tabestorm

I binged it in two days. Even beforehand, I already had the feeling this might be right up my alley. And indeed, a murder investigation, interesting characters, a stunning setting, and some action here and there... this is exactly the kind of show I enjoy. I thought the first four episodes were fantastic. I didn't know exactly where it was headed, and there was plenty of mystery. But in the final two episodes, it became a bit too far-fetched and imaginative. That didn't ruin the overall experience for me, though. The side storylines were fun to follow, like with Vasquez, her ex, and her little son, the chemistry between the characters was great and the setting was breathtaking. If there's a follow-up in another national park, I'll definitely watch it!

Because I heard many people speak positively about this series, I wanted to see it for myself. After the opening scene, it takes a while before anything really happens. In general, everything moves rather slowly. In the first half hour, you mainly get to know the characters. I have to say, though, that when Kieran and Mia reunite with their old friends, you suddenly get a lot of information thrown at you. Who is who exactly? And who is in a relationship with whom? I had to rewind a few times. After about thirty minutes, something happens that gives the series a bit more momentum. In the end, it became mysterious enough for me to watch episode two.

I've rarely seen a film this bad.

The first half hour introduces the main character, which is of course a good thing - you see what she's struggling with. But it's portrayed in such an over-the-top way that it quickly becomes irritating.

From there, she only encounters cliché characters: an employer who is a one-dimensional figure with no trace of humanity, a white police officer who is - predictably - the bad guy, while the female officer shows compassion. The same pattern repeats later with the detectives.

Another striking flaw is that none of the characters seem to think critically. They're portrayed as simple-minded people who are either constantly angry or overly sympathetic and understanding - nothing in between.

I've seen many reviews praising the film because it reflects how some people really live. And I don't doubt that for a second - of course there are many people in the U. S. who are just barely scraping by. But that alone doesn't make this a good film.

The acting was also so poor that I simply couldn't keep watching.