Antidisturbios

As Spaniard I can't be more proud about a mini series as I am with this one. First, acting is fantastic, raw and credible from all the cast. Only a few renowned actors on the cast but enough to make this one great. Second, the story is intense and interesting. This one is not your Hollywood standard script. It's twisted and interesting, from beginning to the end. On the other hand, I think it could have been great adding a second season, but it is what it is. So, overall close to a masterpiece.

Don't get me wrong, I quite like Spanish police series, on the whole. It's something that Spanish TV can do in a manner that passes for entertainment. Some of them are even pretty damn reasonable. However, they always have something that messes the whole thing up. At the moment I am two episodes in with this, so perhaps I am jumping the gun here. And, yes! A couple of things I could see coming from miles away. But, and it's a very important "but," this little series could wipe the floor with most Yank cop shows and even a couple of British ones. It seems slighlty reminiscent of Line of Duty but, so far, not as so completely unbelievable. I mean, given Spanish TV's record for gritty realism, this is quite an achievment. For exmaple, La Casa de Papel, as entertaining as it is, is complete and utter toss! Line of duty is pretty daft but it doesn't go in for the comedic antics of that show that wear thin after the first few episodes. I am really surprised that companies like Netflix, the BBC, HBO or even Amazon are not all over this. Truly brilliant! Hats off to everybody involved in this. To the makers of this show, by the way, do yoursleves a favour, sell this thing to some big expensive TV network. This should be much bigger than La Casa de Papel.

There has been so much good stuff from Spain recently. This is one of the better cop series and one of the best I have seen in any language.

I'd imagined that the story would focus on the everyday tasks of the riot squad and their interactions both amongst themselves and with the public. Indeed, the first episode, masterfully shot almost in documentary style, plunged us immediately into their work, this time to evict a family from a decaying building. As the storyline states, things go wrong and a man dies.

From here on in, Internal Affairs has a large part to play in the story and the narrative mainly switches from the squad's job as a reserve against disorder to how the investigation affects the members and their solidarity.

Despite their being plot twists, they are not easy to predict, although I got who was one of the secret baddies at the end of episode four (we know who most of the others are).

I liked the opening scene of the first episode which established Laia as a person who would take no nonsense and would insist on the truth whatever the cost. That's in a family situation and she is no less direct at work. However, she is not immune to making a deal with the devil to get her case solved.

I guess there will be a second season and I shall, on the strength of this, be watching it.

This TV show is brilliant and is raw. Realistic and very very intense! One of the best shows of the year so far.

I was 25 years as a " riot cop " and this TV series does a great job of showing how it is. Life on the van , the chaos of a violent hostile crowd, the confusion and questionable ethics involved in evictions , the stress of being under investigation, the impact on your home life, the comradeship and how it can all turn sour under pressure. Clearly the makers had input from serving or retired Police. Sure some things are exaggerated for dramatic effect but by and large this is nailed on. Great acting and also a fantastic soundtrack. I would highly recommend this TV series.