TV shows from Spain continue to amaze me, they are original and very well shot and written.
To be fair, this is series is based on best selling books, so the hard work is done for the writers. By episode 5 it is not hard to see the plot twist at the end coming, so writing is not perfect. But it does engage the viewer and keeps it interesting.
There are two lead characters in this show, the hyper intelligent female and the Kojak/Columbo style disgraced gay policeman. I wanted to mention that the police character is homosexual because of the way the show handles it. Unlike 99% of all shows and movies , there is zero wokeness. It is written into the show in a very realistic and organic way. Extremely so. I can say that is the best handled character I have seen so far. No hidden agenda. No messaging. His being a homosexual when the show refers to it is very mature and feels like part of the plot. It is however not central to the show, but instead is shown as giving the character unique ways to handle situations and people in a way not possible by a straight guy. Very well crafted. Not shown as bad or good, but something that just is and the character just lives his live.
The show can be broken up into three acts, with the last 2 episodes being act 3. Act 3 is the weakest, as it felt a bit rushed. They tied up everything neatly with a bow tie, probably in case there was no season 2. If season 2 had been pre-approved, they could have taken more time and it would have helped.
Episodes 1 to 3 are 9.0, 4,5, and 6 are 8.0, and 7 and 8 are 7.0. In the first few episodes specially and less so towards the end, her intellect is shown in the same way we see Murphy in The Good Doctor use his. With graphics and all. Show would have been higher rated if they had kept this up all the way to the end. It is used less as the show advances.
The shadowy organization that uses her superior intellect to solve crime and bring bad guys to justice is interesting but we are not given much info on them. Other than they do what regular cops can't. Nor are they "all good". They have no qualms with abusing and torturing their recruits in the name of "making them better", including giving them special drugs for enhancement. Pretty shady.
The female lead may be the most intelligent person on earth (maybe), but is still flawed in ways and still cannot make it on her own. Highest iq on earth is not enough. The show excels at showing this.
The middle age cop blackmailed into being her squire is likable, described as being an incurable romantic that decides things based on his heart and not rules and hard logic. An underdog that is easy to root for. His good heart sometimes leads to geiting his teeth kicked in. But he perseveres.
Overall there is a kidnapping they need to solve before the kidnapped is killed. Unlike many serials, the entire first season is the one case. We are used to resolutions in crime series per episode, so this took me by surprise and I had to get used to it. The case though is not what it seems, and if it was an onion to peel it would have many many layers before the final plot twist.
A season 2 is setup but the show can be seen as complete in season 1. There is enough resolved that you will not be bitter if there is no season 2. But you will be curious. There are always the books though.
To be fair, this is series is based on best selling books, so the hard work is done for the writers. By episode 5 it is not hard to see the plot twist at the end coming, so writing is not perfect. But it does engage the viewer and keeps it interesting.
There are two lead characters in this show, the hyper intelligent female and the Kojak/Columbo style disgraced gay policeman. I wanted to mention that the police character is homosexual because of the way the show handles it. Unlike 99% of all shows and movies , there is zero wokeness. It is written into the show in a very realistic and organic way. Extremely so. I can say that is the best handled character I have seen so far. No hidden agenda. No messaging. His being a homosexual when the show refers to it is very mature and feels like part of the plot. It is however not central to the show, but instead is shown as giving the character unique ways to handle situations and people in a way not possible by a straight guy. Very well crafted. Not shown as bad or good, but something that just is and the character just lives his live.
The show can be broken up into three acts, with the last 2 episodes being act 3. Act 3 is the weakest, as it felt a bit rushed. They tied up everything neatly with a bow tie, probably in case there was no season 2. If season 2 had been pre-approved, they could have taken more time and it would have helped.
Episodes 1 to 3 are 9.0, 4,5, and 6 are 8.0, and 7 and 8 are 7.0. In the first few episodes specially and less so towards the end, her intellect is shown in the same way we see Murphy in The Good Doctor use his. With graphics and all. Show would have been higher rated if they had kept this up all the way to the end. It is used less as the show advances.
The shadowy organization that uses her superior intellect to solve crime and bring bad guys to justice is interesting but we are not given much info on them. Other than they do what regular cops can't. Nor are they "all good". They have no qualms with abusing and torturing their recruits in the name of "making them better", including giving them special drugs for enhancement. Pretty shady.
The female lead may be the most intelligent person on earth (maybe), but is still flawed in ways and still cannot make it on her own. Highest iq on earth is not enough. The show excels at showing this.
The middle age cop blackmailed into being her squire is likable, described as being an incurable romantic that decides things based on his heart and not rules and hard logic. An underdog that is easy to root for. His good heart sometimes leads to geiting his teeth kicked in. But he perseveres.
Overall there is a kidnapping they need to solve before the kidnapped is killed. Unlike many serials, the entire first season is the one case. We are used to resolutions in crime series per episode, so this took me by surprise and I had to get used to it. The case though is not what it seems, and if it was an onion to peel it would have many many layers before the final plot twist.
A season 2 is setup but the show can be seen as complete in season 1. There is enough resolved that you will not be bitter if there is no season 2. But you will be curious. There are always the books though.