Rūrangi: Rising Lights (New Zealand Series)

I remember enjoying Rurangi series a lot and was hopeful that there will be follow up to this. I got my hands on second season titled "Rūrangi: Rising Lights". In addition to the tile we also saw some actors changing from original season. Caz's friend/boyfriend Jem and his father are now played by different actors; but that doesn't impact the show negatively in any way. At 5 episodes of about 20 minutes each, this show is still very much worth a watch. The first season concluded on a cathartic, hopeful note. And, while it was clear the characters would still have significant external conflicts ahead, they seemed to have resolved most of their inner turmoil by the season’s end.

Season 2 focuses less on main character Caz but in the town and its issues more. We see the struggles of town mayors modernizing the town while Maori people trying to fight for their motherland. We slowly see the town starting to get behind banning of the chemical fertilizers. We still see Cam and Jen getting along very well as friends but Jim still struggling with his true feelings for Caz. Caz's return to town and the confusion whether he will stay there long time or not causes a lot of heartache and struggle for Jim to embrace his own sexuality and role in his hyper-masculine farming community. One minute he is all in and the next day he is regretting. Caz's past (he had a boyfriend who is a famous rugby player who committed suicide) still haunts him and he is finally able to tell the truth to Jim and Anahera. Caz’s tough but empathetic childhood friend Anahera gets a much bigger spotlight, as she further embraces her Māori heritage, gets involved in (rather unorthodox) activism, and opens herself up to the possibility of finding love. We also see Caz inviting his queer activist friends come over to town to help his father with fighting for organic farming.  Although, as the last episode leaves several important plot threads dangling, and ends on something of a cliffhanger, it’s clear that the creators are pretty confident they’re going back to Rūrangi in a third season.

Unlike how season 1 was combined into a film format for international audience, season 2 is more episodic in nature. It has somehow moved on from just focusing on Caz as the main character but to other characters as well like Anahera, Jem and Caz's father. It's the story of town now. Some new elements also fit in well, particularly the increased focus on the older LGTBQ+ activists’ youth outreach work. Its exploration of the stigma around depression and suicide among gay men, and the attempts of the local Māori population to confront the glorification of the country’s colonial past, also feel like timely and worthy additions. Sadly,  the supernatural elements suggested at the beginning and end of the season don’t really go anywhere. There’s also a disappointing lack of closure to some of the character’s relationships.  What makes Rūrangi stand out, especially in a television landscape that is still struggling with meaningful representation, is how neither of the communities depicted in the series feel slighted. Both tangata whenua and the trans community are represented thoughtfully, even-handedly, with equal amounts of dramatic heft and relatable humour. The shows feels like probably made on a small budget but somehow the show has a soul and heart and you feel something. You will not regret watching this show, as long as you keep your expectations thatches is not purely a show focusing on queer sexuality but a lot more than that. (7.5/10)