A Series Learning How to Escalate

TV SERIES REVIEW
The Hunting Party: Season 2
TV-14 -     

Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Year Released: 2026
Runtime: 6 x 1h episodes (three episodes screened for review)
Creator(s): JJ Bailey
Cast: Melissa Roxburgh, Nick Wechsler, Patrick Sabongui, Josh McKenzie, Sara Garcia
Where to Watch: returns for season two on Thursday, January 8 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and is available the next day on Peacock

RAVING REVIEW: Season two of THE HUNTING PARTY manages to tackle something the first season only flirted with: confidence. Where season one often felt like a show still negotiating its identity, balancing high-concept aspirations against procedural awareness, the sophomore run tightens its grip and commits to what makes the series so compelling. This is no longer just a crime show with a clever hook. It’s a story about institutional rot, moral compromise, and the psychological toll of treating human beings as problems to be managed rather than lives to be reckoned with.

Picking up directly after the season one finale, season two wastes little time reestablishing stakes. The team’s fight for reinstatement isn’t treated as just housekeeping; it’s framed as a test of power, accountability, and optics. Rebecca “Bex” Henderson remains the emotional pull, but this season allows her authority to be challenged in more meaningful ways. Melissa Roxburgh’s performance benefits from a deeper pool of material, giving Bex a stronger conflict that goes beyond determination and professional guilt. She’s no longer just reacting to crises; she’s actively questioning the system she’s been propping up.

One of the most noticeable improvements this season is how the series handles its episodic structure. Each escaped killer still serves as a focal point, but they’re no longer isolated curiosities. The cases now feel like extensions of the same diseased organism. Rather than treating each fugitive as a standalone exhibition, the writing emphasizes patterns, escalation, and cause-and-effect. These aren’t just dangerous people on the loose; they’re evidence of something fundamentally broken. That shift alone gives the season a stronger sense of momentum.

The premiere episode sets the tone, introducing a villain who is unsettling not because of shock tactics, but because of how closely it mirrors real-world behavior. The episode resists sensationalism, opting instead to focus on the psychology behind manipulation and the blind spots that allow it to thrive. This approach offers up a broader tonal sophistication. Season two understands that restraint can be more disturbing than excess, and it applies that lesson across its strongest moments.

As the season progresses, the series becomes more confident in interrogating The Pit itself. The prison is no longer a vague symbol of secrecy; it’s a living, breathing presence whose consequences ripple outward. The show finally leans into the ethical implications it once skirted around. What does it mean to experiment on criminals under the guise of control? Who decides where justice ends and exploitation begins? These questions don’t always receive neatly wrapped-up answers, but the willingness to ask them marks a clear evolution.

The supporting cast also benefits from more focused writing. Josh McKenzie’s Shane Florence, in particular, emerges as one of the season’s most compelling figures. His connection to The Pit is no longer just backstory; it’s a source of tension that complicates his relationships and decisions. The show allows his moral ambiguity to breathe, trusting the audience to sit with discomfort rather than smoothing it over. Patrick Sabongui and Nick Wechsler also receive stronger material, with their characters navigating shifting alliances and priorities as the institutional pressure mounts.

THE HUNTING PARTY maintains its dark, controlled aesthetic, but the direction feels more self-confident. Scenes are staged with clearer intent, allowing tension to build rather than relying on urgency alone. The pacing is more disciplined. Episodes know when to stick around and when to move forward, avoiding the drag that occasionally plagued season one. The balance between action and introspection feels more intentional, giving the season a stronger foundation. Some episodes still lean heavily on familiar cliches, and there are moments where the show flirts with over-explanation. As a whole, these issues feel less like flaws and more like remnants of an earlier version of the series. What matters is that the show is clearly learning from its own missteps.

This review is based on the first three episodes of the six-episode second season provided for advance screening. While the season shows clear creative momentum and stronger narrative confidence early on, these observations reflect only the material available at the time of review.

THE HUNTING PARTY: SEASON 2 represents a meaningful step forward. It’s sharper, more focused, and willing to confront the darker implications of its premise. While it still operates within the framework of a network crime drama, it stretches that framework in very specific ways. This season proves so far that the series isn’t just chasing killers; it’s finally chasing the uncomfortable truths it set up from the beginning. If the show continues on this trajectory, it has the potential to evolve from a solid procedural into something far more distinctive and enduring.

Please visit https://linktr.ee/overlyhonestr for more reviews.

You can follow me on Letterboxd, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. My social media accounts can also be found on most platforms by searching for 'Overly Honest Reviews'.

I’m always happy to hear from my readers; please don't hesitate to say hello or send me any questions about movies.

[photo courtesy of NBC UNIVERSAL, PEACOCK]

DISCLAIMER:
At Overly Honest Movie Reviews, we value honesty and transparency. Occasionally, we receive complimentary items for review, including DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, Vinyl Records, Books, and more. We assure you that these arrangements do not influence our reviews, as we are committed to providing unbiased and sincere evaluations. We aim to help you make informed entertainment choices regardless of our relationship with distributors or producers.

Amazon Affiliate Links:
Additionally, this site contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may receive a commission. This affiliate arrangement does not affect our commitment to honest reviews and helps support our site. We appreciate your trust and support in navigating these links.