The opening to the second season of Wentworth kicked off with a blast. After Bea Smith (Danielle Cormack, Underbelly) was thrown into the hole for stabbing and fatally injuring Jacs Holt (Kris McQuade), she was released back into general population and cell block H, by no other than the new governor, Joan Ferguson (Pamela Rabe). 

The queen, Franky Doyle (Nicole da Silva), is in full control of the other prisoners, but now that Smith is back, her position is now being threatened. Illegal drug deals are running rampant in Wentworth Prison and Ferguson aims to do whatever necessary to put a stop to it. She plans to bond with meek, top prison guard, Vera Bennett (Kate Atkinson), in hopes of earning her trust to help her on her quest.

Ferguson uses her position to win over some of the prisoners by offering them extraordinary gifts, but they are unaware of her evil intentions. She has a checkered past that is bound to catch up with her at some point, but more important she has a personal vendetta against guard, Will Jackson (Robbie Magasiva). 

Vera’s mother, Rita (Lynette Curran), continues to verbally and physically abuse her, even though she is dying. Has Vera had enough of this torture from her mother and will she shut her up once and for all? Meanwhile, Jackson and guard, Matthew Fletcher (Aaron Jeffery, Underbelly), are at each other’s throats, thanks to the Governor and the revelation of Fletcher’s sexual relationship with former governor, Meg Jackson (Catherine McClements), Will’s wife.

Three new prisoners are transported to Wentworth and are going to be pulled into the mix, someway or another. Maxine Conway (Socratis Otto), a transvestite that is in dire need of her hormone medications because the prison refuses to pay for them, will do whatever it takes to get them, even Franky’s dirty work.

Fletch is faced with a transfer because the Governor finds him as a threat to her new position. While he sets out on his own trying to find out what is driving Ferguson, Franky has a surprise in store for him. Will Franky get Fletch, before the governor has a chance to, or will it be the other way around?

Smith has been given a reason to live and she is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that she fulfills her goal. The prisoners are starting to respect her more and more because she shows no fear toward Franky and her dim witted sidekick, Sue “Boomer” Jenkins (Katrina Milosevic). 

Liz Birdsworth (Celia Ireland) is released from Wentworth, but has nowhere to go except to a halfway house. There she is faced with living her life in fear of the other ex-convicts that reside in the filthy establishment. She lacks the courage to contact her daughter and son and ask them for emotional and financial assistance. Will she find herself breaking the law and heading back to Wentworth?

The governor continues to fulfill her plot, by creating tension among the guards and the inmates. She is bound and determined to clean up Wentworth and get her revenge on anyone that stands in her way. Will Smith overpower and outsmart Franky and the governor to get revenge for her daughter’s, Debbie (Georgia Flood, Anzac Girls), death?

Review

I really enjoyed the first season of Wentworth, but the second season is much better. It started off with a bang and ended with a surprisingly, twisty plot. The writers did an exceptional job with the screenplay, no cheesy dialogue, just pure intense drama. I’ve been a fan of Danielle Cormack since I watched her in Underbelly Razor. I find Nicolle da Silva’s character intriguing and her acting is very believable. Hopefully the writers keep her in the script and imprisoned at Wentworth, for a long time coming. 

If you like crime/dramas and ruthless female prisoners, you definitely should devote your time to watching this series. It is heads above the unrealistic American television series, Orange Is The New Black, which I enjoy watching because it is interestingly comical. I have surely enjoyed the new addition to the main cast of prisoners especially Socratis Otto, and I have one word to explain his acting and presence in this series, “Wow!” The second season of Wentworth definitely deserves a 9 out of 10, in my opinion.