LauraAnnG

Let me preface: I have spent a lot of time in EDs and in the hospital (in the US) for critical and severe medical issues. When you are laying in a bed in either, you don't know what is happening on the other side of the curtain. Often you feel like no one is paying attention to you. You feel alone beyond anything imaginable. You feel abandoned.

I suspect that's wrong.

And this series helps one to realize exactly what is going on (you're not alone) and, incredibly, how the doctors feel about their patients.

From out of nowhere a stranger comes into your life and saves it. That's what it comes down to. In fact, many strangers walk into your life. They are pivotal to your existence for a time. And if you survive, eventually you move on and so do they. This is the way.

So this series shows this and so much more. I found the interviews with the surgeons and other medical professionals (such as the EMTs) riveting. My experience is the more highly trained they are, the spookier they get. Surgeons just amaze me. They hold our hearts, our brains, our whatever (and often our lives) in their hands. They are brave beyond belief.

So this series lets them talk. It lets the patients' families talk, and to some extent lets the patients themselves talk (when they can).

As already mentioned in other reviews this is an incredibly visceral series with scenes not for the squeamish. Even I (not squeamish at all) realized that I should not watch it while eating dinner.

MOST IMPORTANTLY. In this country as we are banishing people from other countries and making it impossible for them to come here to go to school, this series should make us feel ashamed. Pay attention to the medical professionals presented to us in this series. In the U. S. we are moving toward becoming a 3rd world country in many aspects, but particularly in our medical establishment.

Finally I can't address the NHS. This series certainly makes every single medical professional we meet a hero and the NHS simply incredible. Is this true? I don't know.

Full recommendation here. Ten stars.

It took me a little time to warm up to Beyond the Bar, but after 11 of the 12 episodes I now know that I am watching something extraordinary.

(See update at end)

I watch this in the original Korean with English subtitles. I do not know Korean. One of the things I appreciate is the music is not distracting. I don't have any problems following the subtitles. The Korean language is beautiful to hear.

The actors are wonderful - especially the two leads but honestly every actor in this is fantastic. We have stories swirling around all the major characters and the storytelling is fully engaging. The minor characters who come and go are exceptional as well.

The storytelling takes its time and that really matters. There's a lot of dialog and the words are important. You really can't let your attention stray. There is brilliant writing here, especially pertaining to justice.

This is a legal drama and the cases presented are fascinating. This is not your normal vapid U. S. courtroom drama. The cases are intellectually stimulating.... Often they are ambiguous.

The production itself is gorgeous. It's crisp and clear. The sets, the costumes, everything is immaculate and goes with the impeccable acting.

I can't help but be reminded of "Extraordinary Attorney Woo", which I also loved. I can with confidence say if you liked that series you will like this one.

I have one episode of the series remaining and will be sad to finish it.

Update: I did watch the final ep. It was okay. All but one loose end tied up maybe too quickly. And the one remaining loose end that was left pending is the one between the two main characters. So.. not very satisfying and especially because of the rush but also this last issue I demoted this to a 9 instead of a 10.

Still.... Very enjoyable and I loved the crew photos at the end of the credits.

First, this is based on watching the entire series (just so you know).

I am a huge fan of Scandi Noir. There's no doubt in my mind the best crime/detective series have come from Scandinavia. Admittedly the Brits produce good series as well.

So it is probably unfair to compare this with Scandi Noir, but, honestly, the people who made it invite such comparison.

And it holds up okay. It takes its time to develop the characters and the plot, but to its credit you don't have to wait very long for things to start happening.

The issue is that while it is slow, unlike the best Scandi Noir (or even the Brit counterparts), it becomes boring. I felt it drag and wanted to fast forward, especially in the latter episodes.

Granted, I watched it all in a single day and maybe if I'd broken it up over several days I would not have been so anxious to finish it.

At any rate, I'd watch anything with Sam Neill. I adore him, and he does not disappoint in this series. He's really a wonderful, physical actor.

And no one can side-eye like Sam Neill.

Eric Bana is good. He is in a preponderance of the scenes so you need to not dislike him to enjoy this series.

The other actors are reasonably good. I thought Santiago's character was interesting and she did a fine job with it.

It is beautiful to watch. I love wildlands and they do a good job with the scenery.

Finally, there's a twist at the end and I admit, while I probably should have seen it coming, I didn't. I like it when that happens. And it is why I am giving it an 8 instead of a 7. It was an okay way to spend a day.