Le Détournement du vol 601

I really enjoyed watching this series. On the one hand it's a drama but it also has moments of comedy and lots of humanity as well. And the story it's based on is fascinating as well. There are multiple stories about the different characters entwined and the characters are mostly likeable and relatable. The acting is pretty good. I watch a lot of Spanish movies and series to practice my Spanish and this is one that I really enjoyed. I think the script writers did a good job of taking the original story and turning it into a series that kept your attention until the end. I recommend it but your mileage may vary.

The series start very well, about the real story how the plane was hijacked in the 70s in South America. Then comes episode 4 and story rhythm is broken and series is actually divided into two parts. The 4th episode about how these crazy sort of revolutionaries are made is really unnecessary because it tells the banality that our past puts impact on our future. And this banality actually dooms the following episodes. Suddenly it's hard to understand motives of hijackers and crew actions and the ending of the series is very weird. I am also tired of modern concept about stupid cowardly men and brave heroic women. Another example how to ruin a potentially good series.

It is a shame most of the feeling and acting of the scenes gets lost amidst a poor translation. Netflix should Hire people who really know how to translate, watching this show close captioned in English was painful. I know Colombians swear a lot but more than half of the time idioms and bad words were omitted,or, swapped for things that made less sense than if they made a better effort trying to be more accurate translating. Definitely saving English speaking people from reading a little bit more but also denying them from learning all cool sayings and jokes depicted during the developing of the series. It gives a clear look of Colombian inherent creativity to express ourselves in a very characteristic way.

This drama started really well only for it to fissile out at episode 4 when the focus of the episode was on the Hi-jackers themselves. So here we have a drama of a dramatic real life hi-jacking of a plane in the early 70's the mistake of this drama was the story order as the focus of episode 4 should have been at the start i.e episode 1. To shovel in the back story halfway through the series considering you are telling a real life event only leads to confusion and disengagement on the viewer. So with Ep 4 out of the way the story gets back on track somewhat but seems by episode 6 it has become too over dramatic and too much poetic license has been used, the over use of swearing too (and I don't mind bad language) was not necessary I would have scored this higher if it was shorter as the acting was very good. .

The Hijacking of Flight 601 offers a gripping setup with its high-stakes premise of political tension and a life-threatening hostage situation. However, despite its initial promise, this Colombian mini-series fails to fully capitalize on the suspense and emotional weight of its story, delivering a serviceable but uneven viewing experience.

Monica Lopera delivers a strong performance, grounding the series with her portrayal of a character caught in the turmoil. Valentín Villafañe and Alián Devetac provide solid support, but the limited depth of their characters hinders their ability to leave a lasting impact. The antagonists, while menacing, lack the nuance needed to elevate them beyond generic villain archetypes.

Creators Pablo Gonzalez and C. S. Prince craft an intense atmosphere, particularly in the claustrophobic confines of the hijacked plane. The pacing of the series is inconsistent, with moments of genuine tension often interrupted by slower, less engaging subplots. While the narrative attempts to delve into themes of political unrest and human resilience, it doesn't always manage to weave these elements seamlessly into the story.

The cinematography effectively captures the tension of the setting, with tight shots emphasizing the stakes within the plane's cramped quarters. However, the screenplay occasionally succumbs to melodrama, and the dialogue lacks the sharpness required to sustain the tension throughout the episodes.

The Hijacking of Flight 601 is a watchable thriller that flirts with greatness but ultimately feels grounded by its uneven execution. While it provides moments of intrigue and a glimpse into Colombia's sociopolitical struggles, it misses the mark in delivering a consistently engaging narrative.

Rating: 6/10 - A promising thriller that struggles to maintain its momentum and emotional depth.