I have rarely seen such a perfect police drama. It's every bit as good as some of the best that was coming out of Sweden and Denmark a few years ago and far more grisly in its depiction of reality. Nothing is varnished or glossed over. The ugly reality of life as dealt with by the local cops of this two-bit, dying, industrial town in the Ukraine is shown in all its gory horror.
Along the way, some decent people get caught up in the criminal underworld and others are seduced by the rewards to be obtained. Some pay the price for their participation in this dreadful gangland of pitiless rivalry and jostling for position and money.
The two detectives, Varta Naumova and Maksim Shumov, have their own demons and histories. A possible second series is hinted at by an implied revelation of who caused Varta's trauma and Maksim has unfinished business with other colleagues that could endanger his career.
The detective work is both painstaking and intuitive. There's nothing that can't be believed in the way the case is resolved. And obviously there are twists along the way and right up to the end too. But they aren't there for effect. They are part of a very human plot with fallible human motivations in both their weakness and compassion.
I can't recommend this highly enough. I'll be looking out for another series.
Along the way, some decent people get caught up in the criminal underworld and others are seduced by the rewards to be obtained. Some pay the price for their participation in this dreadful gangland of pitiless rivalry and jostling for position and money.
The two detectives, Varta Naumova and Maksim Shumov, have their own demons and histories. A possible second series is hinted at by an implied revelation of who caused Varta's trauma and Maksim has unfinished business with other colleagues that could endanger his career.
The detective work is both painstaking and intuitive. There's nothing that can't be believed in the way the case is resolved. And obviously there are twists along the way and right up to the end too. But they aren't there for effect. They are part of a very human plot with fallible human motivations in both their weakness and compassion.
I can't recommend this highly enough. I'll be looking out for another series.