Ludwig was immensely popular with BritBox viewers when it arrived on the streaming service, and so the bar is set high for the arrival of Season 2. The David Mitchell-led cozy mystery series still has its playful charm. But it’s not entirely the same show; it’s gotten what amounts to a soft reset.
Season 2 still sees John Taylor and his sister-in-law Lucy searching for answers regarding the disappearance of John’s brother James, but the scripts by creator Mark Brotherhood—who once again writes all six episodes—treat the first season as a separate chapter. Early on, John (and thus the audience) is told the fallout from what happened in Season 1. And the series has replaced both of its endearing junior detectives, who are said to have transferred. Presumably this is because of the actors having other commitments; Gerran Howell, who portrayed Simon Evans, is of course quite busy with his role on HBO Max‘s The Pitt. But both Howell and Six alum Izuka Hoyle are missed.
They’re replaced by comedian Ben Ashenden as Ethan Cole and relative TV newcomer Rumi Sutton as Caitlin Sullivan. (Sutton previously appeared in one episode of the Sophie Rundle drama After the Flood, which is also on BritBox.) It takes a while for the audience to warm up to the new detectives. The duo are meant to be out of their element, for reasons explained before they’re introduced, but the awkwardness stops being funny quickly. At least Dipo Opa is still present as Russell Carter, who’s been promoted for his troubles, and who provides one fairly confident voice in the mix.
Brotherhood has the structure of the show figured out perfectly. There’s another series of locked room-esque mysteries, and then picking up the breadcrumbs from the end of Season 1 to keep following James and the Sinclair case. Like other series in the cozy mystery subgenre, these whodunits are always served with tongue planted firmly in cheek. The premiere episode, for example, opens with a very distinct visual style designed to throw the audience off from the start. The cases of the week have enough quirks to keep viewers interested, yet it’s the mythology that people will come back for.
That’s because the core of Ludwig is still David Mitchell, Anna Maxwell Martin, and the dynamic between John and Lucy. Both actors are British TV treasures and they’ve settled into these roles so well. Mitchell’s comic skills are so sharp that he knows exactly how much quirkiness he can inject into a scene before it becomes too tongue-in-cheek. And Maxwell Martin continues to craft Lucy into almost a British version of Peggy Hill, getting herself into places she maybe doesn’t need to be, because she’s trying to prove her worth. The difference is that with Lucy, that instinct comes out of desperation instead of overconfidence. Of course she’s James’ partner in all of this, but she also works well on her own or with son Henry (Dylan Hughes). It’s lovely that Brotherhood continues to write a parent-child relationship that isn’t just banter and/or familial conflict.
Two new characters are also introduced to tell this season’s ongoing story. One of them is Gareth Fisher, Lucy’s new boss, portrayed by Mark Bonnar. For fans of Line of Duty or Dept. Q, it’s fun to see Bonnar not playing a corrupt cop. (It may take a second to accept that Gareth really is just a regular dude.) The other is a high-flying politician named Joanne Kemper, played by Fleabag‘s Sian Clifford with every ounce of smarminess one expects. The interesting thing about cozy mystery shows is that the supporting characters don’t have to be subtle, and Kemper is not subtle.
It all adds up to a satisfying second act. Ludwig Season 2’s cast changes and the in-universe explanation for them make this season feel like its own separate entity in a way. Even as the search for James Taylor continues, this part of the mythology is its own distinct adventure—like finishing one video game and then picking up the sequel. And the cases of the week aren’t that much different from what viewers have come to expect from other series in the genre. But BritBox fans are most likely here for Mitchell’s charming, dry humor and Maxwell Martin’s bittersweet determination, and they’re still doing wonderful work. It’s their performances that will endear Ludwig to viewers all over again.
Ludwig Season 2 premieres Oct. 13, 2026 on BritBox. Photo Credit: Olly Courtney/Courtesy of BritBox.
Article content is (c)2020-2026 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.
