Detective James Cormack’s relentless pursuit of justice takes a deeply personal turn in Black Snow Season 2. Set against the brooding backdrop of Queensland, Australia, the series follows Cormack (Travis Fimmel) as he juggles solving chilling cold cases with a decades-old mystery: the disappearance of his brother, Tommy, when they were children. This season delves into fractured family legacies, unearthing buried secrets within the Jacobs family while Cormack’s obsession threatens to unravel his career and sanity. With atmospheric tension and morally gray characters, the show masterfully blends crime procedural grit with haunting emotional stakes.
Expanding on its critically acclaimed first season, Black Snow Season 2 introduces new suspects, cryptic clues, and flashbacks that blur past and present. Themes of guilt, identity, and the corrosive weight of unsolved truths permeate every frame, amplified by Queensland’s stark landscapes. As Cormack inches closer to uncovering Tommy’s fate, he confronts his own complicity in the lies that shaped his life. This isn’t just a detective story—it’s a psychological odyssey where every revelation comes at a cost.
Black Snow Season 2 Cast
1. Travis Fimmel as Detective James Cormack
Travis Fimmel, born July 15, 1979, in rural Victoria, Australia, rose to global fame as Ragnar Lothbrok in Vikings (2013–2017), redefining the brooding antihero archetype. His transition to Black Snow’s tormented Detective Cormack showcases his knack for internalized intensity, blending stoicism with simmering vulnerability. Before acting, Fimmel worked as a model for Calvin Klein and starred in indie films like Lean on Pete (2017), but Cormack—a man haunted by his brother’s disappearance and his own moral compromises—has become his most critically acclaimed role.
In Season 2, Fimmel delves deeper into Cormack’s fractured psyche as he risks his career to uncover buried family secrets. Off-screen, the reclusive actor splits his time between his Australian cattle farm and film sets, often crediting his rural upbringing for grounding his performances. His physicality—a coiled, almost feral presence—adds visceral tension to Cormack’s unraveling investigation.
2. Renee Lim as Senior Sergeant Angie Zhang
Renee Lim, a Malaysian-Chinese Australian actor, broke out as nurse Grace Wong in Offspring (2010–2017), earning praise for her sharp comedic timing. As Senior Sergeant Angie Zhang, Cormack’s pragmatic partner, Lim balances authority with dry wit, becoming the show’s moral anchor. Her TV credits span acclaimed dramas like The Newsreader (2021) and Five Bedrooms (2019–2021), but Black Snow highlights her dramatic range as Zhang confronts police corruption and her loyalty to Cormack.
Season 2 sees Zhang leading a parallel investigation into departmental misconduct, forcing Lim to navigate ethical gray areas. Off-camera, Lim advocates for Asian-Australian representation in media and mentors actors through Sydney’s Griffin Theatre Company.
3. Jemmason Power as Hazel Baker
Jemmason Power, an Indigenous Australian (Kuku Yalanji) actor from Cairns, gained attention in Amazon’s The Wilds (2020–2022) and the thriller Gold (2022). As Hazel Baker, a street-smart local entwined in the Jacobs family mystery, Power brings raw authenticity and quiet resilience. Her chemistry with Fimmel crackles in scenes where Hazel’s intuitive understanding of the community clashes with Cormack’s rigid methods.
Power, a rising voice for Indigenous storytelling, infuses Hazel with cultural pride, subtly challenging stereotypes about rural Australia. Off-screen, she champions land rights and sustainable film practices in First Nations communities.
4. Megan Smart as Samara Kahlil
Megan Smart, a Perth-born actor, earned acclaim for her role in Stan’s The Gloaming (2020) and The Secrets She Keeps (2020). As Samara Kahlil, a enigmatic figure linked to the Jacobs family, Smart portrays a woman torn between loyalty and self-preservation. Her ability to convey simmering unease—seen in films like The Furnace (2020)—adds layers to Samara’s ambiguous motives.
Season 2 explores Samara’s connection to Tommy Cormack’s disappearance, demanding Smart navigate grief and guilt. A classically trained dancer, Smart often incorporates physicality into her roles, calling Samara’s guarded posture “a armor against the past.”
5. Victoria Haralabidou as Nadja Jacobs
Greek-Australian actor Victoria Haralabidou, a veteran of The Slap (2011) and The Twelve (2022), commands the screen as Nadja Jacobs, the matriarch guarding dark family secrets. Her theater roots (Sydney Theatre Company) lend Shakespearean gravitas to Nadja’s calculated manipulations and maternal desperation.
In Season 2, Haralabidou unveils Nadja’s traumatic past, blurring lines between villain and victim. Fluent in four languages, she also runs cross-cultural acting workshops in Melbourne, advocating for diverse narratives in Australian film.
6. Dan Spielman as Leo Jacobs
Dan Spielman, known for The Code (2014) and Janet King (2017), plays Leo Jacobs, Nadja’s estranged husband and a businessman entangled in the family’s lies. Spielman’s knack for portraying morally ambiguous characters shines as Leo oscillates between remorse and self-interest.
Season 2 reveals Leo’s role in Tommy’s disappearance, demanding Spielman balance vulnerability with menace. Off-screen, the AFTA-nominated actor is a trained musician and composes scores for indie films.
7. Josh McConville as Will Jacobs
Josh McConville, a stalwart of Australian theater (The Literalist, The Rover), brings his stage-honed intensity to Will Jacobs, Leo’s volatile brother. McConville’s film credits (The Daughter, The Nightingale) showcase his ability to embody raw, unpredictable energy, perfect for Will’s explosive confrontations with Cormack.
This season, McConville delves into Will’s substance abuse and fractured memories of Tommy. A passionate advocate for mental health, he’s spoken openly about using art to process personal struggles.
8. Jana McKinnon as Zoe Jacobs
Austrian-born Jana McKinnon, star of Netflix’s The Unlisted (2019), plays Zoe Jacobs, the family’s black sheep grappling with guilt over Tommy’s fate. McKinnon’s ethereal presence and bilingual fluency (German/English) add nuance to Zoe’s outsider perspective.
Season 2 follows Zoe’s quest for redemption, with McKinnon drawing on her European roots to portray alienation. Off-camera, she’s an avid mountaineer and environmental activist.
9. Kat Stewart as Julie Cosgrove
Kat Stewart, a household name in Australia for Offspring (2010–2017) and Underbelly (2008), plays Julie Cosgrove, a tenacious journalist digging into Cormack’s past. Stewart’s trademark wit and grit make Julie both a foil and unlikely ally to the detective.
The season pits Julie against police bureaucracy, with Stewart channeling her The Newsreader (2021) experience to portray investigative rigor. A champion of women-led stories, she’s also a co-founder of Melbourne’s Theatre Works.
10. Ella Scott Lynch as Doctor Nina Hirsch
Ella Scott Lynch (Love Child, The End) portrays Dr. Nina Hirsch, a forensic psychologist aiding Cormack’s investigation. Lynch’s calm authority and background in playing complex professionals (Rake) make Nina a grounding force in the series’ chaos.
In Season 2, Nina’s own trauma surfaces, requiring Lynch to balance stoicism with fragility. Off-screen, the Sydney native is a trained singer and mental health ambassador.
11. Nicholas Hope as Tommy Cormack / Tommy Doyle
Nicholas Hope, iconic for Bad Boy Bubby (1993), plays dual roles: the missing Tommy and his shadowy alias, Tommy Doyle. Hope’s gaunt features and whispery delivery amplify the character’s ghostly presence in flashbacks and hallucinations.
The Adelaide-born actor relishes exploring Tommy’s fractured psyche, drawing on his love for absurdist theater. A NIDA instructor, Hope mentors young actors in embracing unconventional roles.
12. Amali Golden as Gita Jacobs
Amali Golden, a rising star from Sydney, plays Gita Jacobs, the family’s youngest member caught in their web of lies. Golden’s breakout role in The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (2023) informs Gita’s wide-eyed innocence and quiet rebellion.
Season 2 sees Gita confronting generational trauma, with Golden channeling her Sri Lankan heritage to portray cultural displacement. She’s also a published poet, weaving verse into her character prep.
13. Alana Mansour as Samara Kahlil
Alana Mansour, a Lebanese-Australian newcomer, shares the role of Samara Kahlil (see Megan Smart above), portraying the character in flashbacks to her youth. Mansour’s work in short films (The Curve) prepared her for Samara’s layered vulnerability.
Her casting reflects the show’s commitment to diverse voices, with Mansour drawing on her multicultural roots to enrich Samara’s backstory.
14. Frederick Du Rietz as Sean Cosgrove
Swedish-Australian actor Frederick Du Rietz (The Tailings, Eden) plays Sean Cosgrove, Julie’s estranged husband and a shady financier tied to the Jacobs. Du Rietz’s Nordic noir pedigree (Midnight Sun) infuses Sean with chilling ambiguity.
Season 2 exposes Sean’s role in a money-laundering scheme, with Du Rietz mastering an Australian accent to embody bureaucratic menace. A former economist, he brings analytical precision to the role.
