Janet King: Series 2—The Invisible Wound

The second season of the Australian legal drama starring Marta Dusseldorp as Senior Crown Prosecutor Janet King begins two years after the end of the first series and death of her partner. Janet is appointed Royal Commissioner in an investigation of gun crimes in New South Wales and she recruits numerous members of her old team for the new assignment. While on the trail of a gun-smuggling ring she uncovers fresh evidence in the unsolved murder of her partner, which makes her even more dogged and a little too personally invested to make objective decisions. King has a brilliant legal mind and a singleminded drive when it comes to cases, but she is less savvy about politics and media relations, and is prone to missteps when she becomes emotionally wrapped up in things. With a high profile case that puts her on a collision course with police, military officials, and business interests (she has a habit of confrontation when a little negotiation might ease the way), Janet becomes a political target while giving her enemies ammunition to tarnish her professional image in the press. Add to that the stress of being a single mother protecting her children from retribution and Janet King emerges as a complex drama with a complicated case at its heart. Playing more like a miniseries than an episodic procedural—telling a complete story over an eight-episode arc—this 2016 second season debuts on DVD with extras including a behind-the-scenes featurette and a photo gallery. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)