Arcadia

Arcadia: A Belgian-Dutch science fiction television series. Post catastrophic floods a dystopian city state, Arcadia monitors all of it's citizens through an implant. A Citizen Score determines your job, housing, medical care. If your score is too low then you are expelled into the wilderness. A leading family falls from grace after it is discovered that the father has doctored his daughters scores. A mixture of a police procedural with a struggle against tyranny, conspiracies are crucial to the unfolding of the plot. A Mad Max style society (minus the vehicles) exists beyond the city limits. There is also a resistance within but they have a a terrorist reputation. Many twists and surprises ensue. Created by Philippe De Schepper, Directed by Tim Oliehoek, Written by Philippe De Schepper, Bas Adriaensen, Zita Theunynck. Eight episodes on Channel 4. 7.5/10.

And this series has everything right. From architecture, safety nudging (deuren sluiten) marketing, even children's books (Lientje is een tientje) the tapistry of detail never stops. EVERYTHING is just right. This level of detail is what netflix and Hollywood completely lost and is only possible in indie or European production. There are no USoA viewers who can appreciate this as they judge video productions by their own narrow standards.

Acting is totally onpar and above. I'm dutch but never realised so much talent in Belgium (Vlamingen that is). A great world is created sometimses Tarkovskian, sometimes GATTACA or Blade Runner. I anticipate a British production of The Wall.

Had low expectations going in based of of TV commercials. Remained sceptical throughout first epsiode. Set wise they've basically scraped together every even vaguely brutalist bit of architecture in a 400km radius around Antwerp, which I kinda like to be honest. Kept me wondering, is this supposed to be the future or an alternative timeline of the past? The acting is nothing to write home about, but the story is pretty fun. It's at least refreshing to see and hear a dystopian story in my native Dutch. It's not particularly original, or innovative, but it's consistent and not just cheap thrills. Someone's clearly put in the effort to match the setting, the visuals and the story without going overboard on any of them. It's kept my attention for half the season so far. Still not amazed, but be sure to give it a try, cause it might just grow on you.

Must see because it raises many questions how to act or not to act in a dictatorial regime being chosing between family or obedience to the regime. Maybe a lot of you will say " seen that already" but I already saw a lot of films on this issue though this is different and shows well the personal struggle you make in different circumstances. The setting is dark and grey adding the right sphere for this series with a good music score. Very good acting and you feel involved to each character. I'm looking forward to seeing the next season because there was also a good cliffhanger at the end of the first season.

This show was announced to be the most expensive Belgian show ever made (with a little help from our friends). Yet the acting is so appalling, so bad. The story is quiet alright, the actors are not unknown starting actors, so what the hell went wrong? Watching this show (in your native language - Dutch) is like watching a very poorly dubbed Spanish movie. There is no life in these characters, no emotions, no nothing.

But if you can muster the bad acting and horrible lines, please watch. Realise that that world is hopefully not our future, although we are silently moving into that direction.

And did we really need the Dutch ;-)