Insomnia

A majority of the cast did a fantastic job (I won't name names, but some performances were laughable). It's basically "The Hunger Games", but with a TV-MA rating, but I appreciate. I came to the show for Dylan Everett, just to see him swear-I mean, REALLY swear-stayed for the intriguing plot.

If you read the one liner plot about this show it doesn't do this justice, as its hard to say what to expect without giving it away. It is a clever take on a dangerous reality show 'style' game but thats not completely the best way to describe it. If I did I would give too much away. It reminded me a bit of 'The Game' with Michael Douglas in a way.

It's an illegal game, a costly entertainment, that is held once a year in an exclusive casino where only rich and powerful play.

I was hesitant to watch and didn't know what to expect but glad I did as it exceeded my expectations. First episode seemed cheesy, and it is, and there is an over the top storyline, but its got something that kept me watching and then I was caught and reeled in to watch the whole season in one go.

Definitely worth a watch and I would be interested to see how a follow up season would go as I thought the end would be obvious but the screenwriters didn't take the easy way out which I liked. Recommended

This series will have you hooked after you watch the first 2 episodes that follow people put into a game of life and death with rich people betting on who will win. The story takes you all over the streets of Moscow and slowly provides you with the story behind all of the contestants, some of whom are connected for various reasons. It will have you on the edge of your seat right up until the ending.

If you are looking for final closure in the ending you may be disappointed as i was. I am guessing they are setting things up for a sequel series.

Other than that it is an intriguing story with very believable acting for the most part.

There should be a cane to use and flog Bad movie makers.

If you find the concept of watching people bet on life and death is entirely too perverse for you, pass ! A woman who just lost her husband in suspicious circumstances goes where he was supposed to go and discovers HE bet on a girl in an insane game for rich people. Players, pawns, really, have all received an injection which will kill them if they fall asleep, a watching device placed in their eye and another that locates them near their ear to be listened to and to communicate with others. They're condemned to kill the others until one remains to get the andidote.

The first episode explains the game and puts the wife as an unwilling participant and witness, we understand that some pawns are hardened criminals (and know why they're here) while others are not. But it doesn't really hook you up. if you binge-watch, it's okay.

It is not 13 Tzameti extended, who could watch that for several episodes (13 Tzameti : it's a young guy who unwittingly gets into a game of Russian roulette), but the same ambiance permeates the series at times. It is rapidly compelling because each episode gives you a backstory. The widow tries to understand what her husband has done but is barely allowed to get out of the screen -room to work with her husband's mistress, of all people, who tells her husband was on the verge of losing everything (also indicted and all). So it falls to you the viewer to try and understand what the hell is going on.

If you Sherlock Homes your way around it, Marina (the widow) or a player might, and they might stop the game. Meanwhile each player has to kill the others. That's what's so compelling. Could YOU stop the game ?It's like Cluedo...