Summary
Although the format feels tired, Netflix series Rotten Season 2 raises alarming and insightful subject matters that show “Big Companies” taking advantage of the average person.
Netflix Series Rotten Season 2 will release on Netflix on October 4, 2019. You can read the recap of Episode 1 by clicking these words.
If you enjoy eating chocolate, drinking bottled water or eating edibles, then you may want to put your favorites to the side before watching Netflix series Rotten Season 2. The eye-opening second season continues to expose corners of the world in the food industry while also looking into other niches that the series felt we needed further knowledge about.
Like the first season, Rotten Season 2 continues its format of introducing a subject matter and gathering various perspectives of how the industry works. The opening episode discusses the extremely popular super-food avocados, and how the supply almost halted American production in favor of Mexico. It then travels to Mexico and highlights how the supply has been taken advantage of by the cartels.
It sounds like an absurdly simple format, however, learning how the cartel has a grip on avocados as well as drugs is the type of insight that gives the Netflix series strength. Each chapter gave me a slice of knowledge that surprised me, which I suppose is the entire purpose.
However — yes, there’s a “but” in this — by the time I reached the chocolate episode, I did wonder if Rotten could benefit from juicing up the format. Each episode is almost an hour long, with the same narrator intervening whenever he pleases, and boxing in on one point of view one act at a time. I’m all for activism and awareness, but Rotten needs to keep the average Netflix viewer interested and active. Rotten Season 2 relies on the shock-factor rather than the direction, and I feel it lets itself down at times — some chapters feel monotone by the time they reach the halfway mark.
Putting the criticism aside, Rotten Season 2 bulks up Netflix’s impressive run of documentaries and reminds us that the world is very much “financially driven”, with policies needed to be changed drastically so communities benefit rather than suffer. The main theme in Season 2 is that “Big Companies” ruthlessly take advantage which directly affects the average person. The social value is dwindling rather than increasing, and the pendulum needs to swing the other way.
As long as Rotten can continue to find more controversial subject matters in various industries, then I’d welcome further seasons, as long as the format is looked at. Add Netflix series Rotten Season 2 to your list.
