While an undeniably exhilarating ride, the first season of J. J. Abrams successful spy series became weighed down by a repetitive formula involving a prototype/dossier/artefact in need of recovery and culminating in a shoot-out with a handful of rent-a-goons.
Kudos to Abrams, then, for realising this and having the balls to turn the entire show on its head halfway through season two. With an all-new dynamic (including the addition of Lena Olin as Sydneys mother), the shows second series is fast, fresh and improves upon its predecessor in almost every way.