Detective Maniam isn't just inspired by Sin City (2005)-it's a full-on, unapologetic theft of its storyline, stripped of any originality or charm. This series lifts so much from the 2005 classic that it feels like a bootleg remake masquerading as something new. Spoiler alert: it's not.
The plot is a carbon copy: a hard-boiled detective prowls a seedy underworld, chasing vengeance and tangling with corrupt officials and sultry dames who double-cross him in BESANT CITY! Sound like Basin City? That's because it's the same skeleton of a story, just with cheaper bones. Every beat-the barroom brawls, the betrayed hero's monologue, the inevitable showdown-reeks of Sin City, but without the wit, grit, or heart that made the original a standout.
The writing is a disgrace. Where Sin City had razor-sharp dialogue and a pulpy edge, Detective Maniam churns out stale tropes and groan-worthy lines that sound like they were scraped from a rejected noir script. Just pale imitations sleepwalking through a plagiarized plot. Even the twists are shamelessly swiped, landing with all the impact of a wet napkin. SHAME ON YOU AZIZAN AND TEAM.