Joseph Chang Hsiao-chuan returns as the forensic investigator with Asperger’s syndrome in the second season of Netflix’s crime series The Victims’ Game. This time, detective Fang Yi-jen is not only tracking down another violent serial killer but also clearing his own name after being implicated in a series of grisly murders.
Tiffany Hsu Wei-ning reprises her role as journalist Hsu Hai-yin, alongside Moon Lee as Fang’s estranged daughter, Hsiao-meng. The season opens with Fang attempting to lead a normal life with Hsu and Hsiao-meng, having left the police force. However, the death of his former mentor, Lin Ching-lui (King Jieh-wen), prompts a new prosecutor (Dean Fujioka) to reopen a 15-year-old murder-suicide case involving teenage lovers.
Fang, who had signed off on the case, is called to assist but soon becomes the prime suspect when he is found at the scene of another death – that of the mother of one of the teenagers, who claimed she could prove they were murdered. Determined to clear his name and his mentor’s, Fang teams up with medical examiner Hsueh Hsin-ning (Tarcy Su) to uncover the truth.
As more bodies pile up, including that of a pop singer (Karencici), Fang discovers that each victim had an organ removed and mailed to their family as a grotesque keepsake. He realizes all victims were high-school classmates of the two young lovers. Meanwhile, Hsu, facing a crisis of conscience, leaves her tabloid career to work at a rehabilitation center run by Lin Ming-cheng (Terrance Lau Chun-him), Fang’s mentor’s son. Hsiao-meng also gets involved by taking a job cleaning violent crime scenes.
Directed by David Chuang and Chen Kuang-chung, season two retains the grungy, gruesome feel of its predecessor, juggling multiple characters and subplots at a breakneck pace. Flashbacks to 15 years earlier, featuring actors Phoebe Chu and Troy Liu as the young victims, add complexity but often clutter the narrative.
The show relies heavily on unlikely coincidences and contrived motivations to mislead viewers, making the plot overwhelming. Despite the polished execution, the series sacrifices logic and coherence for shocking revelations and lucky escapes.
Chang’s portrayal of Fang, while central, falls short compared to iconic detective characters like Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock. His performance often feels reduced to twitching and mumbling. Other characters, like Hsu and Hsueh, are relegated to supporting roles with minimal development.
The Victims’ Game offers a slickly executed mystery, but its convoluted plot and lack of logical consistency ultimately undermine its storytelling. The series remains engaging, but its appeal lies more in the journey than in the resolution.
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