Unsolved Mysteries: Volume 2 – Netflix Review

UNSOLVED MYSTERIES Volume 2 is the second half of season 1 on Netflix. Six new episodes complete the first season of this true-crime mystery reboot. The concept becomes a bit muddied with these new episodes though. Read our full Unsolved Mysteries volume 2 review here!

UNSOLVED MYSTERIES is back on Netflix with six episodes. These six new episodes are called “Volume 2” instead of “Season 2” since they’re actually the second half of season 1. In other words, don’t go looking for season 2 on Netflix. Instead, find these new episodes as additions to season 1.

Overall, I preferred the episodes of volume 1, but I still recommend watching them all. I just can’t help but wonder if all the stories in volume 2 belong in the “unsolved mystery”-concept.

Continue reading our Unsolved Mysteries volume 2 review below.

The episodes in Unsolved Mysteries volume 2

Just as with volume 1 of season 1, we get six episodes this time around. 

The new episodes are:

• “Washington Insider Murder” is episode 1
• “A Death in Oslo” is episode 2
• “Death Row Fugitive” is episode 3
• “Tsunami Spirits” is episode 4
• “Lady in the Lake” is episode 5
• “Stolen Kids” is episode 6

All episodes are very interesting though they don’t all feel like they can strictly be called an “Unsolved Mystery”.

Episodes 3 and 5 seem to both be semi-solved in the sense that we discover some people know the answer. At least they almost admit to knowing the answer but not wanting (or daring) to speak up.

Actually, episode 3 seems to mostly be about sloppy (or just plain corrupt) police work. Also, that episode title has a downright “click-bait” title since the fugitive wasn’t on death row when he escaped. Still, it is grotesque how he managed to escape. Actually, can you even call it an “escape” when you’re left free to wander off?!

Watch the six new Unsolved Mysteries episodes on Netflix

These six new episodes warry a lot in length which is actually a good thing. A story should be told in the amount of time it takes to tell it, and not be formated to fit any particular runtime. I definitely appreciate that this is always the case with Unsolved Mysteries episodes.

What I don’t really appreciate is the fact that at least one of these episodes (“Tsunami Spirits”) does not fit the format. In fact, it doesn’t even end with the usual “If you have any information…” encouragement to help. Also, another episode (“Death in Oslo”) seems like it’s probably already solved. The answer is simply on a “need to know” basis.

Overall, I still enjoyed Unsolved Mysteries volume 2. I just can’t help but think that with all the awesome true-crime documentary films and series, there should be plenty of actual unsolved mysteries to take on. There’s no need to incorporate other stories that could just as well have been documentaries in their own right – and separate from this concept.

Unsolved Mysteries Volume 2 (the second half of season 1) is out on Netflix from October 19, 2020.