Crooks

Lets get this out of the way. This is a entertaining series. If you come into this expecting a lightweight by the numbers affair full of the usual cliches, you can't be blamed. It starts with the simple title of the series "Crooks". How can that be really entertaining? It surprises you with the fact that it is entertaining.

Its still a pretty much by the numbers affair but its done very well. I'm not dissappointed in the worn out cliches that are on display. The directors and producers actually took the usual cliches and made it entertaining and suspenseful. I'm disappointed because the series is held back by some very implausible plot decisions. It could have been better. That problem aside, the on location filming and musical scoring kept things moving along very well. The series is worth watching.

There is no way, German series at least on Netflix tends to be stupid. This series begins well, then it lapses into idiocy in order to follow the usual plot. Two people get an object many criminals want surviving to many perils in several trivial ways. In the most unlikely ways, other 2 people try to escape other criminals which want their vengeance. Just to understand: imagine a city where hundreds of villains search for 2 people and just the two leaders meet them casually for unreliable reasons annoyed because of unsatisfying results in the search. Unbelievable. One of the protagonist always understand the real intentions of his opponents... What absurdity.

Crooks is a complicated though we'll scripted action packed thriller series, as long as one overlooks the many small unrealistic plot events. (It's easy to look beyond them as the suspense captures the viewer!)

The eight episode season (one) - not sure if there will be additional seasons - also utilizes the different settings of Vienna, Berlin and Marseille well. The change in scenery and cuts to alternate locations adds to the show.

The characters are well crafted - even adding some near comic relief with the Algerian gang chief in Marseille. Joseph, the lovable teddy bear, is endearing.

Charly, the main man, is kind of a renaissance man among gangsters. He can fight, pick locks, use a gun and pretty much do anything else required to keep him and his family alive!

Crooks is a good crime, action show which lulls you into binge watching all eight episodes without much thought. Thoroughly enjoyable!

One advice, keep away from it, at all costs. AT ALL COSTS. This is a pure cheesy, lousy, clumsy, garbage junk destined to homewives.... I expêcted a violent, rough, gritty, poignant series, but I must admit that after seeing GOMORRA, I was really handicaped, because NO SERIES, can give you the same terrific feelings as this Italian masterpiece, and certainly not this piece of sh.... Unbearable characters, - especially this man that should be under diet instead of acting - lousy acting, and those unnbearable romance lines, ROMANCE !!!! In such a story which the ONLY good point is that it is not boring. Yes, not boring, that's the only reason why I could make it till the end. But...Oh my God!!! CROOKS, yes, all the makers of this crap are definitely CROOKS.

The question is can a story about a gold coin be that interesting to hold the viewer in rapt attention all throughout the series? Yes. This is one instance where the viewer gets into a roller-coaster ride from Berlin to Vienna to Marseilles. The ride has enough traction that the viewer is willing to invest his time as the main protagonists go from one mishap to another.

The actors are competent in performing their roles credibly and naturally without hysteria. One can ask another pertinent question: can the relationship of Charly (Frederick Lau) and Joseph (Christoph Krutzler) happen in real life? I guess so if we consider their respective personalities.

The length of the episodes are just right, which means the pacing is ok. And the actors, coming as they do from different ethnic backgrounds, are able to pull off the scenes.

The last episode suggests another season is possible.

This series deserves your time and attention.