Tehran Season 2 Review – An absolutely gripping and frustrating espionage thriller

Episode Guide

Episode 1 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 2  -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 3  -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 4 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 5 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 6 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 7 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 8 -| Review Score – 3/5

Watching an espionage thriller can go one of two ways. On the one hand, the plot can be wracked in tension; nail-biting sequences lending themselves to a successful or unsuccessful operation with you gripped the whole time. On the other hand, you can find yourself rolling your eyes, shouting at the telly and wondering just how characters could be so stupid.

Tehran then is a bit of an enigma in that respect. While the first season did have a few moments of both these heightened states, season 2 takes these ideas and absolutely dials that up to 100.

There are some incredibly tense sequences here, but even more moments where Tamar and the group act so unbelievably stupid and erratic that it’s a wonder that they haven’t been killed immediately. The ensuing result is an exciting, gripping, frustrating and annoying series that wobbles along the tightrope for much of its run-time, managing to somehow juggle all of this and remain incredibly watchable.

Picking up after the events of season 1, Tehran season 2 sees Tamar and Milad on the run from the authorities. They’re desperate to get out of town, with Faraz working to track them down before they escape.

Complicating matters further though is Mohammadi, the new General who’s promoted and promises swift vengeance to all those who may oppose the country. That, unfortunately, includes Tamar’s aunt Arezoo, who is shockingly killed by The General.

With Mossad working to get Tamar out, in exchange for one final job, our protagonist breaks protocol, decides against leaving with Milad, and makes taking The General out her number 1 priority.

What follow from here are a number of increasingly elaborate and dangerous missions, with Tamar and Milad working together to infiltrate Mohammadi’s close circle, through his son Peyman and best friend Vahid. The latter also happens to be involved with Milad through his supply of drugs.

The mission is simple but the execution is anything but. Operations are botched, Tanar lets her emotions get the better of her and there are some genuinely baffling moments where Tamar paints a huge bullseye on her own chest.

A wire-tapping exercise, for example, makes her look very suspicious when she fumbles over her words when quizzed over what she’s doing. Another time Tamar gets close to Peyman, starts kissing him, and takes her earpiece out and stuffs it in her pocket… a pocket that’s dangerously close to Peyman’s wandering hands.

That’s before mentioning Milad who’s somehow even more unreliable than Tamar. In fact, there’s a whole episode that goes on a side mission to save Milad from a situation he was advised not to get involved in.

It’s a shame too because there are some definite stand-out moments with Tehran season 2. The story is quite straightforward but undeniably gripping, the characters are well rounded and there’s some slick cinematography to boot too.

This is one of those series that works far better as a binge-watch than an episode drip-fed each week, especially as it allows one to think over all the issues inherent with the characters and their motivations.

However, there’s something undeniably enticing with this one and despite its issues, Tehran season 2 remains something of a guilty pleasure to watch through its run. This follow-up is definitely a step down from the first, but there’s enough here to recommend, despite some wobbles along the way.

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