'Vienna Blood' Season 2, Episodes 1-2 Recap: "The Melancholy Countess"

In Season 1, Vienna Blood was interesting in its usual setting and some of its characters, but its mysteries were frequently too simple. Making the lead detective an early Freud student leaned into "these aspects of mental health are so new" allowed audiences to feel more competent than those on screen. But also, one would have to sit through multiple episodes for basic answers like PTSD.

Season 2 returns with our characters advancing slightly, but not nearly enough in "The Melancholy Countess." As the story opens, Countess Sophia Nadazdy (Sunnyi Melles) just consumed poison and is dying; before she passes, she sees (or has a vision of) a woman in white.

Maid: Sir, the police are at the door.
Mendel: Very prompt!