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Reviews
El cuerpo en llamas (2023)
Amazing cast bringing a terrible story
It all circles around the main character Rosa, played by Úrsula Corberó. Ursula is an amazing actress, performs very believable, sometimes too believable. That also applies to the rest of the cast by the way. The story is real and chilling and nicely brought to the screen by both director and camera work. Only I would have chosen for a shorter version with less details. Nevertheless it captivates and is heavy in a sense that it is difficult to bing watch. After the last episode I needed to come back to my senses; due to the great performances and chilling story. I recommend this series especially to commemorate the victims in this story.
Suspicion (2022)
Like a good book
In short: the series is built up like a good book, multiple story lines, well developed, played and directed. Furthermore it is a story that is quite unique.
Still there some details that in real life wouldn't happen. For example when someone is arrested, his/her house is immediately secured and searched for evidence. That happened here far too late. Another one, pumping petrol/gas in the UK and drive away without paying is what big petrol stations have alarms and number plate recognition, with not that nice consequences, better to have let the guy pay the petrol/gas and then take the car. Blow up a boat...no, let it sink, that causes less noise and evidence floating around.
Still it is a series well made.
The Flemish Bandits (2018)
The series is recommendable
About the story, Jan de Lichte did exist, but unfortunately, he was not a Robin Hood type (he also did not exist) but rather a common thief and murderer; at least that is what history tells us and to be honest: you were very easy a thief in those times. It was Louis Paul Boon, a Flemish author who used Jan de Lichte in a book called "the gang of Jan de Lichte" (1951) and created this Robin Hood type (The Flemish needed a hero in those times). So Louis' story was an adaptation at least, together with making a script for a TV series the story changed again. One particular thing happend in Jan de Lichte's life and that was what is shown in the last episode and carried out by the French and what is called "radbraken" and .... well, see for yourself.
The series shows how life was in 1747 for people behind the city walls and the outcast outside the city walls, living in the woods; where hunger and disease were the major life events.
The actors play their role well also considering the relatively low budget of the production. The script does not portray certain characters very well in my opinion; sometimes there are out of character issues but for the rest the series is recommendable.
Defending Jacob (2020)
The story is quite something else
The series is well made, production well built, and perfectly directed in a real Scandinavian way: dark, not too quick and cold. Michelle Dockery did a fantastic job of bringing a not very strong woman in the story. After seeing all episodes I must say that the story is quite something else, I didn't expect the ending at all.
Make sure you understand that this story is an adaptation of a bestseller book. Do not expect that the series follows the book exactly because it never does.
White Lines (2020)
Typical TV production
White Lines is a typical TV production in my view. Some things are quick others are slow. It paints the scene of Ibiza (although most of it was filmed on Majorca).
The story is one seen from a poor Manchester neighborhood on a sunny island with drugs, alcohol, sex, and rock and roll with the necessary crime attached.
Take then a not so mentally stable person in search of her brother, a rich Spanish family that tries to protect their assets and lifestyle, you have everything for a bold and the beautiful.
There is some good acting in it, especially the Portuguese actor Nuno Lopes, but also others. The story twists and turns and when you see the last episode you understand a lot, but also not.
Dead to Me (2019)
First season: great, Second season: I hope there is no 3rd season in the pipeline
I found the first season great, a unique story with great acting. Then came the 2nd season. It started slow, not exciting and certainly not unique. Then a number of new story lines appeared and a bit cheesy and very soapy.
The first season I rated an 8, the second a 6.
Kalifat (2020)
A story that needs to be told.
Great story that needs to be told. The acting is very believable and the direction is exemplary.
Again Netflix shows that they can find fantastic acting and story telling for an international audience.