Alex and David Pastor, the directors behind films like Infected and Last Days, craft a claustrophobic thriller for the second season of Head. Set aboard a science station in Antarctica, the plot threads a continuity with its Spanish‑Japanese co‑production roots, while introducing new Spanish and international cast members. The season arrives on HBO Max on December 22, bringing shifts in leadership and a tightened, more ominous atmosphere that deepens the intrigue amid an unforgiving environment.
The action relocates to the Alexandria, a scientific vessel with a pivotal mission against climate change, drifting near the Nemo Point in the Pacific, among the planet’s most inaccessible regions. Director George Gold, who oversaw the six episodes of this season, notes that the sense of entrapment remains. The characters were surrounded by ice before; now they are adrift in open water. The season continues the central mystery: uncovering who is behind the deaths, a setup described by the creators as an Agatha Christie‑type puzzle set against a brutal survival scenario.
The recurring cast is led by two Irish performers. John Lynch portrays Arthur Wilde, an ambitious scientist, and Katharine O’Donnelly, a young Scottish actress, plays a role comparable to Maggie Mitchell. Although the ensemble is strong, the storytelling centers on a tense rivalry between these two figures, who ironically share scant screen time together. Viewers are invited to pick sides, driven by lingering anger and a thirst for revenge from the first season.
like Machiavelli
Lynch explains that his character faces two versions of Maggie. One escapes responsibility while the other haunts her mind and keeps attacking from within. O’Donnelly adds that each figure has a rival that feeds their imagination, growing into something increasingly unbelievable, a dynamic that justifies their actions to a point.
The environmental focus of the Alexandria mission anchors the moral dilemmas. Would sacrificing one person save millions? It is a decisive question. Rosado, describing the omnipotent Arthur, notes that halting climate change and steering the world away from science would feel like playing gods, a power all the more dangerous in the wrong hands.
Spanish actors
Newcomer Olivia Morris appears as Arthur’s daughter, Rachel, bringing tense dynamics to the crew. Morris recalls that the on‑set relationship with her character’s father began with no preexisting bond, offering a fresh starting point for his navigation and leadership aboard the vessel. His strongest ally is a battle‑hardened presence portrayed by Moe Dunford, an Irish actor whose action sequences sharpen the drama.
Two actors known for La casa de papel join the ensemble, taking over from Álvaro Morte and Mónica López. Enrique Arce and Hovik Keuchkerian contribute a brother‑like dynamic, with Keuchkerian’s Charlie standing out as a figure that evokes both fear and warmth. Keuchkerian describes his on‑set companion, a pet mouse named Blanda, as a vivid reminder of the lighter moments amid an intense shoot.
Across the season there are twenty new cast members, representing ten nationalities, including Swedish performers Josefin Nelden and Nora Rios, French actor Thierry Godard, and Japanese actor Sota Fukushi. The varied roster broadens the storytelling palette and deepens the international texture of the series.