Jackson & Malone

A mix of Twin Peaks (an FBI agent travelling to a small town to solve a murder) and a Murder she wrote episode where Angela Lansbury equivalent (Hans Teeuwen as the special agent of the EMB) bring all players together to point out the murderer with an added sauce of humor as in Pulp Fiction.

In the small town of Spulne (don't pronounce the n!) a few elderly from a monastery are murdered while at the same time most citizens attend the inauguration of the new mayor. The people from the special tasks force EMB, Jackson and Malone, take over the case and dig into what is going on. Malone is haunted by his own past, a journalist is on the case too and what is the role of the mayor's wife?

It is a nice cocktail and entertaining to watch.

"Jackson & Malone" cleverly plays with the cliché of the traditional crime series-the one featuring fearless detectives and a town where nothing is as it seems. Hans Teeuwen's six-part Videoland Original provides a refreshing twist to the genre by blending absurd humor with thriller elements.

In the quiet town of Spulne, several elderly women are found murdered. The new Mayor calls in the private security organization Extreme Crime Prevention (EMB). Unconventional detectives Jackson (Hans Teeuwen) and Malone (Kevin Janssens) are dispatched, and their tough, idiosyncratic methods cause a significant upheaval in the town's tranquility.

The charm of the series lies between the lead characters and their interactions with the quirky townsfolk. Teeuwen plays Jackson with a serious flair, offering a surprising contrast to his cabaret style. It's amusing to note that Jackson's hairstyle and porn' mustache looks like Burt Reynolds in the tv movie Malone (1987).

Spulne, populated by eccentric characters like Beppie Melissen and Victor Löw, comes to life through a talented cast. Although traditional humor is limited, Teeuwen's distinctive style is evident in the bizarre situations and colorful supporting characters.

"Jackson & Malone" strikes a balance between comedy and thriller. Despite a few dips in the middle of the series, it concludes with a thrilling and surprising climax.

This series is a bold attempt to revitalize the Dutch crime genre. For those open to an unconventional approach, "Jackson & Malone" offers a refreshing and engaging viewing experience. Hans Teeuwen and his team demonstrate that there is abundant creative potential in Dutch television. The music of Joris Oonk is outstanding.

The series as a whole may not appeal to everyone, but it features some standout scenes.

Within the first half hour of the series it is clear that the series lacks vision. It seems the director didnt know if he was diricting a comedy or a thriller. It was supposed to be a humorous and orriginal take on a detective. But it lacks all the necessary refinement and acting talent to pull that off. A lot of American style thriller tropes are mixed with Dutch country side cliches. The result is exiting nor funny. Maybe they were aiming for a Dutch version of Twin Peaks or Fargo. But the script is too blunt and direct. The director and overall design give constant mixed messages weather to laugh or be frightend. The acting is below par. Too stage like. To many different accents. But maybe we cant blame the actors; no way they could have had a sense of the kind of series they were a part of. As a viewer, I still dont know after watching the end result.

We watched it spread over four evenings. We started to talk to the television about who could have dunnit. So a rate of 9 stars is plausible, I would say. Realistic dialogues and absurd cliches blend well. Hans Teeuwen is a well known comedian in the Netherlands and we recognise his special style. Also Arjan Ederveen is a famous absurdist. Good to have him back on the screen, although he had a few lines only. So, great work alltogether, exept for the role of the PR girl. I think that part wasn't of any worth. We wonder if there will be a next season. To the team: we hope so! What is going on in Reykjavik?