Dark Woods

I had trouble getting into the first episode of this six-part series. That was partly because it was hard to sort out the flashbacks from events in the present day, and partly because the show looked like a standard European procedural with a mismatched male/female pair of detectives (one cliche) investigating the disappearance and murder of various young women (another cliche) as well as a few men. But since the show was streaming on Topic, and just about everything else I'd seen on Topic turned out to be excellent, I persisted and was glad I did.

The story is complex and the investigation ends up lasting for decades, but the plot is well constructed and the conclusion makes sense. All the actors are strong, especially the tormented protagonist, played by Matthias Brandt (who was also brilliant as Benda in Babylon Berlin). I'd recommend this show to anyone who likes crime dramas -- especially true crime, since "Dark Woods" is based on an actual case: the Göhrde murders of 1989.

One commenter complained that the title (in German -- Das Geheimnis das Totenwaldes, The Secret of the Deadly Forest) was misleading. I don't understand that criticism, since many of the corpses were discovered in Iseforst, a forest in Germany; the forest itself appears in every episode; characters often mention Iseforst; and in the series, the media start calling the crime scene "Totenwald." So the title seems perfectly apt, in English as well as German -- especially if you interpret it both literally and metaphorically (e.g., the "selva oscura" -- dark forest -- mentioned in the opening verses of Dante's Inferno).

It tells the story of a long investigation into the disappearance of a woman and the terrible crimes linked to it. The series is six episodes long and manages to keep the viewer engaged with its emotional depth and slow-burning suspense.

The acting is very strong, especially from Matthias Brandt, who plays Thomas Bethge. His character is calm, serious, and deeply affected by his sister's disappearance. The show carefully shows how the crime affects the victim's family over 27 painful years, making the viewer feel their sadness and frustration. Some moments are heart-breaking, and the emotional weight is heavy throughout.

Visually, the Series looks excellent. The camera work, makeup, and costumes do a great job of showing the passage of time. The mood is dark and serious, and the forest setting adds a haunting atmosphere. At times, the pace can be a little slow, especially in the final episodes, and there are repeated scenes and not every mystery is explored fully by the end.

While it might not be as thrilling as True Detective, it's still a well-made, thoughtful series that goes deeper than a typical crime show. It combines mystery with emotional storytelling, making it more than just a "whodunit."

If you like serious crime dramas, especially ones based on real events, this Series is definitely worth watching. It's gripping, moving, and stays with you even after it ends.

The series is very much like it's lead character Thomas Bethge (Matthias Brandt). Steady, stoic, and thorough. The contrast with the behaviour of the various suspects in the murder of his sister is both a strength and a weakness. There is a slow build up of tension, but a significant amount of screen time is taken up with repeating situations we have already seen before.

A slight disappointment is that the final episode doesn't end up exploring all the possibilities that were suggested in the previous two. But perhaps that is the danger when doing a "true crime" drama - I didn't know anything about the events it is based on, but the production team are understandably wary of taking too many liberties with what actually happened.

The story was quite gripping, it wasn't until the last 2 episodes that things dragged a little. It was shot and directed well, and the costume and make up department did such a good job and ageing the cast over the decades!

This German mini series is gripping from the first to the last episode. The storytelling, character building, camera, grading and cast is brilliant. Very well executed and fantastically binge-worthy.

A must see!