Ferry: Die Serie

I am glad the Flemish producers of the hit-show Undercover decided to deepen the most interesting storyline, that of drug kingpin Ferry. The first season of Undercover was the best, although the later seasons are pretty good too. You can't help but see the reminiscence to Breaking Bad though (Ferry is Walter, Daniëlle is Skyler, Lars is Jesse and John is Mike). Even the goonie friends of Dutch-Jesse are present. But as a Dutch saying goes, better stolen properly than made-up poorly :) In that sense it does a great job. The portrayal of the underground synthetic drug scene is a major problem down in the south here, and the acting is spot on. The character Ferry feels more fleshed out the longer Frank Lammers plays it, which can be weird since this show is set before the first season of Undercover. I just love Elise Schaap, in this part but she seems to be a really nice person too.

Casting for Lars is perfect too, before this I only knew Yannick van de Velde from the SUPER funny Rundfunk show and movie Jachterwachter.

The production seems on par with American standards, which should make this show more appealing abroad.

If you liked Breaking Bad, Top Boy or other drug related crime dramas, and you feel like having a look into the Dutch underworld, this is definitely for you.

Watch the movie Ferry first though, for background purposes. And watch it in Dutch with subtitles. Otherwise the sublteties will be lost in translation.

In my humble opinion, 'Ferry the Series' has left me somewhat underwhelmed, and I occasionally find myself feeling bored while watching it. The quality of acting is certainly commendable, but the overall execution falls short of my expectations.

One of my primary reservations about the series is the lack of depth in exploring Ferry's backstory. I had hoped for a more profound dive into his life, particularly his early experiences and the events that shaped his character. Instead, the storyline felt all too familiar, resembling that of the original 'Undercover' series. This lack of innovation and differentiation from the parent series left me somewhat disheartened.

The storytelling, in my opinion, lacks the compelling elements that draw viewers in and keep them engaged. It's as if the plot follows a formulaic pattern, making it predictable and less exciting. The absence of unexpected twists and turns further contributes to the feeling of disappointment. I had anticipated a more intricate narrative that would not only shed light on Ferry's character but also present a unique and captivating plot line.

As I continue to watch the series, I find moments of boredom creeping in. This is not to say that there aren't moments of intensity and drama, but the overall pacing and execution sometimes fail to maintain my interest. It's as if the series has fallen into a pattern of predictability, and this repetition can be a drawback for viewers seeking fresh and engaging content.

Moreover, I can't help but feel that 'Ferry the Series' may have exhausted the potential of its storyline. It seems like the creators might have stretched the narrative to its limits, and I'm left wondering if there's much more to explore in this world. It's essential for a series to evolve and introduce new elements to keep its audience engaged, and 'Ferry' might have reached a point where it's challenging to introduce such novelty.

In summary, 'Ferry the Series' appears to have garnered mixed reviews, and I find myself among those who were left wanting more. The series boasts commendable acting and occasional moments of intensity, but it falls short in terms of innovation and a compelling narrative. I had hoped for a deeper exploration of Ferry's character and a more distinct storyline. As it stands, the series feels somewhat derivative of the original 'Undercover' and could benefit from injecting new life into the narrative to keep viewers excited. It remains to be seen whether the creators will take a more ambitious approach in future seasons, but for now, I'm cautiously optimistic about the direction of the series.

If you like the prior show/movie, you'll enjoy this. Has the same look, feel, and enjoyable plot. It's not too riveting, not too predictable, not super intellectual, but is simple fun to watch. My only criticism, which I think exists in the prior stories, is how stupid almost all of the primary characters seem most of the time... terrible decision making, tons of impulse behavior, lots of repeat mistakes with zero learning, and lots of taking things at face/surface level... which seems to be the main engine behind the drama of the show as poor decision making and lack of control create problems.

As Episode 1 pf "Ferry: The Series" (2023 co-production from Belgium and the Netherlands; 8 episodes ranging from 36 to 51 minutes) opens, Ferry is down on his luck trying to sell XTC pills, getting nowhere. On the other hand, things between Ferry and his girlfriend Daan are great, and at a part Ferry proposes to her... At this point we are 10 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: the Ferry character was developed in the ultra-successful TV series "Underground", which ran for 3 seasons. Ferry was clearly THE breakout character, and a spin-off (and prequel) movie called "Ferry" was released in 2021. Now 2 years later we pick up where that prequel left off. The themes remain the same, with Ferry battling hard to become a player in the XTC pills manufacturing and distribution industry in the Belgian-Holland borderline region. None of what plays out in this series comes as a surprise. It's just that Frank Lammers (as Ferry) is again at the top of his game, I mean it feels like he has prepared his entire career to play this role. Even though I originally hail from Antwerp and speak/understand Dutch fluently, I nevertheless follow most of the band-and-forth conversation with the subtitles, as the Dutch and Flemish accents are heavy duty.

"Ferry: The Series" recently premiered on Netflix, and I watch the 8 episodes over a couple of evenings. If all goes to plan, I'm sure we'll be getting "Ferry: The Series 2" in a couple of years, and I'm already looking forward to it. If you likes "Underground" or "Ferry", or simply are in the mood for a top notch foreign drug crime drama, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

There are some parts in the serie that are questionable or somewhat predictable. And yes, the acting is not all great, I really expected more from for instance Tygo Gerbrandt. But Ferry was just phenomenal. The dark side of the drugscriminal was really frightening, and it created a scary but beautiful contrast against the love for Daantje. It was really good and convincing chemistry between the two lead actors. The plot is maybe a bit to straight forward, but the characters and the way they slowly slide deeper and deeper into the criminal underworld, and how it changes their characters, is really well played. A must see!