Ep 1. Episode 1

In the season 2 premiere of Modus, we're reintroduced to our lead character, psychologist and criminal profiler Inger Johanne Vik (played by Melinda Kinnaman), who finds herself drawn back into her work when a series of gruesome murders rock the city. The episode opens with a frantic woman running through an empty forest, clearly terrified and desperate to escape something chasing her. As she stumbles and falls, we hear the sound of someone catching up to her and then a scream.

Cue Inger, who is now living in Norway with her two daughters since the events of the previous season, where she helped solve a string of murders in Stockholm. She's settled into a calmer life, writing books and teaching psychology at the university. However, that's all about to change when she gets a call from her former boss in the Swedish police force, who needs her help with a case involving a high-profile politician who has been found brutally murdered in his home.

Inger initially resists getting involved, telling her boss that she's moved on from that part of her life. But when she reads about the murder in the paper and sees the gruesome details (which include the politician's eyes being gouged out), something clicks inside her and she knows she has to investigate. She has a hunch that this is just the beginning of something much bigger and more sinister.

Meanwhile, we're introduced to a new character, a teenage girl named Stina (played by Esmeralda Struwe), who is living in a group home for troubled youths. Stina is rebellious and has a troubled background, with a mother who is an alcoholic and a father who has been in and out of prison. We soon learn that Stina has a connection to the murdered politician, which puts her in danger.

As Inger begins to dig deeper into the case, she discovers that there may be a connection between the politician's murder and the mysterious woman we saw at the beginning of the episode, who has now been found dead in the same forest. There's also the question of who is behind all of this - is it a serial killer, or something bigger and more complex?

In typical Scandinavian crime drama fashion, the episode is tense and atmospheric, with plenty of moody shots of the Scandinavian landscape and a haunting score that adds to the sense of unease. Melinda Kinnaman is once again excellent as Inger, portraying her as a complex and driven character who is haunted by her past but refuses to let it define her. The inclusion of Stina as a new character adds an interesting dynamic, as we see how her troubled past and current situation connect to the larger story.

Overall, the season 2 premiere of Modus sets up an intriguing new story that promises to be just as engrossing as the first season. With its combination of complex characters, atmospheric setting, and gripping storytelling, Modus continues to be one of the best crime dramas on television.