From Dusk Till Dawn Season is a continuation of the cult classic film from Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino. Showrunner Carlos Coto helms the hit series for the El Rey Network which stars D.J. Cotrona, Zane Holtz, Wilmer Valderrama, Brandon Soo-Hoo and Danny Trejo. Season 3 will debut in 2016.
From Dusk Till Dawn season two is set to explore a new chapter in this supernatural crime saga, spanning from Mexico to Rodriguez’s edgy, tricked-out Texas. The story also deepens and complicates the core relationships between the characters, while adding new faces and new dynamics. From Dusk Till Dawn season two begins with our characters in their separate worlds – Santanico ( Eliza Gonzalez) and Richie are outside Houston, living like Bonnie and Clyde; Seth and Kate (Madison Davenport) are scraping by South of the Border; and Freddie Gonzalez (Jessie Garcia) is protecting his wife and young daughter in a Houston suburb. And Carlos Madrigal (Wilmer Valderrama) and Scott Fuller (Brandon Soo-Hoo) emerge from the Titty Twister, changed men. They will all come together once again – this time facing off against an even bigger threat.
The first season of From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series was a nice surprise. It covered the premise of the cult classic film and expanded upon the mythology while adding new characters and all kinds of interesting back/side story. But it still really was — just a 10 hour version of the first film. So the idea of a second season was truly the most exciting prospect for this franchise because it would finally give fans a look at what happens after the Titty Twister bar. Where would Seth Gecko and Kate go? What the hell is Richie going to do now that he’s a vampire. Season two explores these things and although they were not what I expected, they were still lots of fun.
New cast addition Jeff Fahey sums it up best when he witnesses Santanico in full blown vampire mode doing battle with another villain played by Danny Trejo saying, “This is some B-Movie shit right here.” Yes it is Fahey. Yes it really is. There were times where I cringed due to the cheesiness of what was unfolding before my eyes and I’m slightly baffled as to what the main storyline of the season was after all was said and done but that doesn’t mean I didn’t have fun getting there. Everything wraps up quite nicely in the final two-three episodes.
Richie and Santanico are a full-blown vampiric Bonnie & Clyde team hellbent on bringing down one of the big bosses that was responsible for enslaving Santanico YEARS back. This new guy has a fun signature skin-peeling trick where he rips off your entire face and adds it to his sweet badguy trenchcoat. While those two are off doing questionable moves in order to pull off their revenge plot, Seth is apparently hooked on heroin and still very much pissed off at his brother for being an undead vampire stripper loving backstabber.
D.J. Cotrona does some fantastic things this year with his character and there’s a moment near the end of the season where he does something completely and justifiably shocking to another character where I couldn’t believe what I’d just seen. Nice play Seth….. Nicely done. While the core of season two is about the two Gecko brothers each trying to find their own way, it’s when they get pulled back together where the show truly shines once again. But I think that’s part of what the driving force of this season was — the reuniting of the bros.
Wilmer Valderrama is so good this season…. So damn good…. He delivers my favorite line of 2015 when he casually walks up to someone, holds out his hand like he’s about to pass something to them, drops nothing but air into their palms and says, “I was gonna give a fuck… But I’m all outta fucks to give,” and he says it like such a boss that I actually had to hit rewind and watch him do it again. Valderrama was unleashed and I can’t wait to see more of him down the road. Hopefully….
Robert Rodriguez and showrunner Carlos Coto may not have had an air-tight concept for season two or a solid overall story, but what they slapped together was entertaining as hell. The effects are just as good if not better than most feature films and the cool new idea that these “snake-like” vampires each wind up with a unique power as they evolve once again sets this world apart from your typical and classic blood-suckers.
Rating: [star rating=”3.5″]