Ferry: La serie

I am glad the Flemish producers of the hit-show Undercover decided to deepen the most interesting storyline, that of drug kingpin Ferry. The first season of Undercover was the best, although the later seasons are pretty good too. You can't help but see the reminiscence to Breaking Bad though (Ferry is Walter, Daniëlle is Skyler, Lars is Jesse and John is Mike). Even the goonie friends of Dutch-Jesse are present. But as a Dutch saying goes, better stolen properly than made-up poorly :) In that sense it does a great job. The portrayal of the underground synthetic drug scene is a major problem down in the south here, and the acting is spot on. The character Ferry feels more fleshed out the longer Frank Lammers plays it, which can be weird since this show is set before the first season of Undercover. I just love Elise Schaap, in this part but she seems to be a really nice person too.

Casting for Lars is perfect too, before this I only knew Yannick van de Velde from the SUPER funny Rundfunk show and movie Jachterwachter.

The production seems on par with American standards, which should make this show more appealing abroad.

If you liked Breaking Bad, Top Boy or other drug related crime dramas, and you feel like having a look into the Dutch underworld, this is definitely for you.

Watch the movie Ferry first though, for background purposes. And watch it in Dutch with subtitles. Otherwise the sublteties will be lost in translation.

In my humble opinion, 'Ferry the Series' has left me somewhat underwhelmed, and I occasionally find myself feeling bored while watching it. The quality of acting is certainly commendable, but the overall execution falls short of my expectations.

One of my primary reservations about the series is the lack of depth in exploring Ferry's backstory. I had hoped for a more profound dive into his life, particularly his early experiences and the events that shaped his character. Instead, the storyline felt all too familiar, resembling that of the original 'Undercover' series. This lack of innovation and differentiation from the parent series left me somewhat disheartened.

The storytelling, in my opinion, lacks the compelling elements that draw viewers in and keep them engaged. It's as if the plot follows a formulaic pattern, making it predictable and less exciting. The absence of unexpected twists and turns further contributes to the feeling of disappointment. I had anticipated a more intricate narrative that would not only shed light on Ferry's character but also present a unique and captivating plot line.

As I continue to watch the series, I find moments of boredom creeping in. This is not to say that there aren't moments of intensity and drama, but the overall pacing and execution sometimes fail to maintain my interest. It's as if the series has fallen into a pattern of predictability, and this repetition can be a drawback for viewers seeking fresh and engaging content.

Moreover, I can't help but feel that 'Ferry the Series' may have exhausted the potential of its storyline. It seems like the creators might have stretched the narrative to its limits, and I'm left wondering if there's much more to explore in this world. It's essential for a series to evolve and introduce new elements to keep its audience engaged, and 'Ferry' might have reached a point where it's challenging to introduce such novelty.

In summary, 'Ferry the Series' appears to have garnered mixed reviews, and I find myself among those who were left wanting more. The series boasts commendable acting and occasional moments of intensity, but it falls short in terms of innovation and a compelling narrative. I had hoped for a deeper exploration of Ferry's character and a more distinct storyline. As it stands, the series feels somewhat derivative of the original 'Undercover' and could benefit from injecting new life into the narrative to keep viewers excited. It remains to be seen whether the creators will take a more ambitious approach in future seasons, but for now, I'm cautiously optimistic about the direction of the series.

As Episode 1 pf "Ferry: The Series" (2023 co-production from Belgium and the Netherlands; 8 episodes ranging from 36 to 51 minutes) opens, Ferry is down on his luck trying to sell XTC pills, getting nowhere. On the other hand, things between Ferry and his girlfriend Daan are great, and at a part Ferry proposes to her... At this point we are 10 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: the Ferry character was developed in the ultra-successful TV series "Underground", which ran for 3 seasons. Ferry was clearly THE breakout character, and a spin-off (and prequel) movie called "Ferry" was released in 2021. Now 2 years later we pick up where that prequel left off. The themes remain the same, with Ferry battling hard to become a player in the XTC pills manufacturing and distribution industry in the Belgian-Holland borderline region. None of what plays out in this series comes as a surprise. It's just that Frank Lammers (as Ferry) is again at the top of his game, I mean it feels like he has prepared his entire career to play this role. Even though I originally hail from Antwerp and speak/understand Dutch fluently, I nevertheless follow most of the band-and-forth conversation with the subtitles, as the Dutch and Flemish accents are heavy duty.

"Ferry: The Series" recently premiered on Netflix, and I watch the 8 episodes over a couple of evenings. If all goes to plan, I'm sure we'll be getting "Ferry: The Series 2" in a couple of years, and I'm already looking forward to it. If you likes "Underground" or "Ferry", or simply are in the mood for a top notch foreign drug crime drama, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

They have made it very entertaining again. If you liked undercover and Ferry the movie, you will enjoy this as well! Great acting, great characters and it all gives you some context on how it all went down before undercover.

The build up is good, the ending is good and you can see the character development being done nicely and easily. I really hope season 2 is planned for next year. We watched all 8 episodes in 2 evenings and now, we have to wait!

I must say, they have dramatised a lot, but I think thats actually part of the theme of this series. I think its fair to say that it gets boring if all series have the same theme, same thing going on all the time.

Very exciting show! It's well written and realistic. Ferry is a very authentic character who certainly has his flaws, and he's just fun to watch. The show centers around the drug trade in extasy, and the manufacture of these drugs in the south of the Netherlands. The province is somewhat infamous for that nowadays, which makes it more relatable. During this prequel of "Undercover" you definitely get a good sense of how Ferry's character and his business developed.

John might be an underappreciated character, not only in this series, but also "Undercover" which comes after this. Very strong character and good acting. Ferry and John complement each other very well.

The show gives a very realistic view of life in the north of Belgium and the south of Brabant. It's original: good to see something different than Rotterdam and Amsterdam, or Antwerp. I can definitely recommend it for whoever would like to know the country better, by watching an bold and authentic thriller series.

I gave this the maximum score, as this series just has everything that I could ask: good story line, action, humor, excitement, realism.

Constantly couldn't wait to see the next episode.