Van der Valk (TV Series) Only in Amsterdam (2020) User Reviews

Slow Moving

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 17 October 2022]

Once again, I wonder about the principle character. He has no charm, no kindness, no positive qualities. It seems that all he does is boss others around and then take credit for their findings. I know that could describe the strong silent types, but he seems to have no emotions either. The one sister has been treated like dirt by her father, a fundamentalist, and strikes out against him with severe actions. The plotting is so slow and there are long speeches. The young guy who is really indispensable. S given no credit for anything. When he slams his hand to get Van der Valk's attention, I had hoped he would tell him off. We're not there yet. By the way, Barry Foster was a hundred years ago. These episodes are virtually unavailable and have no bearing on this new series. Nevertheless, I'm not sure I'll invest another hour and a half on the third episode.

Only in Amsterdam

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 3 May 2020]

I know Barry Foster's Van der Valk liked a drink and a cigar but I am not sure about these briefings taking place in a pub. At least the pub owner seems to be knowledgeable about drugs.

The body of Aamina Jabara is found in a hotel room, she had ingested narcotics and had a wound similar to a biblical painting.

Van der Valk enters a world of biblical erotica, a naughty nun with desires, a drug clinic run by a doctor who is anti religion and a theologian who has faith but might also be into corrupting twins.

Parts of the story did stretch credibility. No one mentions including Aamina's family that she had a twin sister. No one bothered to check whether the other sister had a particular tattoo.

The plot was basically shenanigans between twins and one of them trying to get approval from her father. I thought some of it was kack.

Also hotels these days are full of security cameras, surely someone would had been seen entering or exiting a particular room or floor by the cameras.

I would like to know what Van der Valk's beef is with the new guy Cloovers. He is at least clever and competent. The other guy de Vries makes me wonder how he managed to become a policeman in the first place never mind be a detective.

So boring.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 4/10 · 3 May 2020]

After being one of those that enjoyed last week's episode I was looking forward to this, I hate to say it I was bored to death by this one, the story was so slow, it took an age to open up, and when it it finally did it was a muddled, and confused storyline.

I was a little unsure about Warren in the last episode, he was actually slightly better here, a bit more assured, just a shame the script wasn't so sharp. I'm getting a little irked by the way his character is treating his new, young colleague, the chip on his shoulder seems to have grown.

Always good to see Tim Dutton, even if he was somewhat wasted. Once again we get a mix of Dutch and cockney accents.

It did at least end on a high, the last five minutes was at least exciting and grilling. Unfortunately that final burst was unable to make up for the other 85 minutes.

I wasn't fussed, 4/10.

Little Better Than the First Episode

[JasonC-4 · 19 April 2020]

While a little better than the first episode this still has major shortcomings largely due to a lack of believability. While the plot starts well it becomes a confusing tale of identical twins (that old chestnut). The fact nobody, not the victim's family, employer or anybody else thought it was important to mention to the cops that she had a twin stretched credulity to breaking point. Then there's the lesbian nun with an with the erotic art fetish who seemingly belongs to an order that allows her to wander around Amsterdam at will and indulge her every whim although it has to be said that the understated performance given by Juliet Aubrey in this role is one of the few pleasures this episode provides even if, in the end, the character is incidental, at best, to the outcome. There were less picture postcard shots of Amsterdam this time around but there were more recognisably Dutch accents which is a good thing.

How did it get worse??

[mmvrxktnr · 4/10 · 8 December 2021]

The constant rude hazing(?) of the one black character by the lead is just bizarre and messed up and has gone on too long. And it's the second episode where sexual trauma of a woman of color is a main plot point of an episode, from the opening shots of a woman lasciviously murdered to the abuse & trauma of her twin. The nice casting and beautiful location can't make up for the absolutely terrible writing.

So dull. Axe please

[studioAT · 1/10 · 4 May 2020]

For a mini series of only 3 episodes you don't really expect any duds.

This though is exactly what we get here. Ok, so the adverts don't exactly help the pacing, but this is so slow and dull at times.

Performances so silly they belong in 'Death in Paradise' and little sense of originality,if there was a hint this shouldn't be brought back, this is it.