1983 (2018 – )

Creator: Joshua Long

Cast:Robert Wieckiewicz, Maciej Musial, Michalina Olszanska

Decades after a 1983 terrorist attack, a law student and a cop uncover a conspiracy.

In 1983 Warsaw, a man is beating another man who is in the Solidarity resistance movement in Poland. He goes outside after leaving the man halfway dead. He sees a medical transport van, notices the dripping paint on it, then is killed in a massive explosion. And here is are opening shot on this perfectly writing Polish series, in a Neo-Noir fashion. Then it is 2003 on our next shot the movement was derailed by these terrorist attacks and now Poland is  under a Soviet-backed regime, where protest is punished severely.

Anatol Janow (Robert Więckiewicz) is a police detective who used to work on high-profile cases, but has been demoted to this division that he is in.  He’s called to the apartment of a known resistance operative, who looks like he killed himself his partners called it a suicide but Janow know better than that someone has killed this man to look like a suicide. The second part of the story is this law student Kajetan Skowron (Maciej Musiał), whose parents died in the 1983 attacks, is given a case file by a judge, the murder of someone the judge knew before the attacks. Somehow Skowron meets Janow who looks into the dossier and uncovers a conspiracy that the government wants to shut down.

This well writing series feels like an espionage as we meet the some of the people of the resistance. The set design is feels like a Neo-noir film , reflecting the idea of an Eastern European dictatorship. It is an unexpected jewel from Netflix with complex characters and the story is intelligently told but I think that most people will overlook this one my advice do not miss it.

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THE INNØCENTS (2018 – )

Creators: Hania Elkington, Simon Duric

Cast: Sorcha Groundsell, Percelle Ascott, Guy Pearce 

When two teenagers, Harry and June, flee their families to be together, their escape is hindered by an extraordinary discovery – June’s ability to metamorphose. As the young couple struggle to control this strange and new power, a mysterious teacher reveals that June is not alone: many people are capable of shape-shifting like her, and he promises help her control it and to reunite her with her mother who has deserted for 3 years. As the adventure begins thinks are getting complicated.

June (Sorcha Groundsell) and Harry (Percelle Ascott). June’s father is planning to move her far out-of-town on her 16^th birthday. June’s dad may have had a very specific reason to get June far from civilization when she turned 16 because, well, June’s got some kind of power. The couple will discover it when a strange man wants to kidnap her but the couple seems to get away with one little problem: June can shapeshift, taking the form of someone nearby while that person’s body is incapacitated in something that resembles a coma. The couple will try to find out what is going on here but in the mix they are trying to figure out why this man wants to kidnap June. Meanwhile, in a remote commune at which June’s mother Elena (Laura Birn) is one of the residents. It’s run by the mysterious Halvorson (Guy Pearce) and Sigrid (Lise Risom Olsen). What is June’s mother is doing there? Well you are going to find to have to watch the series. The subtext here is simple kids sometimes does not know who they really are and kids do run away from home. Not too bad for a series but it is a bit predictable here. Did it do well on Netflix I assume so it is targeted to a younger audience but some adult will like it as well. The storytelling is fine but it is missing something. I hope season 2 will be better.

GHOUL (2018- )

Cast: Manav Kaul, Radhika Apte, Rohit Pathak 

In a near-future India, a mysterious prisoner is sent to a remote military interrogation center where he turns the tables on his captors by exposing horrible secrets and unleashing  something out of this world.

Here is a terrific series from  India 3 episodes only from Netflix. It is set in the near future where fascism is very present and where the military rule the country. Anyone who is against the states is being put to jail by the military interrogated and tortured to death. Nida Rahim (Radhike Apte) a new recruit, is accepted to work in the prison to interrogate the prisoners. Ali Saeed a dangerous terrorist is incarcerated in the prison where she is now works and must crack him to talk. Will she succeed?

Nice little series here that is not too predictable and has a some surprises and secrets that will surface.  Nida here has a secret of her own and will be the one that we will follow most of the time. She does not question the prisoner too much but she is going to figure out what is going on. The series is written by Patrick Graham who had a dream and so he started to write the series. Netflix picked it up and voila. You will not be disappointed. It is like the thing but in a prison with supernatural element. It is like a rewrite of the thing all that because Graham had this dream how weird is that.

THE PUNISHER (2017 – )

Creator:  Steve Lightfoot

Cast: Jon Bernthal, Amber Rose Revah, Ebon Moss-Bachrach

After the murder of his family, Marine veteran Frank Castle became a vigilante known as The Punisher and revenge is on his list.

The punisher was introduced in the second season of Daredevil which now has his own series. And the Punisher after seen his family murdered decided to avenge them and to kill everyone involved. He discovers that his family was not murdered randomly and it links back to his actions when he was in the military. And no he has no super power well he knows how to use a gun. In the title role, Jon Bernthal is fantastic and embodied his character beautifully well. He his on a revenge path but also became a psychopath capable of killing anyone and everyone,  and beside behind strong he has also a charming side. The series is making human at times a human who has feelings. The series has a conspiracy thriller and it works here very well. Yes there are the occasional flashback so you can see where he came from. And  Yes the Punisher has a big success on Netflix therefore they will be a second season.

LACASA DE PAPEL (2017 – )

Creator: Álex Pina

Cast: Úrsula Corberó, Itziar Ituño, Álvaro Morte

English title: Money heist

A group a robbers let by a genius called the professor planned a heist in the Factory of Moneda and Timbre which is going the perfect heist that Spain as ever seen in the total of 2.4 Billion Euros.

Here is a cool series from Netflix the most popular on Netflix today. A dude named the professor recruits delinquents to plan a heist int the Factory of Moneda and timbre, well where the print the money and the stamps. It is a heist with precision and well planned but the thing is that is it going to go as plan? Money Heist covers the story of one complex crime across the whole series (Parts 1 and 2 combined). The beginning of the scene set the series which   includes flashback from time to time. Where the robbers came from and how the got recruited. It is fast-paced, with cliffhangers, surprises and an ensemble of characters that is like family. And yes the professor has rules for a successful plan and yes there will be hostages and the police who does not know how to handle this but will caught on later on, maybe. The acting is great and the chemistry between the actors is there. It is a well written tied script. Of course there will be part 3 the next season. It is on Netflix now and you can watch the all first season as well as the second. The word is out it was supposed to be a only 2 season but due the popularity of this series there will be a third season in 2019.

4 SEASONS IN HAVANA (2016- )

Cast: Jorge Perugorría, Carlos Enrique Almirante, Luis Alberto GarcíaFour

We follows lieutenant Conde who solve crimes, sleep with beautiful women, drinks alcohol to forget his days, and the internal affair is breathing down his neck to top it all off his boss is watching him closely.

Seasons in Havana is a very stylish, well written crime series it has a fell Neo-noir to it. It is hot in Cuba you can sense the heat as you follow Conde where the landscape is dusty and the sun shine on th top of your head all the time. Conde the drinking smoking, having sex with beautiful women along the way is having a hell of the time to solve murder in Havana with the internal affair breathing down his neck along side his boss. It has 4 episodes of  one hour and a half. What I like about it is that Cuba is stuck in time so there is old cars from the 50’s 60’s and still a rotary phone. it is set in the 90’s so no computers yet nor cell phone. The drone shot here is fantastic and you will see the rich and the poor neighborhoods. The atmosphere is noir to the core, the bars, the night life, the crimes, the police corruption as well as the government. Is fun to see this series that is shot on location with the different decor and houses or apartments. The cast is perfect and stand out and so is this wonderful production. Do not miss this one. 

 

THE FRANKENSTEIN CHRONICLES (2015 -)

Creator: Barry Langford

Cast: Sean Bean, Richie Campbell, Tom Ward

Inspector John Marlott investigates a series of crimes in 19th Century London. As he investigates he finds out it might be a scientist who is experimenting in re-animating the dead.

Yes for Netflix the series is kicking ass big time. Taking form the Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel it takes an approach from it all started at the beginning and yes the series is addictive. John Marlott (Sean Bean), a river cop who discovers the body of a small child on the beach. except it is several pieces of different part from other bodies saw back together. He’s hired by Sir Robert Peel (Tom Ward), an advocate for advanced medicine who’s trying to pass “The Anatomy Act” in Britain. Marlott goes to it but he has a past and has his share of pain plus he has a disease he can’t shake off. Sean Bean is perfect in this role and shines. The decor is perfect it feel dirty and hunger has set in plus the cold damp weather of London sets in.  Great writing the series moves along just fine. It is a bit rushed toward the end. It is a solid show that deserved to be watched.