SERIES REVIEW – MGM+’s horror series launched its first season at full throttle, gripping viewers from the very start and refusing to let go. By the season finale, it had mercilessly shattered the characters’ hopes just as a busload of new survivors joined the fray. Season two of From offers no respite: it picks up right where the first left off, plunging deeper into an even darker and more ominous chain of events. 

As the first season drew to a close, Jim Matthews (Eion Bailey) received a cryptic warning, but before he could act, a sudden storm disrupted the group’s plans to connect with the outside world. Rushing home to save his wife, Tabitha (Catalina Sandino Moreno), Jim remains unaware that she’s already trapped at the bottom of a massive sinkhole that has opened beneath their house. While Tabitha and Victor (Scott McCord) navigate the labyrinthine tunnels filled with lurking monsters, Jim fights desperately to rescue her – only for the house to collapse above him. 

Meanwhile, Donna (Elizabeth Saunders) and Deputy Kenny (Ricky He) scramble to manage the skepticism of the new arrivals before nightfall. At the same time, Boyd (Harold Perrineau), the group’s de facto leader, ventures into the depths of the mysterious forest with the enigmatic Sara (Avery Konrad), a known killer. But this is just the beginning: the second season’s increasingly chaotic twists and nail-biting moments make it clear that not only is escaping the town’s trap a distant dream, but the very odds of survival are dwindling. 

New Arrivals, Shifting Alliances 

Series creator John Griffin (Crater), alongside executive producers Jeff Pinkner (Alias, Lost) and Jack Bender (Lost, Game of Thrones), ensures that the characters are never allowed a moment of peace in their perilous world. The introduction of new survivors – played by Nathan D. Simmons, Kaelen Ohm, Angela Moore, AJ Simmons, and Deborah Grover – doesn’t disrupt the group’s fragile dynamic but rather tangles it further. This infusion of fresh faces immediately heightens the tension, driving the second season’s relentless pace that gives viewers hardly a second to breathe. 

While the lurking monsters in the shadows bide their time to strike, the second season delves even deeper into its supernatural mysteries. Boyd’s storyline stands out as he encounters unexpected events that raise questions never before considered. These moments cast new light on his earlier Parkinson’s diagnosis, adding a profound layer to his character arc. Boyd’s once-steady and measured approach begins to falter under the weight of desperation, leading him to cross moral boundaries in his pursuit of answers. His decision to bring Sara into the forest doesn’t just add tension – it profoundly shakes the trust and stability of the group’s relationships. 

Survival at the Edge 

Season two of From uses bold and inventive storytelling to ratchet up the tension, pushing its survivors into even more harrowing situations than before. While the horror remains relentless, it’s the nuanced, deeply human characters that make the story truly unforgettable. Watching the survivors grapple with shocking new dilemmas and dangers is as captivating as the eerie threats they face – from ghostly children to mysterious dangers and gruesome deaths, each element adds another shade to the show’s bleak, oppressive tone. 

Through heart-pounding action-horror sequences, the second season intensifies its exploration of humanity’s darker side as civilization teeters on the brink of collapse. The terror isn’t just confined to the malevolent forces haunting the town; it festers within the survivors themselves, leaving deep emotional scars. 

The first five episodes of season two make one thing clear: From isn’t revealing all its secrets anytime soon. With its breakneck pace, pervasive sense of danger, haunting atmosphere, and stellar cast daring to explore murky moral dilemmas, the show cements its place as one of the most gripping horror series of its kind. This is essential viewing for fans of the genre – an experience not to be missed. 

-Herpai Gergely „BadSector”-