Salamander

[Dave2002]

Despite what the Independent guys thought, I thought this new BBC Four series got off to a good start - http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-en...r-9118011.html

The Telegraph is more encouraging - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/t...ur-review.html

I look forward to the next episodes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01pnpvp/Salamander_Episode_1/

[Flosshilde]

I'm not sure which is the biggest insult - "Gerardi looked like a show poodle gone to seed, a cross between Richard Branson and Ernest Hemingway." (Telegraph) or "Gerardi ... looked like the love-child of Jeremy Clarkson and Father Christmas." (Independent)

[Stunsworth]

I enjoyed it. A lot more conventional than The Bridge - a lone cop against the world - but I'll be sticking with it.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I enjoyed it. A lot more conventional than The Bridge - a lone cop against the world - but I'll be sticking with it.

So did (& will) I. A very agreeable change from scantily-clad young women trying to escape through a forest at night/child murder/scenes of torture which have become the "convention" for so many "gritty" crime thrillers: no murder mystery at all - instead the puzzle is about what has been stolen & why, and how the powers-that-be try to cover it up.

Yes; the maverick cop, going against the grain, the lone figure of decency in a corrupt world - the fugitive chase. But a very gripping drama and a well-drawn character.

And good to have my acquaintance with fictional Belgian detectives doubled!

[Nick Armstrong]

Moi aussi *




*Ik ook

[Anna]

*Ik ook

Het spijt me, ik spreek geen Vlaams!
I think I'll stick with it although I suspect the underlying plot about the 66 will turn out to be rather too far fetched.

[Dave2002]

Het spijt me, ik spreek geen Vlaams!
I think I'll stick with it although I suspect the underlying plot about the 66 will turn out to be rather too far fetched.

Maar je iets dergelijks te schrijven, dat wel.

[Nick Armstrong]

More cunning linguists than you can shake a stick at..!!

[Dave2002]

More cunning linguists than you can shake a stick at..!!

Reminds me of an episode of Chambers - with a building case - and indeed some dodgy goings on in court a year or two back which actually took place amongst members of the legal profession.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

not the only Bank Job on telly this weekend! this was on C4 [and good too]

Salamander looked interesting but not sure it has the hook of Spiral or the Killing [nothing comes close to The Bridge]

[Globaltruth]

not the only Bank Job on telly this weekend! this was on C4 [and good too]

Salamander looked interesting but not sure it has the hook of Spiral or the Killing [nothing comes close to The Bridge]

I agree CDJ - also, speaking as a mere male, I found the stereotypical treatment of women a bit of a shock after the role reversal 'tecs of The Bridge/Killing.

Maybe it's a clever twist and put-upon Mrs Gerrardi ("I'll cook you something nice, dear") or subservient Sylvia ("make that coffee extra strong Sylvia") will turn out to be the masterminds behind the whole thing....

[Stunsworth]

I'm still watching it, but it's not in the same league as The Killing/Bridge/Spiral etc. IMHO of course.

[DracoM]

The acting is poor - particularly the women and the central detective - it is very old-fashioned and stereotyped, and the plot descending into ever more frantic attempts to hold attention. Pace is slow. I'm going to keep watching, but it's becoming a bit of a trial. As said, not in the same galaxy as Bridge / Killing / Borgen / Spiral. IMHO of course.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

er the phrase bloody awful springs to my lips [actually a much ruder phrase]

it is clumsy, poorly acted and written and truly awful in its hash up of sin ...it is flaccid

[Nick Armstrong]

The acting is poor - particularly the women and the central detective - it is very old-fashioned and stereotyped, and the plot descending into ever more frantic attempts to hold attention. Pace is slow. I'm going to keep watching, but it's becoming a bit of a trial. As said, not in the same galaxy as Bridge / Killing / Borgen / Spiral. IMHO of course.

I share your and Steve's HO... watchable enough but it feels like a Tintin adventure, 'The Salamander Affair', with many of the characters rather comic-book looking - the bald bespectacled head of Salamander, the flirtatious senator's wife who flings herself at Gerrardi, the bungling bald secret service guy with the English name (looks like Patrick Stewart's younger brother) who's constantly phoning his boss to announce that he's failed in whatever he was trying to do. Gerrardi and his daughter are good characters, and the storyline's enough to keep one plugging away to the end - but it's a sign of something that one doesn't regret each episode ending after only 45 minutes a pop (whereas with The Bridge I wanted each hour to carry on...)