376. Web-series Reviews – 191

More web-series reviews…

IC814: The Kandahar Hijack – Came out in 2024.  In December 1999 an Indian Airlines plane on the way from Kathmandu to Delhi is hijacked by a group of terrorists who force the pilot at gunpoint to fly to Kandahar, Afghanistan. The Indian government takes an immediate stock of the situation and dispatches a team of senior bureaucrats to conduct negotiations with the hijackers.

A review from IMDB...

The web series on the IC 814 hijacking is a commendable effort that captures one of the most gripping and significant episodes in India's modern history. One of the standout aspects of the series is the extensive research and development that clearly went into crafting the story. The attention to detail in portraying the real-life events, characters, and intricate political dynamics is truly appreciated.

The screenplay is solid, managing to hold the viewer's interest throughout the six episodes. The narration is engaging and well-paced, maintaining a fine balance between tension and storytelling. Notably, the series does a great job of staying away from any propaganda, which is refreshing.

The dramatic elements of the series are well-executed, though there is room for improvement in terms of clarity. Certain aspects, such as how RAW (Research and Analysis Wing, India's foreign intelligence agency) or airport security operates, might be challenging for the average viewer to grasp.

The acting performances are commendable overall. The actors portraying various roles deliver convincing performances, bringing depth to their characters. However, the portrayal of the hijackers could have been more impactful. While they performed adequately, there was potential for a more nuanced and intense portrayal.

From a production standpoint, the series does well. The production values are high, with well-designed sets that effectively recreate the environments of the time. The cinematography is particularly impressive, capturing the intensity and urgency of the situation. However, the choice of a blue tint in the color grading felt somewhat jarring and detracted from the overall visual appeal.

The music is well-composed, adding to the tension and drama without being overpowering.

The direction is commendable, effectively steering the complex narrative and managing to keep the audience engaged from start to finish.

Overall, this series is definitely worth watching. It provides an engrossing retelling of a dramatic real-life event, supported by good direction, solid performances, and high production values.

My Take – A definitive watch!

 

Dexter – Ran from 2006 to 2013.  He's smart, he's good looking, and he's got a great sense of humor. He's Dexter Morgan, everyone's favorite serial killer. As a Miami forensics expert, he spends his days solving crimes, and nights committing them. But Dexter lives by a strict code of honor that is both his saving grace and lifelong burden. Torn between his deadly compulsion and his desire for true happiness, Dexter is a man in profound conflict with the world and himself. Golden Globe winner Michael C. Hall stars in the hit SHOWTIME Original Series.

A review from IMDB...

Dexter will never disappoint. Each and every episode is a work of art, and it never gets boring or old. To start, we have excellent deliveries from Michael C. Hall as the serial killer (yet a like-able one) known as Dexter Morgan. Add "The Excorcism Of Emily Rose" star Jennifer Carpenter, who plays Dexter's sometimes moody sister, Deb.

It's a hard accomplishment to get someone to actually love a serial killer. But Dexter is one of those few attempts that works. It's not forced upon you- the show doesn't shove the whole "well this serial killer had a terrible childhood..." in your face. And it doesn't need to in order to get you to love its main character. You just do.

Michael C. Hall can play any emotion he's handed. Jennifer Carpenter fits her character perfectly, as does everyone else in the cast.

Then there's the actual story lines. It's not cliché. It's actually scary and chilling. It keeps you guessing. It's one of those mysteries that is very difficult to solve, but it still keeps your interest.

'Dexter' can also be hilarious when it wants to be, depressing when it wants to be and especially thrilling when it wants to be. And it doesn't come across as trying too hard.

Strong writing, clever dialogue, talented stars. It all makes for a wonderful TV show. Definitely the best new show of the season and will become one of the best shows of all time.

My Take – Worth a watch! Saw complete season 1 and stopped.

 

Rejseholdet (Unit One) – Danish series ran from 2000 to 2004.  Members of the flying squad are away from home 230 days a year. We follow their fascinating yet frightening work in the underworld, their commitment and affectionate solidarity. Based on real criminal cases from the last decade, there's something special about these people, who boast one of the highest success rates in the world. Yet how do marriages and families cope with their long absences?

A review from IMDB...

First off, I'm an American -- I haven't seen any comments on IMDb about this series yet from a U.S. viewer. Secondly, I work in the television business in development. So I wallow in much of the sludge that comes out of American broadcast programming. "Unit One" is an example of television that's a throwback to what I would attribute as '70s-style scripting, feature-wise. Namely, those films made by young autueurs who had free rein to make the dramas feel more realistic and to allow for organic character development. It tacks more along the lines of stellar British dramas like "Cracker" and "Prime Suspect" as well as Australia's brilliant "Underbelly." "Unit One" features stand-alone cases that are committed, then solved, each week. The mysteries aren't extraordinary or particularly byzantine. They usually center around one single twist, clocking in generally at the 40 minute mark, and resolution is neatly wrapped up in the 15 minutes thereafter. What makes this series a breath of fresh air is that it features main characters that you are hooked on and find relatable by episode 2. These are real, breathing, alive characters that have personal baggage, yet it's not a talky, batty type of baggage that American flotsam such as "Grey's Anatomy" or "Desperate Housewives" spoons out. These are realistic individuals whose backstories unfold leisurely over the course of the series, as if you work with them on a daily basis. After the mindless decade of "CSI's," "NCIS's," and "Criminal Minds," along with their subsequent spawns, it's refreshing to actually sit down to watch friends you want to spend time with, as is the case with "Unit One." The quippy banter, the unemotional wooden dialogue, and the over-the-top jeopardy that those American series I mentioned bludgeon us with each week are absurd compared to the nuance and the quiet resonance you get with this remarkable Danish series. I'm on episode 7 of the first season, but I've already bought all four seasons and am in for the long haul. If you need explosions and farcically-hopped up testosterone, along with music by The Who and fast-cutting, neon-lit, jittery palsy-cam action with cipher-like main characters as your main diet of television drama viewing, I suggest you stay away from this series. If you are an adult with a hunger for subtle, poignant, thoughtful and, yes, sometimes straight-forward procedural crime dramas, I urge you to check this show out.

My take – A wonderful series!

Adios till next time😊!