Annika season 2: Our biggest questions before the Nicola Walker drama returns and the release date for the intense new series

Annika season 2 is on the way and after the intense first season there are plenty of plot-threads many fans will be hoping are picked up in the upcoming series. 

Set in Scotland and following DI Annika Strandhed and her Marine Homicide Unit team as they investigate increasingly disturbing water-based murder cases, Annika made a big splash when it debuted on UKTV’s Alibi in 2021. Earlier this year the hit show made its way to BBC One and BBC iPlayer, amassing more fans ahead of Annika season 2. Now the show’s return is almost upon us and there are several big questions we’re hoping will be answered in the next series.

Here we reveal what to expect from Annika season 2, when it will be released and the big questions we hope will be answered in the new series…

*Warning: Spoilers ahead*

What is the Annika season 2 release date?

After the many twists, turns - not to mention an explosion - in the Annika ending, I like many Annika fans have been eagerly anticipating the show’s return for quite some time. Thankfully for fans the wait is almost over as the Annika season 2 release date is Wednesday, 9th August at 9pm. For those wondering where to watch Annika, the second series will air exclusively on Alibi where season 1 was originally broadcast in 2021 before making its way to BBC iPlayer earlier this year. 

Annika season 2 will have six episodes, just like the first series, giving the show plenty of scope to deliver more of the incredibly intriguing and emotionally-charged storylines we’ve come to know and love. 

Who'll be in the Annika season 2 cast?

The Annika season 2 cast will feature plenty of familiar faces including, of course, Nicola Walker as the titular star DI Annika Strandhed herself. Back alongside her playing DS Tyrone Clark will be Ukweli Roach who’s performance in the Wolf ending was equally brilliant. Katie Leung will return as DC Blair Ferguson, with Jamie Sives as DS Michael McAndrews, Silvie Furneaux as Annika’s teenage daughter Morgan, Kate Dickie as Annika’s boss DCI Diane Oban and Paul McGann as Jake Strathearn. The MHU will also be welcoming a brand new team member in Annika season 2 as Varada Sethu will debut as DC Harper Weston.  

What will Annika season 2 be about?

Fans of Annika season 1 and fellow crime dramas Vera season 12 and Endeavour season 9 will be used to standalone storylines in each episode by now and the same will be true of Annika season 2. Each of the six episodes will focus on a different crime that the MHU will be investigating. According to the official Annika season 2 series synopsis, the second instalment of the hit crime drama will see the stakes raised even higher as the team will be “challenged” as their “dynamics shift”.

This will push them to “rapidly adapt as they encounter murders more complex than ever before”. And if that wasn’t enough to get you excited for Annika season 2 then we should all prepare for a little change of scene. The second series will “take them to new landscapes” and show “multiple sides of Scotland, from the Hebridean Isles to the vibrant capital city Edinburgh”. 

When it comes to the series as a whole the return of Annika and the team means that there will also be aspects of their personal stories that come up again. The DI herself is set to have to balance a “family dynamic that grows more complicated” as secrets start to affect her relationships. And if you also loved Annika’s witty asides to camera during season 1 then you might be relieved to discover that more of these are set to come in Annika season 2. 

Our biggest questions ahead of Annika season 2 

What happened between Annika and her parents?

At the end of Annika’s very first episode the experienced DI gives fans an insight into not only her upbringing more generally but into what seems to be a difficult relationship with her parents. 

After making her first arrest of the series she says in a typical aside, “There was a moment when I was at school, I was 16, and my mum and dad were going back to Norway. I said I couldn’t come. I wanted to stay and be a detective. I blurted it out. I think I even surprised myself.”

“Anyway they went back on their own,” she added. “And, uh, I got free of the life they wanted for me. Not everyone’s so lucky.”

It’s not entirely clear what kind of life Annika’s parents wanted for her or whether it was simply that they didn’t approve of her desire to be a police officer. However, we were given another intriguing moment later on in Annika season 1 when Annika caught Morgan on the phone to her grandfather in Norway.

“Are you talking to my dad?” she asked Morgan, looking calmly horrified before snatching the teenager’s mobile from her and, as revealed by the subtitles, speaking “Norwegian angrily” to her father and hanging up. She told Morgan that she wasn’t to plan holidays without asking her, but once again it suggested a somewhat fractious relationship with her dad. 

But it seems like we might finally get more answers about Annika’s father in Annika season 2. Sven Henriksen is joining the Annika season 2 cast for three episodes as Magnus Strandhed - the detective’s dad. He's set to feature in several episodes and it’s possible he could be quite a big focus building to the second season finale, though of course we’ll have to wait and see. 

Will Annika tell Morgan who her dad is?

Throughout season 1 of Annika it became increasingly clear that her daughter Morgan was struggling until Annika herself suggested that talking to a professional might help her. Morgan ended up confessing to her therapist Jake that she couldn’t remember a time where she felt safe and that she was afraid of her mother’s job as a detective tackling dangerous cases. Early on Annika told the audience that Morgan’s dad wasn’t in her life and expressed concern in episode 3 that Morgan’s sessions with Jake could bring up some “tricky father transference stuff”. 

Just when it seemed like fans would never find out who Morgan’s father was, the Annika ending delivered a major twist in the closing stages. Turning once again to camera, DI Strandhed confirmed that her colleague DS Michael McAndrews was Morgan’s dad. He’d asked her whether Morgan ever spoke to her father and whilst Annika told him “no” when he went over to chat with the teenager she added that she was doing so “now”.

It’s clear Michael has absolutely no idea he’s Morgan’s father either and he has a family of his own. Annika confirmed that it was her choice her daughter’s dad didn’t play a part in their lives and we can’t help hoping that this is explored more in Annika season 2.

After all, it would be strange for the show to bring it up, only to never revisit this storyline again. It’s likely Michael and Morgan would both be furious at Annika for not telling them earlier but it’ll certainly be interesting to see how the truth comes out and whether it’s intentionally or accidentally revealed. 

Will Annika and Jake get back together?

In episode 5 of Annika season 1 Annika and therapist Jake Strathearn’s blossoming relationship takes a different direction after he comes over for dinner. After secretly embarking on a romance, a guilty Annika later told Morgan who was surprisingly fine with it. Jake had been Morgan’s therapist and Annika invited him over for dinner with her and Morgan, before leaving the two of them to enjoy ice cream together.

When she returned to her house she seemed to think things were going well when it came to integrating Jake into her life. However, he was reluctant because he felt that Morgan was still attached to him as a therapist and that it didn’t help that she hadn’t formed any kind of connection with her new therapist yet.

Both Annika and Jake agreed that it was a question of “timing” and that they would pause their relationship. Michael later asked Annika how long she’d said she’d wait and she replied they didn’t “put a timescale on it”. Thankfully for fans hoping they'll get back together, Jake's actor Paul McGann will be back in Annika season 2. This doesn't necessarily mean their relationship is back on track or they won't face anymore hurdles. But Jake was a brilliant character who brought out a different side to Annika and it'll be great to see him in her life, in whatever way that might be.

What will happen with Morgan and Erin?

After struggling to settle in at their new home, Morgan formed a heart-warming connection with Erin Ferguson, DC Blair Ferguson’s younger sister. They spent a lot of time together, including a sleepover where Morgan awkwardly returned Erin’s phone to Blair in the office. Realizing that Annika isn’t aware of Morgan and Erin’s relationship Blair ended up guiltily spilling the beans to Annika.

She then tried to get Morgan to freely talk about it with her until eventually at the end of episode 5 Morgan invited her mum to accompany them on a kite flying date. Erin has made Morgan happier than she’s been for a long time so it’ll be interesting to know if they’re still together in Annika season 2. 

Annika returns to Alibi for a second series on 9th August at 9pm.