When the subject of climate change occurs, it is almost always in relation to nonfiction novels and short stories are very rarely to be glimpsed within this horizon. As proof of this, we need only glance through the pages of literary journals and book reviews. There is a great episode in which Dornan despairs at the stupidity of one of the people meant to be holding him prisoner (this isn’t a spoiler – the series constantly has characters being taken prisoner), and their odd couple chemistry is a joy to behold.It is a simple fact that climate change has a much smaller presence in contemporary literary fiction than it does even in public discussion. At no stage does he ever behave like an action hero in a thriller, instead maintaining an “are you effing serious” expression at the sheer madness of his predicament. The type of humour is the same, all anchored by a wonderful performance from Dornan playing a character who has long since stopped being upset and terrified and is now just fed up. This series is funnier than the first, by which I mean it’s funnier more often. When we first meet him, he’s delivering a “Ned Talk” in a community centre: “It’s like a Ted Talk, but a bit more under the radar.” They include Helen’s ex, Ethan Krum (Greg Larsen), who is now trying to become an influencer by giving talks on toxic masculinity and reviewing his in-flight meals on social media. Writers Jack and Harry William s are Britain’s answer to the Coen brothers, and the show is so influenced by Fargo that you could transplant many of these characters and scenes straight to Minnesota. Cue the first of many scenes in this series of Dornan running away while swearing. Before you know it, he’s been bundled into the back of a van by a couple of heavies in balaclavas. The action has shifted from Australia to Ireland, where Elliot (Dornan) and Australian girlfriend Helen (Danielle Macdonald) go in the hope of finding his true identity. Jamie Dornan is still an amnesiac, and still on the run from various people without knowing why. Series two might not reach the same ratings because it lacks the thrill of the new. Series one was the BBC’s most-watched drama of the year. On the run again: Jamie Dornan as the amnesiac criminal Elliot in The Tourist - BBC/Steffan HillĪfter a sluggish Christmas schedule, The Tourist (BBC One) gets 2024 off to a vigorous start.

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