The Spectacular (2022)
Show title: The Spectacular
IMDb score:
7,4 (767)
Episodes: 4
Playing time: 3 hour and 33 minutes
Developed by: Eefje Smulders, Alexander Blaauw, Pieter Kuijpers and Sander van Meurs
Stars: Hadewych Minis, Michel Sluysmans and Jacob Derwig
Origin:
Netherlands
Releasedate: Sunday 2 January 2022
First aired on: NPO 3 (Nederland)
This season is not available on US streaming services.
Actors and Actresses
Jeanine Maes
Fiona Hughes
Frank Maes
Martin de Waard
Patrick Lynch
Sjuul Livestro
Declan Moore
Advocaat Daniël de Lange
Corey O'Keeffe
Joris
Paul O'Keeffe
Reviews & comments
Suitehome
-
- 923 messages
- 653 votes
Great four-part drama series about the hunt by the Limburg police in the late eighties, on an IRA cell in the Netherlands. Conceived and directed by Willem Bosch (Bellicher, Penoza, Swanenburg) and co-written with Pieter Kuijpers (Van God Los, Riphagen). Set in five countries with numerous Irish and English actors, this international production is a magnum opus that deserves a wide audience. International allure with Dutch recognisability.
The atmosphere, setting, details, yes even the clumsiness of the eighties can be seen in a nice way. This truth-based conspiracy thriller may not be known or stuck with everyone. While in Germany (and with us) in the 1970s everyone was captivated by the Red Army Faction and in the Netherlands the Moluccan actions were still remembered, the IRA action in Roermond remained relatively unknown. That will change, and how. With praise for the VPRO.
The Spectacular is exciting, intelligent and has great acting. The role of the female protagonist Jeanine Maes is based on that of Cees Verhaeren, then chief of the Limburg intelligence service. Maes, played by Hadewych Minis, leads the Limburg police team as a terror expert. Minis constantly alternates her acting between hypothermic, obsessive, charming, introverted and insecure. Excellent support from Michel Sluysmans and the witty joke here and there woven into the scenario. Is there nothing to complain about? Not so much. If you don't know the history, maybe a little too much of the plot is revealed. Will Maes himself survive this terror, for example? The last episode is a bit disappointing. It's a minor point. For those who are still going to see the series: I realize that if the expectations are high, it can really only be disappointing. But go ahead: The Spectacular is a must see and one of the best Dutch series ever.
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