Well Deserved Praise

Sadly Over-hyped

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

There is just so much movie here. For some it may be too much. But in the same secretly sarcastic way most telemarketers say the phrase, the title of this one is particularly apt.

I really enjoyed the one season of this show. Complex, entertaining characters form the foundation for a unique show. It is a shame that they only had one season because it is better than most things on TV.

This is the series you long for, wait for, hope every new one will be! A clever murder mystery, romance in the making, budding and established relationships, intrigue, crime, family skeletons, and top all that off with - no, although easily mistaken for, it's Not mental illness, but something quite unique. Something that blurs the line between life and death and challenges their very definitions. I loved the honesty of the characters, the raw, gaping flaws and challenges our main character faces daily, hourly, and the sympathetic understanding, loyalty, and latitude the surrounding characters allow him. Stellan is Utter Perfection in this role! I literally cannot picture anyone else in his stead. He made me want to cry! I am in awe of what he brought to this role. The writer, the director, they must have seen their dreams realized when they first saw this completed work. He never ceases to impress me but this performance was beyond the pale. Apologies for not knowing the other actors names, but you better believe I will learn them. I was So Impressed with all the casting. Stevie - I've seen her in many things, always impressive. Chrissie - she was new to me but by god, I won't forget her! She's like a loaded cannon, that one! She was so natural, so effortless in what is, let's face it, a typically linear role. She brought depth, and warmth, and strength and a vulnerability to this role that was nothing short of incredible. I will be looking to see what else she's been in and following her. She's, quite frankly, great! And my last comments have to go out for the new partner. How can you not love this guy, huh (or his wife!)? Most new guys walking into that situation would have labeled their partner PTSD and drawn circles in the air behind his back, but this guy sees beyond the surface and meets him square on with nothing less than acceptance. No judgement. Now that's a rare bird. The write was smart here. I think the attitudes of both he and the therapist (Rose?) gave a huge amount of credibility to Stellans character. So, there you have it. I have a million more things to say but just do yourself a favor and watch and enjoy for yourself - and then pass it on to someone else for them to enjoy too! This was pure artistic pleasure to watch! My Thanks to all those involved in its creation! Oh, I know it has to stop at Season 1, but I definitely want more!!

I honestly disliked every moment of this mini-series and sincerely regretted the time I spent watching it. That said, once I start something I have to finish it, so I watched every episode, hoping for a climax that never came.The plot was very slow to develop, and because of this every episode felt like a drag and never gripped me - the same applies to the subplot. The depressing overtones only made the show even less enjoyable to watch, and the character development never felt interesting; River just got more bizarre and Stevie's story played out somewhat predictably. I wasn't impressed by the acting either; Skarsgård's performance lacked emotion and Walker was just plain irritating throughout. The idea that an obviously burnt-out psychotic police officer would be allowed to roam the streets obliviously talking to himself and attacking people, let alone handle an investigation into the murder of his partner, is quite frankly ludicrous. On top of this, the "manifestation" scenes were so poorly acted out that I almost gave up on the show within the first few episodes. I wish I had.While I liked the twist, I felt like it wasn't written out and portrayed well enough to be thrilling and interesting. It kind of felt like, "oh, was that it?", but I have no doubt that if this was depicted differently or with different actors it would been shocking and gripping.The conclusion of everything was wholly unfulfilling and lacked meaning.

This mini-series actually consists of two interwoven story-lines: that of the detective storyline and that of the main character's mental disorder. It is therefore not your average thriller / detective; instead it has depth and is sometimes even philosophical. How Stefan plays the main character is simply outstanding - only in very few other movies / series will you see an actor performing so well. In addition, all of the other actors - none of whom are the traditional "Hollywood stars" - are similarly way above average. Finally, and you may not notice this straightaway, the series is well put together, something which for this series will have been a true challenge.It is really highly recommendable to watch. Do not expect something "light / easy"; it will grasp you and the last episode is quite moving.