The Thaw (2022– ) User Reviews

Promising if a bit tentative opening episodes of Polish crime drama but things improve!

[paul-allaer · 7/10 · 5 April 2022]

As Episode 1 of "The Thaw (2022 release from Poland; 6 episodes of about 45-50 min each) opens, we are introduced to Detective Zawieja. Much to her dismay, she is just informed that the recent death of her husband, a police officer, is ruled an apparent suicide. In a parallel story, a woman is found dead in a river. Turns out to be the woman is the daughter of the District Prosecutor. And she was 9 months pregnant. Detective Zawieja takes the lead in the investigation... At this point we are 10 min into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: this is a crime mini-series out of Poland, and other than recognizing Polish actress Kataryna Wajda in the lead role of Detective Zawieja, I can't say that I am familiar with anyone else on the production team or the cast. Based on the opening 2 episodes that I've seen to date, this is OK although still a bit tentative so far. Of course also plot-heavy so I'm not going to say anything about that. The production is sleek but I found the acting of some of the cast (not Ms. Wajda) slightly stilted at times. But here is the bottom line: we are in search of a killer and this whodunit has caught enough of my attention that I will check out the remaining episodes when they become available.

The initial 2 episodes of "The Thaw" were released this past weekend on HBO Max, where they are now available on demand. New episodes will be released on Fridays. If you are interested in a crime series that is definitely not your regular Hollywood fare, I'd readily suggest you check this out.

UPDATE 4/22/22 I've now seen all episodes. I've upgraded my rating to 7 stars. Things really get more interesting as the episodes roll along. All is revealed in the final episode. Check it out.

Decent show

[przemekaleksanders · 6/10 · 17 April 2022]

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.

... matches up with the best of all-any other countries in Europe

[bjarias · 8/10 · 18 April 2022]

... good Polish crime drama... entire cast is very solid and production values equal any top notch shows being made anywhere today... yet this series works as well as it does because of Katarzyna Wajda... she is outstanding through each and every episode... guarantee you'll be searching for some-any of her other screen work... ending was slightly muddled and predictable, but overall it's a series well worth searching-out-watching.

Euro-Noirs Need to Ditch the Kid

[smashcut · 24 March 2023]

The Thaw is well-written and acted, esp. Kataryna Wajda as Det. Zawieja. The cinematography featuring a dreary Polish port city is suitably creepy. My main criticism is the "bad mother" motif. The single mom detective who can't look after her child is the most tired trope in Euro-Noir. It slows everything down and adds nothing except canned bathos. There's always a dead husband who the woman is grieving and the kid is a mess because of it. Then there's the mother or grandpa guilt-tripping the bad mom. Really annoying and unnecessary. Grieving and torment are fine for noir leads but the whiney kid has to go.

Promising start. Silly end.

[cjgerard · 6/10 · 18 February 2023]

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.

I'm here for some answers *Spoiler Alert*

[texasprixie · 7/10 · 5 February 2024]

Ok so for those who watched it: Anka got to her friend, took the just delivered baby and left (abandoned)her friend for a murderer to find her and kill her? If she got after the murderer, why didn't he take the baby? So trying to wrap my head about the ending, somebody please upload the explanation, thanks!

I liked the series but also found inconsistencies as the previous mentioned, not sure if I got lost in translation or what being the subtitles where not quite accurate. For example when she talks to her husband's dad she says "Dad" in some scene, according to subtitles so..what?! Were they brothers? I guess it was just poor translation...Anyway, someone please upload some explanations, thanks.

more drama than a crime

[andrewstahan000721 · 8/10 · 18 April 2022]

Found it more like a drama series about a widow dealing with her loss rather than a proper crime series. Anyway it's really good. The main protagonist is intriguing.

Not good but not awful

[mentiramivida6 · 7/10 · 20 October 2023]

People anything dubbed is going to be trash, do yourself a favor and learn to read. With that said the subtitles are trash. I like to watch media not in my 1st language in their original language first then when I feel I'm missing something because the acting is not adding up with what's being "said" (written). I'll go back hear it dubbed, with the subtitles, and see what's what. 98% of the time the subtitles are I'll translated. Which is unfortunate because one would think if the voiceover actors have the script in English then surely all they have to do is write that script as the subtitles. Not hire another company to misinterpret the original script.

Anyhow the show itself has its moments. In my opinion it's good because it kept me wanting to know. But what gets a bit distracting is how they wrote the main character. At work she appears to be the only competent detective (everyone comes off a jaded incompetent lazy pigs) yet in her "personal life" she makes a lot of rookie mistakes. *spoiler* she turns her back on her active kid a lot leaving her vulnerable to her work life. She's reckless and hot headed where it really isn't called for. *spoiler over*

Overall from all the polish movies and shows I've seen this one definitely has potential to be great. Maybe if they do a second part they can get different writers for her role. And make the other detectives less incompetent and lazy to work.

seeking for evidence of life in Noir genre

[ThomasC1979C · 9/10 · 18 April 2022]

Deep characters, wonderful scenery and very engaging plot. The case of the missing child and a female detective who is looking for any piece of life in her job - This series will surely stay with me for a long time.

good but . . .

[stephen-16185 · 5/10 · 11 May 2022]

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.

much better than I expected

[Kagebacsi · 10/10 · 27 April 2022]

I didn't really know what to expect when I started this series.

Actually this was my first polish TV series ever.

I really liked the movie. Photography is amazing, music is also a great choice. The whole film has a depressing vibe that accompanies you from start to finish. I really liked it and although my tips were constant, I didn't guess until the end who could be the killer and where the baby might be.

Overall, I really liked it, it was tied up and it was a nice surprise, so I give it 10 points.

Nevertheless, I send my greetings to our Polish brothers from Hungary.

Average but confusing

[qui_j · 5/10 · 15 May 2022]

This series follows the recipe used in so many Polish mysteries. Make it as confusing as possible, throw in a couple of scenes randomly that have little or no connection with the current thread, ensure that the editing offers no chance of viewer continuity, and have a fair amount of moralizing about religion. The story is poorly told with huge plot holes, and leaves one wondering about the efficiency of the Polish Police Force. Best to watch the version in Polish and subtitles as the dubbing is hopeless. It will help pass the time when there is nothing much in your streaming queue!

Great Polish crime

[dakjets · 9/10 · 2 October 2022]

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.

Best ever

[bazcaz · 10/10 · 21 April 2022]

Must watch,fantastic 6 part crime series,I was totally absorbed from start to finish,mind you had to download each episode,and then SRT subtitles (English)and then embed into each episode and was totally worth it...don't miss this,rating 10!

So boring

[majaguara · 4/10 · 1 May 2022]

Not sure what is this actually about.

Is it possible that it's another story of a murder, in which for 6 episodes we are wandering through mudd buildings and sad buildings with a policeman leader? Who has a number of sepf problems?

The main character is very good, not irritating. Good camera shots. Besides, there is nothing. There is no apparent bond between mother and daughter. A child - as in every Polish film - wooden.

Waste of time.

take the time to watch

[backworld · 8/10 · 21 August 2023]

I am at episode 3 now and am still interested in the plot of this series.

My biggest compliment is that this has been dubbed into English so I do not have to read it. It seems like Poland and Norway do not have any problem dubbing their series or films.

I like the series and films coming out of Europe a lot, but I do not like to read the dialogue while I am trying to watch the action on the screen.

There should be a way for viewers can opt to have all films and movies dubbed just by clicking in icon. I am sure the technology exists somewhere.

Anyway, I do like this series and the mystery within the story line. I do also agree that it was not necessary to add a daughter to the main character.

But just hang in there and keep watching even if it gets a bit slow sometimes.

The acting is tragic.

[grzesiekb-23258 · 3/10 · 24 May 2022]

The acting is tragic. The characters are total wood. The plot is written on the knee, the atmosphere is supposed to be built only by a chosen palette of colors. The only character that stands out is Lubos, who is only present for a few moments.

Compelling Series

[Brew_Goat · 9/10 · 7 February 2023]

Well done show that starts off slow but gradually picks up as more and more of the plot is revealed. Katarzyna Wajda plays a grieving wife and a mother torn between her daughter and job. Wajda delivers an excellent performance that draws you in.

The plot is complex enough to keep the story interesting but keeps the twists from becoming a distraction from the characters personal storyline.

It might just be that I am American and Polish men behave differently but almost all of the male characters are uncaring jerks. I'm hoping the writers did this to make her situation seem more dire and not a reality.

Main character is a bit of a "Mary Sue"

[johnh22 · 3/10 · 7 April 2022]

The Thaw is a crime drama/ mystery set in Europe.

The series has a dark/ gritty feel, which is good. The story centers on a female detective investigating a woman's murder

The story is nothing special and the characters are pretty cliche. Although the main character is not a total 'Mary Sue,' the character does have several "Mary Sue" character tropes: Only she has the powers to solve this crime, everyone else is obtuse, arrogant, or just background noise. In addition, many of the characters surrounding the main character are one-dimensional, male chauvinist types whose sole purpose appears to be to impede her plainly superior investigative skills that allows her to see things better than everyone else.

THAW left me feeling ICE COLD!

[gunn-wrights · 3/10 · 10 October 2023]

This was a series of 6 episodes (although, it doesn't say there won't be more - I just won't be watching them). I'm not sure what they'd do in additional episodes, it seems the case was summed up - I suppose they could do an anthology style show?

The acting and voiceover (in English) was excellent, it was the STORYLINE - 3 thumbs down! It's just a hot mess of characters who are drunks, then not drunks... suspicious, then trustworthy... and EVERYBODY has lost somebody in their family rather recently, with 1 man having lost both a wife and daughter. But of course, we're trying to find a way to connect ALL of this??

When you are introducing NEW CHARACTERS in the 5th and 6th episode, something has really gone WRONG!!! I couldn't believe how much time they spent dragging you along this sssllllooowwww tale, only to shove everything in the last 2 episodes. I was bored out of my mind!!! Even the ending wasn't some big payoff, making it worth my time to watch episodes 1-4. I just felt cheated out of my time.

SUGGESTION: Skip it!! Unless you like watching paint dry (and the paint is 15 different colors, swirled into nothing recognizable). Then, after it dries, they rush back and throw another 10 colors on top of that. It's just stupid! Save your time!!!

Mile Wide Plot Holes!!!

[chunter76422 · 1/10 · 17 April 2022]

Okay so 6 hours to find out the big crime was that a weirdo-criminal-religious-freak's fingerprints were not on a murder weapon! REALLY! So because the murder weapon was wiped down a murderer can go free? That was the prosecutor's BIG crime? Such a weak climax to this show.

Oh and why was the lady-detective spooning with her dead husband's old partner? This was awkward forced drama!

Totally Confused

[Daphne635 · 5/10 · 6 February 2023]

This started out really good, but all of a sudden in episode 2 I'm totally confused. Who are her (the victim's) parents? I thought it was the Prosector, but now the cop at a different house where someone has cancer (the husbands mother maybe??), she (the investigator) then goes to another house where she finds the victim's roommate and they talk about how everyone lived in the basement of someone's house (no idea who's house because it's not the same house as the woman with cancer and the prosecutor lives w/ a woman in another (3rd) house who may or may not be the victim's mother) and only the girl (victim) was allowed upstairs?? Whose house? And how old were they when all lived in the basement? She was already married when they all (the couple and 2 other people) lived in the basement? Then the officer asks why the victim moved in w/ the other girl who lived in the basement?? Wait a minute, why would she move in w/ someone who lived in her basement?? What a disaster!!! I'll hang in there a little longer, but it's pretty messed up so far.

Very poor attempt to create a police mystery TV show

[Zegar88 · 3/10 · 22 April 2022]

Although technical side of things seems to adhere to very high quality standards the plot and particular scenes are far reaching and totally unrealistic which make it very hard not to laugh instead of wait in tension for the conclusions.

Watching this series we witness works of a female Detective Zawieja who is determined to solve a case of abducted child of brutally murdered mother. Even if this particular cliché is not enough to deter us from this production the developing plotline helps a lot.

If you need to watch a police series where a highly dangerous psychopathic prisoner can be brought at the crime scene by a whole contingent of the police only to later leave everybody at the bay and proceed into dark bunkers where his psycho friend is to be waiting only with one prosecutor and one policeman because "only 3 ppl can fit into this boat" this is a show for you.

If you need to see a police show where dangerous prisoners with no handcuffs leads one policeman and one prosecutor to the place where something is hidden this is a show for you.

If you finally need to see a police show where those prosecutor and policeman are rescued later by their friends detectives from the same police unit while this whole police division waits at the bay this is a show for you.

I love fantasy and sci fi, but even there decorum principle is treated more seriously than in this down to earth realistic "police mystery drama".

Again

[Headturner1 · 2/10 · 11 April 2022]

Giving something such a poor rating a few days in a row! To be fair I watched it dubbed but in no way does it change the fact this is awful! I watched I think The Informer (sp) dubbed after big difference! I watch mostly UK detective/crime shows so I was sure how good a Polish made one would be and now I know. I thought police procedure was shown poorly in US shows? Hahaha! Lets see.... One part Oh wait SPOILERS They find out the suspects best friend has tried to commit suicide( they believe) and the lady ( forget her name) says" we need to bring her in , she knows something", plus the blood in her flat". Haha Ok I kept yelling at the telly did you test the blood? Take DNA from all suspects? Pull CC TV? Nooo! They do mention way later when convenient the blood was still being tested? She takes the other detective in the woods to where she thinks suspect gave birth and may have ( she thinks) been killed. She's actually been to said area with her daughter and already contaminated any evidence ( if there was any) there. They never bag and test, call forensics( unless Poland doesn't have a separate unit) for it? These people have got to be the worst cops I've ever seen on telly. And that's not even the worst of it.. The acting awful! He has a brooding , i'm mad look on her face 24/7. The only redeeming quality it has is that it's filmed nicely. Looks like they tried to copy the look of popular UK crime based shows there. Oh and it's slow as molasses! I watched 3 and gave up and started watching A bes'ugo' . A Hungarian thriller. Much more entertaining.

soap opera you can't wash off

[glstrom-14260 · 2/10 · 3 April 2023]

It is difficult to know where to start on this nightmare of a police drama from Poland since there are so very many aspects that are embarrassing to describe. Written by a women in case you hadnt figured it out with the lead cop trying to bring up child, mourn lost husband (pointlessly drawn out suicide victim) with needs of her own but doggedly trying to find this lost baby no one has met (hard to care for characters you haven't) but can't even take care of her own kid. Awkward interrogation methods, the typical unsupportive police chief, always eating comic relief partner, ridiculous story with unreal motives, a serial killer who was supposedly framed hooks up with relifious fanatic on outside (brother?) with cell phone from prison, then takes drunken prosecutor in boat to "find" his grand child there has been zero proof of existing only to walk into a trap...imagine that. Then the fact that it is RAINING 24 7 365 in this gloomy little corner of the world save for final beach scene when all is resolved, mommy comes home with peanut loving partner and all is right with the world. Never knew the woman killed, they hand the kid off to abusive father who doesn't have a clue and no one explains bruises on prosecutors wife after the funeral (which inexplicably disappear in final reel) The real bad guy we never meet, never hear speak, just somehow shows up creeping out the kid (how does he know where they are??) and never know why he wanted to kill anyone to start with. Hello...did the writer ever wonder about the key element to crime stories.... MOTIVE! There was no motive here nor any character to care about, plus the fact the sub titles were complete sht further enhancing the viewing experience. Hope I choose better next time.