Jana - Märkta för livet

Jana Markta för livet is basically about facing the ghosts of the past. It is based on the first book of Emeli Schepp's Jana Berzelius novels. Jana Berzelius is the leading character portrayed by Swedish actress Madeleine Martin. I liked the way how Madeleine Martin is acting and she does not make you irritated. Norrköping is beautiful and it is fascinating to watch the dark atmosphere. August Wittgenstein is great as usual. His performance was great at the Das Boot series. Although there are some plot holes, the series is worth watching. I assume that there may be a second season. I will certainly watch it. Finally, I do not think that Madeline Martin needs too much makeup. They should reserve her natural beauty.

I watched it all and more fool me.

Just the premisses we are expected to swallow are unbelievable. Chief prosecutors break the law, eminent psychiatrists prescribe illegal medicines, trainee prosecutors break into private and commercial properties. All this is against a backdrop of a Svengali figure training and controlling an army of Bene Gesserit-like fighting children.

One might say these kids were hidden in plain sight but their base is just about the most ridiculous one imaginable. Where would their food have come from in this industrial wasteland?

Contrived climaxes and discoveries abound. There's no actual detective work at all. Lucky coincidences lead to the next episode of ridiculousness. Horrifyingly, there's a semi cliffhanger at the end. We might be subjected to more of this nonsense.

This was a good thriller for the first five episodes but I am afraid it degenerated into complete nonsense in the sixth and final episode. Very disappointing. The plot reveal was nonsense.

The actual film for the most part was far too dark. It was extremely difficult to see what was happening. I even had to try and adjust the brightness on the TV.

A lot of holes in the plot regarding the actions of the eponymous Jana and the police.

Familiar faces - Johan Ulvesen (Bonus Family and The Truth Will Out), Fredrik Hallgren (Bonus Family), Suzanne Reuter (The Restaurant).

Madeleine Martin was good in the title role.

Okay, this series has some major flaws. First, the way her adopted parents treat her traumatic childhood - I mean the level of ignorance displayed is a little hard to believe for highly educated, affluent people. Very surprising, given her adopted father's profession. I mean, no real effort given to find out why she was traumatized. I mean, come on..... Second, the treatment she received for her trauma. Why so secretive?

And, finally the biggest problem with the series and why I believe it lead to the many negative reviews. The series is just to short for the storyline being covered. I believe several of the mental leaps that you have to make and lack of fleshing out of the main character are due to it only being six episodes. Both a complex main character and storyline needed that.

So be prepared. If you can ready yourself for these, then you'll have a very enjoyable experience.

Nonsensical plot, second rate production....what was with all the water at every scene change? Amateurish. Lost count of the holes in the story, more frequent and bigger than our local potholes.

Acting was often clunky and unnatural. My credulity was strained too many times;Jana should have been removed from any investigation early on as she was clearly a disturbed and damaged character. I blame myself for wasting so many hours hoping that it might get better.!

Not deserving of the category scandinoir; please, do not consider making series 2 or more!

There is only so much drivel a person can absorb in one lifetime!