Ep 2. The Guilt

The Guilt is the second episode of the second season of Henning Mankell's Wallander. The episode opens with the discovery of a young woman's body found floating in the sea, triggering an intense investigation by the Ystad police, led, as always, by the tireless Kurt Wallander. The victim is identified as Linda, a young mother from Lithuania who had been working illegally in Sweden.

As the investigation progresses, Wallander discovers that Linda was part of a group of immigrants who were being systematically exploited by a group of ruthless gangsters. As a result, Wallander finds himself dealing with issues surrounding human trafficking and illegal immigration. At the same time, he is also dealing with his own demons, particularly his failing health and his strained relationship with his estranged daughter Linda.

Alongside Wallander, his colleague Isabelle has also come face to face with the issue of illegal immigration. Her investigations lead her to confront a man who has been exploiting Eastern European migrant workers, prompting her to question her own stance on the issue and the lengths that some people will go to in order to seek a better life.

As the investigation continues, the case takes a dramatic turn when Wallander discovers that one of the gangsters involved in the exploitation of the immigrants is someone he knows well. This puts Wallander in a difficult position – he must choose between his loyalty to his friend and his duty as a police officer.

Throughout the episode, Wallander is also struggling with his deteriorating health and the stress of the case, which takes a toll on him both physically and mentally. Despite his pain, he continues to work tirelessly to bring the perpetrators to justice, determined to see justice served for Linda and the other victims of the gang's exploitation.

In the end, Wallander is left grappling with the guilt of not being able to save Linda and the other victims, as well as the guilt of having to confront his own mortality. The episode ends on a somber note, with Wallander sitting alone in his apartment contemplating his own failures against the backdrop of a stark winter landscape.

Overall, The Guilt is a powerful and thought-provoking episode that delves deep into issues surrounding human trafficking and illegal immigration, while also providing an intimate look at Wallander's own struggles with his health and relationships. The tension builds steadily throughout the episode, leading to a dramatic finale that leaves the viewer haunted by Wallander's sense of guilt and the harsh realities of life in modern-day Sweden.