I always feel the need to respond to critiques I feel unfair or perhaps to which I can contribute. Regarding coincidences-yes there are many; all roads seem to lead to Paul Gerardi or the Salamander crew or both. Are they unrealistic, perhaps n some cases, especially when sending Gerardi's daughter to the same boarding school as DeWolfe's granddaughter, then subsequently running into DeWolfe's daughter (and future lover) at a mixer. Does this make the series necessarily bad. IMHO--No. It's just a reminder that fluke, chance, luck are tenets of fiction, especially episodic programming, and part of storytelling lore. To those who disparage this, I ask: Have you ever read Dickens or Dostoyevsky or Shakespeare or any ancient mythology? How about Jackie Collins or Jacqueline Susanne? Raymond Chandler? Agatha Christie? Coincidence is a proven and useful literary or dramatic device.
To the schmuck or schmuckette who thinks Gerardi is somehow "uncool" in season 2 because in five years he's put on a few pounds-really? Fat shaming a middle aged man is no less offensive than were it aimed at a teenage girl. It reveals more about the insulter than the insulted.
For my thoughts on "Salamander:" It's a decent means for a weekend escape. It entertains, has a few over acted moments, but in 20 or so episodes that's to be expected. It also has some unlikely plotlines, e.g., the hacker geek and former intelligence cop presently living as devout monks who reside in a monastery that allows civilians (including the teenage daughter) to come and go freely. It has reliant conventions found in a light grit, lone wolf cop series, but is not burdened by over-the-top alpha male lead arrogance and entitlement ala Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Dwayne Johnson, or even any of the Hemsworth brothers. The direction and cinematography transport viewers into Belgium and Africa. Architecture of centuries past against gorgeous landscapes screams Old Europe in the modern world. The first season weaves in historical, WWII, fiction, which I particularly find engaging.
Season 1: Mystery involves historical references and backdrop, mostly spoken in Flemish (Dutch) with light scatterings of Belgian French.
Season 2: Set more in current day Belgium and Africa with increased French peppered in with the Flemish. Story references moments of times past (the Salamander must continue to live on after all).
Both Seasons: Themes include familial loss, betrayal, corruption, revenge, political intrigue, integrity/truth/honor, grey areas that blur lines amid good and evil, between protagonist and antagonists.
In sum, "Salamander" is a character-driven mystery-thriller drama with storylines to include cops, secret societies, decades-long Fascism and oligarchic power structures, collusion, deception, and yes, coincidence.
To the schmuck or schmuckette who thinks Gerardi is somehow "uncool" in season 2 because in five years he's put on a few pounds-really? Fat shaming a middle aged man is no less offensive than were it aimed at a teenage girl. It reveals more about the insulter than the insulted.
For my thoughts on "Salamander:" It's a decent means for a weekend escape. It entertains, has a few over acted moments, but in 20 or so episodes that's to be expected. It also has some unlikely plotlines, e.g., the hacker geek and former intelligence cop presently living as devout monks who reside in a monastery that allows civilians (including the teenage daughter) to come and go freely. It has reliant conventions found in a light grit, lone wolf cop series, but is not burdened by over-the-top alpha male lead arrogance and entitlement ala Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Dwayne Johnson, or even any of the Hemsworth brothers. The direction and cinematography transport viewers into Belgium and Africa. Architecture of centuries past against gorgeous landscapes screams Old Europe in the modern world. The first season weaves in historical, WWII, fiction, which I particularly find engaging.
Season 1: Mystery involves historical references and backdrop, mostly spoken in Flemish (Dutch) with light scatterings of Belgian French.
Season 2: Set more in current day Belgium and Africa with increased French peppered in with the Flemish. Story references moments of times past (the Salamander must continue to live on after all).
Both Seasons: Themes include familial loss, betrayal, corruption, revenge, political intrigue, integrity/truth/honor, grey areas that blur lines amid good and evil, between protagonist and antagonists.
In sum, "Salamander" is a character-driven mystery-thriller drama with storylines to include cops, secret societies, decades-long Fascism and oligarchic power structures, collusion, deception, and yes, coincidence.