'Save Me Too' Review: Lennie James' compelling thriller is a gritty drama that tells a story of redemption
Spoilers for 'Save Me Too'
It has been 17 months since Jody went missing. Her overnight disappearance is explicable as it seems like Jody might have left by her own will. Only, things are not as they seem to be and Jody is caught lost in the labyrinth of nightmares.
A Sky Atlantic original, 'Save Me Too' is a sequel to the 2018 installment that saw Jody (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness) disappear. Everyone is looking for Jody, the authorities, her parents, but no one is looking as hard as Nelly Rowe. A "down-and-out-sofa-surfing womanizer", Nelly is the least reliable man you could ever meet. And that is why Claire McGory (Suranne Jones) decides to raise Jody separately. Over the 13 years of her life, Nelly was never present. That's why when he suddenly started responding to her emails, she fled home to meet him knowing her mother would never permit it.
And that innocent desire was taken advantage of by vicious men who deal in flesh trade. Ever since that morning, Nelly hasn't tested well. Or rested at all. He spent all of Season 1 looking for Jody but was led to Grace (Olivia Gray), saving her life instead. And now, 17 months later, Jody still remains missing.
Season 2 also follows Nelly on his quest to find Jody. And it does so brilliantly as now Nelly is not only looking for his estranged daughter but also helping out Grace. Caught in between the two, Nelly is confronted with the dark underbelly of London and forced to discover things about himself that he would never have.
Just like its predecessor, 'Save Me Too' scores high in character development, very impressive actually. Nelly's redemptive arc is the highlight of the two parts as he goes from being a couch-surfing, good-for-nothing to a man with a purpose -- a purpose that instils in him hope for a change.
But it's not just Nelly we follow. The supporting characters, his friends, see just as much character development as him. Even though they are only littered in between Nelly's journey, these parallel characters add a lot of value to his life. Special mention to the supporting character of Melon (portrayed by Stephen Graham), who is used sporadically but smartly.
'Save Me Too' could clearly be deemed one of the best British crime dramas out there. Even at six episodes long, it might feel that James' drama eats up your time, but it is very much worth the investment. The sequel to the 2018 series is impressive in all aspects. James, who is also the creator behind the show, does a superb job pulling viewers in his quest. The compelling drama sucks in audiences down its rabbit hole delivering an addictive product.
Do not miss 'Save Me Too' for it is good television fusing drama and thriller. Watch it for a strong set of characters written by James and acted out by an ensemble cast. You might walk into it assuming it's a crime drama, but really, it tells a touching story of redemption that leaves the heartbreaking.
All episodes of 'Save Me Too' are currently streaming on Peacock.
