Have never written a review before but this show deserves to be watched! It's a slow burner yes, but what a pay off in the end. Worth the viewing time. If you have watched a lot of horror/thriller/mystery you will appreciate it. The pyro guy is fun to watch along with the other 'nuts' of the asylum ward. Everyone plays their part well.
130 Reviews
Good suspense and very good acting
b-bonte8 April 2018
Got all the right ingrediënts for a good thriller/suspense series. The acting is very good, indeed top-notch. The story had its flaws but come on, have you watched Strangers Things really closely? Main atraction in this Belgian series is the mood.. very creepy and .. unsettling. Try and give it 3 episodes: you're hooked.
Great, BAR THE ...
elnoviodelamuerte13 February 2019
Warning: Spoilers
... FINAL EPISODE!
The pace & plot of the final episode were breathtaking alright. It was only after watching it, the apparent sloppy inconsistencies came creeping up on me:
1a) ONE in particular: How can a man weakened by the self-amputation of a hand, the loss of blood, manage to push up a trapdoor with a heavy sofa perched on it?
1b) Having accomplished this superhuman effort, would anyone bother to arrange everything as it was before the violent break-out, especially when there was no apparent motive for doing so?
This was a let-down on behalf of the screenwriters!
Mike the Fritz
P.S. My first review
Mike the Fritz
P.S. My first review
Excellent, Binge-Worthy Thriller
samishoward17 March 2018
Tabula Rasa is an excellent psychological thriller. The acting is top-knotch, particularly from the three lead actors: Veerle Baetens, Stijn Van Opstal, and Jeroen Perceval.
This is a show that will keep you guessing, with so many twists, layers, and hidden connections. There's a fantastic air of creepiness and menace. The imagery is stunning and the cinematography is great. My jaw dropped in shock more than once.
Aside from the intricate and compelling central mystery, the relationship drama is also great. There's nuance in the performances and the show really displays the complexity of family life. As an American, I found it fascinating to see what life in Flanders is like.
There are just so many fantastic elements to this show. It's the perfect show to bingewatch. Tabula Rasa, along with Dark, prove that some of Netflix's best content is the foreign language shows. I can't recommend Tabula Rasa enough. It's such a smart show.
This is a show that will keep you guessing, with so many twists, layers, and hidden connections. There's a fantastic air of creepiness and menace. The imagery is stunning and the cinematography is great. My jaw dropped in shock more than once.
Aside from the intricate and compelling central mystery, the relationship drama is also great. There's nuance in the performances and the show really displays the complexity of family life. As an American, I found it fascinating to see what life in Flanders is like.
There are just so many fantastic elements to this show. It's the perfect show to bingewatch. Tabula Rasa, along with Dark, prove that some of Netflix's best content is the foreign language shows. I can't recommend Tabula Rasa enough. It's such a smart show.
Oh, this is a keeper
reginamcbride18 March 2018
I loved it, I have gone almost exclusively to the international movies and series on Netflix, they are such a breath of fresh air after the trash of Hollywood. There are several moments in Tabula Rasa where you will stop breathing, it's that good. If you find it "slow" or "boring" as somebody is saying, you might have that "instant gratification" problem, too much American film long on non-stop action and short on meaning. (I am American but no lover of the film industry - either glorifying sex and violence or both together or preaching politics, I am done with them.) These foreign projects have opened new horizons for me, too - how many more times do I need to see NYC and LA, anyway. Keep it coming, I'm hooked.
Slow but good
jaketest22 March 2018
Several episodes seem to lack luster at the beginning. I began with an expectation of supernatural involvement, and was constantly irritated at the slow development.
But, the relationships between husband and wife, the mysteries, and the emotional turmoil kept me in it. I am not easily surprised, yet this did exactly that. The end is well worth the wait. You can argue that it's unbelievable, but I don't think that comes into it. It's explanatory and dramatic. You will be hard-paced to find any single season drama that resolves so well.
The key to any resolution is that it meets some criteria: 1) It is not fantastical. It could happen without violating physical laws. 2) It has a certain bitter-sweetness. Not a requirement, but definitely helps. 3) It resolves the crisis of the main character. 4) It lets us love the character, after having had her character impuned upon throughout. It redeems her believably.
Give it a try. Relax.
But, the relationships between husband and wife, the mysteries, and the emotional turmoil kept me in it. I am not easily surprised, yet this did exactly that. The end is well worth the wait. You can argue that it's unbelievable, but I don't think that comes into it. It's explanatory and dramatic. You will be hard-paced to find any single season drama that resolves so well.
The key to any resolution is that it meets some criteria: 1) It is not fantastical. It could happen without violating physical laws. 2) It has a certain bitter-sweetness. Not a requirement, but definitely helps. 3) It resolves the crisis of the main character. 4) It lets us love the character, after having had her character impuned upon throughout. It redeems her believably.
Give it a try. Relax.
First show I've loved in a long time!
Icestarfish-16 April 2018
I had to put aside all electronics to pay attention to this to read the subtitles and I'm 100% happy that I did. This show kept changing genres while keeping my attention. The acting was incredible and the sets were great. I totally recommend it for everyone it's not too scary to watch by yourself and the subtitles don't go by too quickly to be distracting. Great show!
Rare find
kikkula11 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
It's first tv show that feels like horror for grown ups. If most of the horror movies are ment for teen audience or at least ride on the heavy wave of fantastic world then this one feels completely different. It was really enjoyable till the last episode. Although there were some weak points in the main storyline and some of the key elements were obvious couple of episodes prior to the reveale, the whole of the show was geniously put together and rare find in the tv world if only there wasn' t for that dissapointing ending. It would have been 9 points out of 10 if there wasn't that last episode. Last episode felt like it was written by someone who earns their living writting comicbook movies. It felt so out of place and comicly over the top that I was grinching watching through most of the last episode. It simply didn't fit to the shows overall finesse. Felt like switching from Gone Girl to Banshee.
Slow-brooding supernatural mystery. Stick around, your patience will be rewarded!
Coventry9 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This is the second - after "Hotel Beau Séjour" - supernaturally themed TV-series that we are served here in Flanders (Belgium) in less than a year time! Series or films like these were practically never realized in this country before, but a new and inspired young generation of writers and directors stood up and clearly studied a lot of internationally acclaimed series for inspiration. With success, moreover, as both "Tabula Rasa" and "Beau Séjour" have been picked up by Netflix in the meantime. "Tabula Rasa" is perhaps not the greatest mystery/thriller series ever written, but it has a solid script with plenty of suspense and plot twists, as well as a versatile cast of intriguing characters. This is also the first, or at least to my knowledge, Belgian series that makes plenty use of great digital effects and make-up art, notably during dream sequences and hallucinations where people's faces vaporize into dust and a handful of violent death sequences in the final episodes. I was rather skeptical when I first heard the synopsis because it featured so many clichés and taboo subjects: a woman with amnesia, a mental institution, ghostly apparitions, a creepy old family mansion and a mysterious disappearance that links all these elements together. Admittedly some patience and tolerance is required at first, because the first three episodes are slow and uneventful. Around episode 4 and 5, just when you're beginning to fear that the screenplay leads to nowhere and the boring moments are becoming too numerous, the pacing shifts into a much higher gear and no less than three shocking and nearly unpredictable plot-twists occur. I read in other reviews and on forums that many viewers stopped watching halfway through the series and spread around bad publicity about "Tabula Rasa", but I would really encourage everyone to persist watching because especially the final three episodes are tense, adrenalin-rushing and astonishing. The very last denouement, which immediately also clarifies the until then vague title of the series, is certainly far-fetched, but also shocking and vile, and being a horror fan at heart, I really dug it! Veerle Baetens, the leading lady who also co-wrote the series, has never been my favorite Belgian actress, but she gives away a fantastic performance. Her character doesn't really evolve a lot, but she's simultaneously strong and vulnerable from begin to end. She's surrounded by a more than adequate supportive cast, including famous - in Belgium, at least - names like Peter van den Begin, Natali Broods, Gene Bervoets, Lynn Van Royen and François Beukelaers. Jonas Govaerts, another one of the writers and co-director, previously made the reputedly first Flemish backwoods horror entitled "Welp" (translated as "Cub") and that is also most definitely a film worth checking out.
Amazing thriller that will keep you hooked
eric-og5 April 2018
This Netflix show is worth watching all the episodes from start to finish. The acting is superb from this wonderful ensemble of foreign actors. Don't let the subtitles dissuade you from this gem, the captivating story line makes you forget that you are reading subtitles? Shows that make you want to binge are few and far between, so do yourself a favor and watch Tabula Rasa! It's that good!
From the slow cooker to the microwave
lmolly-8301530 March 2020
The premise of the show is quite interesting and similar to shows/ movies i liked e.g the sinner, memento so I decided to give it a watch.
As my title suggests the show starts of to an extreme slow start. The case is not the subject moreso the lead her life and struggle with her condition is. The cinematography is beautiful and done with an great eye for details. The story encapsulates you and the way its presented with the intertwining of dreams, memories and imaginations brings the struggle of her condition to life. But as my sympathy for several characters begins to grow my patience does the opposite.
Too many details and revelations were stuffed in the last couple minutes of the last episode, it doesn't fit with the very detailed and slow paced show that it was just a couple of minutes before.
Watching a well written, well shot psychological drama is not an punishment in any way. Yet i felt cheated when i came to the realization that they just thrown the meal i was diligently waiting for in the bin and served me a last minute pizza from around the corner instead.
As my title suggests the show starts of to an extreme slow start. The case is not the subject moreso the lead her life and struggle with her condition is. The cinematography is beautiful and done with an great eye for details. The story encapsulates you and the way its presented with the intertwining of dreams, memories and imaginations brings the struggle of her condition to life. But as my sympathy for several characters begins to grow my patience does the opposite.
Too many details and revelations were stuffed in the last couple minutes of the last episode, it doesn't fit with the very detailed and slow paced show that it was just a couple of minutes before.
Watching a well written, well shot psychological drama is not an punishment in any way. Yet i felt cheated when i came to the realization that they just thrown the meal i was diligently waiting for in the bin and served me a last minute pizza from around the corner instead.
One of the best I have seen
mohinderchugh3 July 2018
I can easily say this series is one of the best I have seen. Initially you may find it little slow moving but last two or three episodes will shockingly surprise you. Have little bit patience and continue watching this. The series will end much better than your expectations.
Episode 9 Though!
gosophat4 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Episode 9 undoes everything Tabula Rasa got right in the previous 8 episodes. How disappointing. I mean, really? Garbage ending. Not satisfying whatsoever.
Benoit: I know my affair with Veronique inadvertently caused the death of our daughter but look Mie I'm crying now. I finally managed to shed a single tear.
Mie: Yes, Benoit. We should place flowers on our Romy's grave and forget about how you lied and cheated on me resulting in the death of Romy.
Benoit: I know my affair with Veronique inadvertently caused the death of our daughter but look Mie I'm crying now. I finally managed to shed a single tear.
Mie: Yes, Benoit. We should place flowers on our Romy's grave and forget about how you lied and cheated on me resulting in the death of Romy.
A gripping Belgian drama
Tweekums21 December 2018
This nine part Belgian drama is centred on Annemie D'Haeze, a woman who is being held at a secure medical facility. The police believe that she holds the answers to what happened to Thomas De Geest, a man who has disappeared. Unfortunately she has no memory of him... in fact she has been unable to form new long term memories since she was involved in a car crash months earlier.
The story progresses in two time frames. In the present we see her interviewed by a policeman with a special interest in the case, talk to her psychiatrist and befriend a fellow inmate. In the months after her accident where we see her life with husband Benoit and young daughter Romy; how she comes to know the missing man and how she tries to cope with her memory loss. As the story progresses it becomes clear that many things she believed weren't true and many people are keeping secrets from her; for motives which may or may not be in her best interests.
I really enjoyed this series; the story was told in a way that drip fed us key facts before twisting many certainties... early on I wasn't even certain of its genre as well as a conventional central mystery there were even hints of supernatural elements. What happened to Thomas De Geest, suitably renamed 'Thomas Spectre' in the subtitles, was not obvious by any means and if something bad had happened to him there were plenty of suspects; these included Annemie, Benoit and a mysterious man lurking near their home amongst others. The final resolution was perhaps a little melodramatic but it was enjoyable. The cast did an impressive job; Veerle Baetens was great as Annemie; young Cécile Enthoven really impressed as Romy, especially during her character's more disturbing moments and Gene Bervoets was solid as Inspector Jacques Wolkers... to be honest I don't think there were any weak performances just some characters that stood out more than others. The way the story is told amplifies Annemie's self-doubt in a way that creates an oppressive atmosphere. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to anybody wanting a mystery that keeps one guessing right to the end.
These comments are based on watching the series in Dutch with English subtitles.
The story progresses in two time frames. In the present we see her interviewed by a policeman with a special interest in the case, talk to her psychiatrist and befriend a fellow inmate. In the months after her accident where we see her life with husband Benoit and young daughter Romy; how she comes to know the missing man and how she tries to cope with her memory loss. As the story progresses it becomes clear that many things she believed weren't true and many people are keeping secrets from her; for motives which may or may not be in her best interests.
I really enjoyed this series; the story was told in a way that drip fed us key facts before twisting many certainties... early on I wasn't even certain of its genre as well as a conventional central mystery there were even hints of supernatural elements. What happened to Thomas De Geest, suitably renamed 'Thomas Spectre' in the subtitles, was not obvious by any means and if something bad had happened to him there were plenty of suspects; these included Annemie, Benoit and a mysterious man lurking near their home amongst others. The final resolution was perhaps a little melodramatic but it was enjoyable. The cast did an impressive job; Veerle Baetens was great as Annemie; young Cécile Enthoven really impressed as Romy, especially during her character's more disturbing moments and Gene Bervoets was solid as Inspector Jacques Wolkers... to be honest I don't think there were any weak performances just some characters that stood out more than others. The way the story is told amplifies Annemie's self-doubt in a way that creates an oppressive atmosphere. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to anybody wanting a mystery that keeps one guessing right to the end.
These comments are based on watching the series in Dutch with English subtitles.
Outstanding
SurreyReviewsUK6 July 2018
Again another fantastic foreign language drama that delivers a strong plot with expert execution but an outstanding cast. The main female lead is on a tortuous journey and you are taken along for the ride, trying to second guess every twist and turn. Binge watch the whole box set.
Minor Structural Flaws Don't Lessen The Experience
redrobin62-321-2073117 August 2021
To be fair, movies which incorporate (seemingly endless) time jumps could sometimes not only be hard to follow but structurally deficient as well. Thankfully, "Tabula Rasa" ("Blind Slate") had all their ducks in a row. Obviously, a ton of plotting went into making this mystery series, As Nordic Noir goes (if it truly fits into that category), "Tabula Rasa" sits head and shoulders above similar titles, fitting right up there with other excellent series like"Bordertown," "Depart Q", etc. Cinematography was to die for as was the general acting. Some reviewers complained about pacing issues. I didn't mind the long drags, though. That seems to be part and parcel of Nordic Noir anyway, you know, allowing the viewer enough time to absorb the lush scenery, as it were.
Twists on its Twists!
krice239 April 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I really enjoyed this series; screenplay, plot, dialogue, characters, casting, performances, location, et al!
SPOILER ALERT!
I am, however, a bit of a stickler for continuity and just have to beg the question: Why was it preferable for Tom to cut off his hand at the wrist rather than cut through the 2" piece of piping he was changed to? Or, for that matter, the chain's lock, even?
I've gone back over the episode (27:11 episode #9) and reviewed it to see if there was anything preventing this, and I can't see it. You may recall Tom himself was bound with rope but his right hand was wrapped in chain and padlocked to one of two horizontal lengths of 2" piping. After the escape a hacksaw was shown on the floor nearby.
I'd be open to any thoughts...?
Very good, but could've been great
joshlogiudice29 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This show is most certainly not for everyone. It is a very slow burn which will test your patience at times, but you are always interested in what happens next. There are plenty of positives in this series and few negatives, but those negatives are pretty large.
I'll start off with the positives:
1.The acting is very top notch, it's refreshing to see unfamiliar faces that can go through various emotions successfully. Although there were a few characters I didn't care for much (Mie's mother) most of the cast had solid chemistry
2. This is a unique story in the way it all plays out. I was going into this series expecting a heavy supernatural backstory with drama thrown in here and there. In reality this turns out to be the exact opposite, which also leads to one of the negatives that i'll Get to later.
3. There are many subtle Easter eggs referring to classic films/television that many will appreciate. For example, the wallpaper in the home that Mie moves in with her family is extremely similar to the carpet pattern in the classic movie "The Shinning". Also there are heavy references to twin peaks throughout the series with the ominous force in Mie's dream "Bob" and the surrealistic nature of the forest and everything that occurs in there
Now on to some of the negatives:
My main problem with this series is the ending. This is where the main spoilers begin. As I said earlier, I was expecting a more supernatural aspect to the show. We got hints of spirits and possessions with Romy seeming to be possessed and Mei asking the medium for help. This all really just turns out to not really matter at all because Romy has been dead the whole time but everyone pretends she is still alive for Mei, which when you find this out make some of the scenes with Romy in it seem a little off from that perspective. For example, when Mei was following Benoit to see if he was cheating, she called her mom to come pick up Romy from the parking garage, and so she shows up completely normal and takes Romy from her and leaves. I understand they wanted to make it seem like Romy was still alive, but how can she just pretend to be taking her dead granddaughter so naturally? Finding out what really happened in the accident and what really happened to Thomas is also a little underwhelming. I personally believe they should have ended it after Mei realizes that she locked Thomas in the cellar after figuring out he was the "drunk who killed her daughter" but instead they had to bring about a sense of retribution and forgiveness with having Mei's psychologist be Benoit's ex lover all along. This seemed to be a little cheap to me and a bit of a scapegoat. There certainly had to be a more efficient way for Benoit's ex to try to get him back than attempt to murder his wife and frame an innocent man. The ending to me just seemed a little soap opera like and didn't fill the void that some of the previous episodes created.
All in all this is an interesting show, it's solidly produced with a mixture of flashbacks and current times that loses itself a bit towards the end but I would recommend this to those out there that are looking for something to get involved with that will keep you entertained for a bit.
An excellent TV Thriller....
siobhanmccormack29 August 2019
Started out 'okay', but by episode 4 had some awesome twists and turns that made the show better than expected. Excellent characters... Loved Vronsky. Had me hooked, the sort of show that by the second to last episode you start to panic about what to watch next.
Only problem?..the high speed finishing off in episode nine...real shame.
A thriller with the sort of plot twist that means its not the sort of show you could watch through twice , still..one of the more worthy offerings on Netflix.
Only problem?..the high speed finishing off in episode nine...real shame.
A thriller with the sort of plot twist that means its not the sort of show you could watch through twice , still..one of the more worthy offerings on Netflix.
7.5 Great Episodes
willsontyrmm10 June 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This was SOOO close to being a thoroughly great and recommendable miniseries, but unfortunately I suffered a fatal suspension of disbelief error midway through the final episode that was just out of character with the rest of the show 's really interesting takes on memory, mental illness, parental and relationship issues, etc.
I don't have any problem with the resolution of the whodunit in principle, but I agree with Good-Will that the execution of of the climax as shown in the film is highly unlikely and totally out of keeping with the careful passing and "this will all make sense in the end" tightness of the rest of the story telling. I can't say much more without spoilers but there were definitely missed opportunities to foreshadow the end result which would have explained why the killer want recognized or why the police didn't notice forensic evidence at the original crime scene (as noted in Good -Will 'a review). But for me the biggest problem is the idea that a person as badly injured as that would be able to calmly go about researching his tormentors while staying completely hidden for nearly 2 weeks. He knows nothing about this person before the injury.. And after his research he knows he has no thing at all to feel guilty about. So yes, I get the final murder, but why is he still suicidal at the end?
Makes no sense.
I don't have any problem with the resolution of the whodunit in principle, but I agree with Good-Will that the execution of of the climax as shown in the film is highly unlikely and totally out of keeping with the careful passing and "this will all make sense in the end" tightness of the rest of the story telling. I can't say much more without spoilers but there were definitely missed opportunities to foreshadow the end result which would have explained why the killer want recognized or why the police didn't notice forensic evidence at the original crime scene (as noted in Good -Will 'a review). But for me the biggest problem is the idea that a person as badly injured as that would be able to calmly go about researching his tormentors while staying completely hidden for nearly 2 weeks. He knows nothing about this person before the injury.. And after his research he knows he has no thing at all to feel guilty about. So yes, I get the final murder, but why is he still suicidal at the end?
Makes no sense.
Really enjoyed until the end
callalily-617744 December 2018
Could have been good
ferdelaboca3 April 2018
Superb!
katiamanias-799-96224323 March 2018
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