198. Web-Series Reviews – 48

More web-series reviews…

 World’s Most Wanted – Heinous criminals have avoided capture despite massive rewards and global investigations. This docuseries profiles five of the world's most wanted.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

Netflix has raised the bar for its docuseries so high, that other decent releases go under the radar. Fortunately for me, I saw the trailer and had immediately saved it in my list because I had seen Don't F*ck with Cats and liked it. It's the same team.

So this isn't as crisp as other series' and I think this is one of those documentary that could've used a little recreation for dramatic effects because the characters they chose to interview .. some of them are little dramatic. Another thing they could've done better is to show us more about the criminal's past life because they choose to pursue all these most wanteds after their heinous crimes. We are taken through the journey of what they did, how they fled and little bit of how the authorities have been chasing them. This isn't a deep dive into the criminal's mind that we have have a perversion of.

My favourite episode was the last one. You watch it and immediately want to re-watch The Godfather. Unfortunately even that episode was not as fleshed out as it could've been.

These are the complaints but for what they've shown and researched it's still a good quarantine watch.

My Take – Well worth a watch!

 

The Serpent – The twisting, real-life story of Charles Sobhraj, a murderer, thief and seductive master of disguise, who was a hidden darkness in the mid-70's on Asia's hippie trail.

One of the reviews from IMDB... 

This is not a 10* show by any stretch of the imagination, so don't believe the stooges.

The story is based on facts and this show depicts most of them accurately. I do recommend a watch as it is superbly filmed with great locations and a brilliant effort to recreate the 1970s, but there are some problems I had with the overall production.

Firstly, this show did not portray Charles Sobhraj, the serial killer, accurately. In real life he was charismatic, charming, and captivating, but in this, the odd blank stare into the distance wasn't enough to convince me he had any magnetism. I found his portrayal dull and boring. That, for a serial killer, is poor writing. It was just the facts of what he did and not much on how and why.

Secondly, as others have mentioned, the constant jumping back and forth on the time line was annoying. It was meant to be a device to create excitement/dynamism, but it didn't work. It would have been much better in a linear format with time spent on CS establishing the relationships with his victims.

That leads to my next problem with the show - a lack of dramatic tension. Only in episode 5 did I get excited about what might happen. No time was taken for the viewer to have any empathy with any of the characters/victims. Again, poor writing as a good drama should make you care.

Watch this show for the brilliant production values, great cinematography, Jenna Coleman's performance, and to find out what really happened. It's definitely better than most of the rubbish on TV.

My Take - I didn't like to so much.  Rather slow in my opinion.  Saw the last 4 episodes on fast-forward mode😊

 

Des – In 1983 Scottish serial killer Dennis Nilsen was arrested after the discovery of human remains which had blocked a drain near his London home.  Starring David Tennant and Daniel Mays. Just 3 episodes in total.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

So this show has taken over The UK this week and I have just watched the three part mini series called Des and here is my review for it. The premise of the show is based on the true story of a serial killer who is arrested when human remains are found in his drains.

Main Character David Tennant plays Des and just give this guy all the awards now as he is truly amazing here. He totally throws himself into this performance and it comes across as chilling and mesmerizing, you just can't take your eyes off of him and are super interesting. When telling a real story about a serial killer there is a line that needs to be kept, you don't want to make him too fascinating and you don't want to make him too boring and Tennant nails this. He just seems so normal and that is what makes it so creepy and it really leads to this incredibly memorable performance.

Supporting Characters Daniel Mays has had an interesting 2020 from Code 4040 to White Lines to his role as the main police officer in this show and he is fantastic here. He is so good that I actually wasn't sure he was capable of this performance he is that good here, he gives a very dramatic performance and seeing this guy tracking the case makes you want to root for him and see him succeed. Jason Watkins who is a big British actor plays Des' biographer and he is very good too, his relationship with Des is really interesting to watch. It is very unnerving and disturbing but you see how they need each other and it brings out the interesting part of Des's story that the other police officers can't get. The rest of the cast are also great, it's full of great British talent that will hopefully have a long future and get more great work like this.

The story is really interesting, this is based on a true story which is what really makes this horrific but for me it is the fact that Des doesn't stand out particularly, he seems a normal guy who was pretty intelligent but he was capable of true horrors. The investigation is gripping and intense, mix that with the interesting scenes with the biographer it feels like a complex story that we are seeing from different angles. Also the courtroom scenes in the final episode are a highlight keeping you on your toes throughout.

The script is great, there are twists and turns throughout and it keeps you interested throughout. The characters are written in a complex manner and the debates are really interesting which culmiate in some intense scenes. It just comes across as a really clever show that does a good job in adding the intrigue and tension. 

The style is gripping and tense, some people might call it slow at times but I never felt that. It dragged me in and made me really interested and wanting to see this guy get taken down while learning more about him. This show also knew that 3 episodes was enough and the fact that it is shorter in length works and means there is very little downtime on the show.

Overall, this is just one of those shows that sucked me in and had me fascinated, it is one of the best of the year and if you are a fan of intense stories based on true events then you owe it to yourself to watch this one, and once again David Tenant is amazing here.

My Take - A very good series!!

 

Innan Vi Dor (Before We Die) – See only the Swedish version and not the newly released American version😊!!  A police inspector in the organised crime unit disappears after meeting with a mysterious informer.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

This is an excellent entry into the group of Nordic Noir thrillers, which have been a mixed bunch lately, to say the least. It also shows how a seemingly tired plot device can be made to look fresh and exciting when the production is put together by the right team. This is the case here. The choice of the locale is near faultless, the direction is crisp and editing is so sharp it appears as if the story would lose its flow if another frame were cut out. It wouldn't, but that is how it looks like.

What makes it really work, however, the complexity of characters and the competence of actors who embody them. Looked at closely there are no goodies and baddies, just human beings shaped by their circumstances and landed on the opposite ends of the law. Each main character surprises you with their capacity to act against your expectations and make it believable. Marie Richardson as the conflicted mother and the heroic but flawed detective and Adam Paisson as her capable, self-possessed, hard-headed son are superb and lead a cast of excellent actors. There are no small parts here and the actors seldom take a wrong step. In the case of Peshang Rad as Stefan, it is amazing to see what an actor can do with the little background given to his character. It is perhaps unfair to pick actors from what is an excellent ensemble.

Another aspect that impressed me is that the violence is never gratuitous and mostly implied, leaving one wonder how the suspense is sustained for ten episodes. If I outlined the script it would seem like a collection of police thriller clichés yet the series looks and feels original thanks to the professionals who put it together.

Highly recommended.

My Take - A definitive watch!

Cheers till next time😊

Daffy Definition

Prices – The only thing that violates the law of gravity😊!