Chylka

I love European crime shows, but this one was a little too slow and boring. I nearly gave up halfway through and now I kind of wish I did. It was very predictable with the few twists that we got, And the rest wasn't really much of a thriller or whodunnit. A lot of the things the characters did made zero sense and I still have a lot of questions about that.

The longer it goes on, the less credible the story becomes; the weak plot runs out of steam long before the story limps to a feeble finish. I wonder if the legal details are remotely accurate; if so, the Polish judicial system is one big kangaroo court. Only days after a child goes missing, a suspect is put on trial for murder, even though there's no body! Only in Poland? Incredibly, there seem to be several more seasons of this mediocre melodrama.

This lead Polish actress who plays CHYLKA is phenomenal. She is a defense attorney and what you don't know is whether or not she is defending someone who is guilty or innocent. Her interrogations and courtroom cross-examinations are something to behold. She's complicated and men like her. They respect her. She likes them too but she's not entirely respectful. Her young associate is besotted with her and there is a real bond if not a romantic one. Lots of swearing. Lots of steak dinners in beautiful dimly lit restaurants. Always vodka - lots of it. She's like a dancer. She's like a boxer. She looks like a million bucks. She's nasty at times and belligerent and cuts to the chase which oddly enough is the truth and crux of the case. Some of her cases are terrifying. She has her own set of ethics but she's troubled by trauma in her childhood and will do anything to protect a child. The 3rd season is more difficult as she is self-destructive. Just never give up on this feisty blonde dynamo.

I found the characters well written, true depictions of differing personality types and realistic. The criminal justice system creates a tough atmosphere where the subjects are tough, trust has to be earned and progress can be slow. I thought the main characters were very well acted. An excellent complex show.

No, it's not a simplistic plot, you have to engage with the plot to appreciate it fully.

It is difficult to watch someone, especially someone who seems they have everything, show self destructive behavior. But often this is part and parcel of dealing with pathological, criminal behavior. I sincerely enjoyed the writing.

I loved the damaged brilliant lawyer role played by Magdalena Cielecka and her dinamic with the male characters.

She's fierce and afraid of nothing and nobody. You have to admire that!

I found some scenes in the crime stories to be too explicit and cruel, but overall it helped built the narrative.

Coming from a former comunist country myself, showing parts of that history with people living in constant fear and corrupt prosecutors and law enforcement stealing from people and destroying lives because was spot on because that's a true story.

I know the story is over and it closed things in a way, but I could have watched a few more seasons for sure.