The Thaw

The story is concise and goes straight to the point. Which is both good and bad, good because it doesn't feel stretched and you don't get to be bored, bad I will cover below.

The shots are nice, most of the time you can feel immersed thanks to the camera work, it doesn't feel static.

The setting is good, it creates a gritty mood and that works great with the story that's being told.

My main problems with this show are:

The ending, which I don't think was thoroughly explained, even though I had watched this show in two sittings, so I don't feel like I forgot or missed much.

There were no fillers and sometimes it felt a bit rushed. We didn't get to know anyone on a personal level, apart from a few flashbacks for the main character.

And while we're at it - the all-knowing main character. It felt like every call she made, even by coincidence, was correct and pushed the story forward. There was not a lot of mystery solving, it felt like she was supposed to find clues and answers and she did that easily, without much thought.

Overall I believe it's worth giving it a shot. Are there any better, short shows? Sure, but I don't think you will have a bad time with the Thaw.

I second my fellow commentor, smashcut' s review to the t as it voices common frustration of majority of us Euro-noir bingers. Creators need to decide whether the series will be a gripping, compelling thriller/police procedural or a cocktail of mainstream drama with thrilling crime infusions. And why resort to that kind of desperation when you have a such a compelling thriller with high potential at hand?

This is a much sophisticated screenplay to be wasted on cheap stereotypical soap drama. Please leave that to daytime...of course unless you wish to be in the same vagon with all mainstream H. Coben adaptations..if so we bid you Farewell.

This HBO production is the first Polish, and for me the first Polish crime series I have ever seen. From what I saw, there must be more to come. The series is very good. The environment and characters may be reminiscent of similar Scandinavian series, but still have a different expression, which makes it stand out. The action unfolds in a Polish city, with a female protagonist (investigator) struggling with her own troubles and problems. Her fierce struggle to find the truth rubs off on us who watch, and I think that every single one of the 6 episodes was both engaging and not least very exciting. The script is good, the plot seems involving and everyone involved is believable. Will there be a new series? Hope so.

The cinematography was great, the pace was fine, although yes it is slow, I just don't mind that in this instance. The problem with this series is a police detective who does not notice that she is being followed day after day by the same car? That it is her young daughter that notices? And maybe it is just the polish culture but the detectives behavior toward each other and their suspects was inexplicable to me. Overall, it could have been great but the behavior of too many of the main characters was just, well, lame. Hence only 5 stars and that is mainly for the cinematography. I fast forwarded the last three episodes just to see what happened. Not a good indication.

A promising beginning, interesting story, nice cinematography. Unfortunately it devolves into silly, overwrought melodrama. The final three episodes made me feel like I was watching a telenovela- it was that bad.

I really object when an otherwise decent police procedural stoops to stereotyping a female lead as an irrational, impulsive liability, rather than just allowing her to be a good detective who gets the job done. And then to have to watch her fall into bed with a hated moronic colleague in a moment of weakness - shame on you filmmakers for giving in to this kind of crap.

I'd add that I'd choose subtitles any day over the truly awful dubbing HBO Max jammed down my throat.