive whole.

Even though Bibi isn’t guilty of the specific murder she’s accused of within the hour, I have a hard time feeling terribly sorry for anyone in the episode. Even Sophie’s father, though understandably motivated by deep grief, endangers everyone in his thirst for revenge.

The upside is that with these deeply flawed people as little more than distractions, we have more time to see the team working together effectively to see them all come to justice. I especially like seeing Eddie turn the tables on the poor henchman sent to kidnap him.

I’m wary of Kalie’s story thus far for a variety of reasons. First, Van Der Valk and Lena (who we barely saw in part one but who gets more screentime here) are in a good place. Second, I just can’t get invested in the hints between him and Kalie—at least not yet.

I’m biased both by that thing with his dog and in the fact that I’ve never been a fan of love triangles and should also note that I have no idea yet whether this is meant to anywhere. But if it is, it feels like we’re pushing the “enemies to lovers” trope up a hill that’s a bit too steep.  

Overall, though, the balance between personal and professional plotlines and between drama and a measured degree of comedy is strong here and leaves me looking forward to what the rest of this season will have to offer.

That doesn’t necessarily include whatever’s down the line for Hendrik. Him giving up alcohol (assuming that sticks) is both a welcome step forward for him and a sign that whatever’s he’s discovered is drastic, especially since he won’t talk about it.

The cast for this series has changed up a bit, but Hendrik’s wry wit has always been there, even for just a couple minutes an episode. Unfortunately, this is the kind of cranky but loveable character who can be prime fodder for delivering an emotional blow to the audience.

Until we get more details, we can’t say how likely this possibility will be. With such short seasons, the drama can hold be drawn out for so long, but I still expect we’ll be left up in the air until thing play out one way or another in the final episode.

 

What did you think of this episode of Van Der Valk? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Van Der Valk airs Sundays at 10/9c on PBS.

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