Rough Diamonds (2023– ) User Reviews

Not your average crime drama mini-series: well worth checking out!

[paul-allaer · 8/10 · 29 April 2023]

As Episode 1 of "Rough Diamonds" (2023 release from Belgium; 8 episodes ranging 47 to 55 min each) opens, an Orthodox-Jew in Antwerp, Belgium goes to his family's Diamant District office, and commits suicide. What drove him to this? In a parallel story, we are introduced to Noah, a brother of the deceased who left the family business and now comes back to Antwerp for his brother's funeral. As it turns out, the deceased brother was in deep trouble on several fronts... At this point we are 10 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: let me state upfront that I hail from Antwerp, Belgium myself (although now a longtime US resident), so curiosity got the better of me and I just had to check this out. I was surprised how solid this (Flemish) mini-series turned out to be. Episode 1 is a bit tentative as it lays the groundwork for many characters and correlating plot lines, but by Episode 2 it becomes clear what is going on. I'll just have to say it: this mini-series is reminiscent of "The Godfather", yes! The series brings us the ups and downs of an Orthodox Jewish family, as it fights for survival in the rough diamond cutting industry (Antwerp is the diamond capital of the world, with 80% of the world's rough diamond trading). Along the way we get a unique insider's perspective of the Hasidic Jewish community (more Orthodox Jews in Antwerp than anywhere else in West Europe), AND a great look at the city of Antwerp. I immediately recognized quite a few of the scenery (we lived not far from the Diamond District, and about half of our condo building's neighbors were Jewish (some of them Hasidic). If you are not familiar with Antwerp, I think you will be surprised to discover this world-class city. Please note that Netflix shows this as being in "Flemish (with subtitles)", but in fact there is a mix of Flemish, French, Yiddish and English being spoken throughout, reflecting the thoroughly international character of the city of Antwerp.

"Rough Diamonds" premiered on Netflix about a week ago, and I fell upon it as I was going through the "recently added" stuff. I watched the initial 4 episodes just last night, and I expect to see the remaining 4 episodes later this weekend. Being at the midway point of this mini-series, I am completely invested in the story line and I can't wait to see how it all plays out. If you are in the mood for a top-notch foreign crime drama set in the exotic world that is the diamond district in Antwerp, Belgium, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.

*UPDATE* I've now seen all 8 episodes, and this Flemish mini-series just got better and better as is went along, and I've upgraded my rating to 8 stars. There has been internet buzz about there being a second season, due to the general acclaim of this, but I'm not sure as this mini-series played out quite well and wrapped up the story lines. Of course that has never prevented other such similar stories to "creatively" find more life... We'll see.

Excellent Thriller

[MikeyB1793 · 8/10 · 14 May 2023]

This was so much fun to watch. It is filled with tension and many twists and turns. Everyone plays hard-ball at different times.

One is catapulted into this Jewish diamond world, and we get an inside view of the intricacies of this culture and its dealings with the society outside of them.

It is an intrigue that reminded me of other great crime thrillers. People are being played off against one another and do not know who to trust. Alliances are formed and then broken. The acting is very convincing and first-rate. We feel the dilemma of the different characters being pulled in different directions.

I am hoping for a second season.

Great show.

[eytanleibovitz-94083 · 8/10 · 22 April 2023]

The story and the acting are really good and convincing. I was especially moved by Marie Vinck, who plays Gila, and her chemistry with the equally talented Kevin Janssens.

Robby Cleiren (playing Eli Wolfson) and Ini Massez (playing Adina Glazer) were amazing. I really appreciated when Adina Glazer declared she is the first major female diamond trader in four generations in their community.

The series' atmosphere managed to describe dutifully the situation of the diamond industry in Antwerp as "not what it used to be", meaning that a large number of Jewish diamond manufacturers and traders have been replaced over the years by others.

My only criticism of Rough Diamonds is that Orthodox Jews in Antwerp usually do not speak with the local Antwerp accent.

Very Solid Crime And Family Drama

[annlevtex · 7/10 · 26 May 2023]

First things first. If you want to watch this show in English, don't even think about going for the dubbed version. I have watched three episodes with subtitles and one dubbed trailer. The dubbing just does not convey the characters, voices, subtext, or feelings well at all. That's not the fault of the voice-over actors, it's just the nature of dubbing. Unless you are visually impaired or have difficulty reading for other reasons, the subtitles are a better way to go by far.

So, this is a very solid, well acted family/crime drama with good production value. It captures the sub-culture of this extended family and their small Orthodox community quite well. I'm not Belgian or Orthodox myself but I am Jewish and it feels reasonably authentic to me. The primary actors are well cast, even the smaller roles like the patriarch and the local butcher. Shout-out to the young actor playing the main character's English son. He's quite good, very natural and likable.

So far the pacing is good and keeping me invested. The story of the "prodigal son" returned is always a good start. When you add the layer of the son having rejected the strict parameters of his family's religion and been cast out, having to make a new identity, it becomes more compelling. That part is actually very true to life and I find it fascinating.

Of course some of it is far-fetched, not so much the straits in which this old diamond-dealing family finds itself as the way the prodigal son (Noah) has transformed. I suppose it makes sense, since he would have been very young when he left (early 20s) and 15 years have passed. Still, sometimes the show relies on "tough guy" tropes from American and I assume British shows to inform his actions, words and demeanor, and it doesn't always work.

This is especially true when he uses English phrases and words out of the blue. They are only sprinkled in here and there but they always take me out of the moment. I'm American. I recognize and understand the words, I just don't know why this Belgian guy would be using them, particularly when he is speaking to Albanians? And the actress playing his son's grandmother, who is supposed to be English, uses a disjointed combination of Cockney and other accents that are clearly inauthentic.

But overall, I don't care much about accents. They are hard to get right and the actors are all doing a fine job with the stuff that really matters. It is at heart a family drama with some business and crime matters woven through it, and as that it works. Also, there is really nothing else on Cable right now like it. So, I recommend it.

Also, it makes me really think diamonds are just not all that and cost more in blood and treasure than they are really worth. But maybe that's just me.

Amazing show!!!

[broadway-28834 · 10/10 · 26 April 2023]

It is a rare thing to see hasidic community as shown in show. Culture, religion, traditions, family, business, all were depicted as close to real life as possible. The plot is great, the cast is amazing, the intense is all the way to the end. It is sad the way things kept happening to this family, but it is refreshing to see how intelligent the members of the family are, each trying to carry the burdens to protect the family. The love situation is another great story thoughtout the entire show. Great understand of the religious rituals and ceremonies. Highly recommended to watch and I wish another season is in the thoughts of producers.

So far very good

[silverton-37959 · 7/10 · 21 April 2023]

The production values are fine, the storyline is interesting, but as usual, Netflix is lax about uploading details of the cast and episodes. Netflix must improve in this area. It seems that they have no one working for them who has any knowledge of actors who are not primarily known for English language based films or TV.

The 8th episode is streaming now and still, the cast is mostly still listed without any photos or details in the episode guide. Several actors are obviously rather accomplished people in the field of European productions, to judge by their performances, but there is nothing about them in the cast listings. Viewers are left in the dark in regard to work histories and images. To say that Netflix is lax in this area is an understatement.

This is obviously not to mention that there are still no synopses for the episodes at all, 8 episodes in. Netflix is becoming well known for this laxness.

Nice jewish crime drama

[marcvand · 9/10 · 23 April 2023]

The series take place in the city of Antwerp and shows the ins and outs of an orthodoxs jewish family. There typical culture, the diamond business, drugscriminals and police. The show is a crime-drama. Well written en well played. Some storylines are too long and boring. But all the way it is one of the best Belgium series i have seen. In Antwerp, the diamond trade is still very lively and so is the Jewish community. The Belgian series Rough Diamonds shows how things are going in the Antwerp diamond district and the Jewish community. Combine these interesting subjects with an exciting crime story and you have a series with a lot of potential. Is it fully utilized? Given the quality of other recent Belgian series, the bar is in any case quite high.

Noah turned his back on his Jewish family and faith years ago and moved to London. When he returns for his younger brother's funeral, it turns out that his family is deeply in debt. Noah does everything he can to get his relatives out of trouble, but that might just drag them deeper into misery.

Rough Diamonds is both exciting and interesting. The Jewish community is rarely given such a major role in series. The makers seem to be making a statement with this, but they also know how to broach a subject that is both current and age-old. The fact that the family gets entangled in the underworld also creates the necessary tension.

Reasons enough to overrate

[JohnM63 · 6/10 · 5 May 2023]

This series provides a nice insight into jewish culture and into the diamond industry in Antwerp. The dense atmosphere that goes with a relatively closed culture that has it's own rules and values, is well portrayed.

But these are probably the most interesting aspects of this series. The story itself is all over the place with no clear plot in sight. There's a constant back and forth between plans, their failures, the repairs, threats that come and go. Continuous fuss on who's loving who and why or why not. It gets irritating at some point.

Acting is poor (especially the actors playing their roles in the district attorney ofices) to mediocre. Somehow you keep hanging in there waiting for a new unexpected twist in the storyline, but it never comes. There's quite a few unlikable characters her of which the female district attorney stands out. For some of the characters it's more or less clear why they have to be unlikable, for the district attorney this is unclear. Her unlikeability really has no function other than stirring up things at the office without this being needed or essential for the story.

There's the suggestions of development of the characters, but also this does not seem to go anywhere. This series has onsets to all kinds of developments in the storyline but is hardly ever able to deliver.

I liked the scenery, the insight given into a culture. Definitely not bad, but all in all just too little to justify a high rating.

Original, fascinating crime drama with insight into a little known world

[meghanethompson · 10/10 · 15 May 2023]

This was one of the best shows I've seen in a long time! I don't watch a lot of foreign television and once I turned the dubbing off so I could appreciate the incredible acting to its full extent, I hardly even noticed I was reading it. The characters have depth and are interesting, the story is compelling and the end leaves you wanting more - SEASON 2!!!

The insight the show provides into the Hasidic Jewish culture adds to the intrigue and engages an audience on a deeper level than many of today's shoot-em-up Bond meets John Wick shows... This has a sense of realism I've missed in a lot of contemporary TV that leaves me longing for more...

I was especially impressed by young Casper Knopf, whose emotional scenes in the latter episodes are heart-wrenching and powerful. He's a spectacular actor and I hope we'll see more of him in the next season!

Good European series

[dierregi · 7/10 · 2 May 2023]

The plot takes place mostly in the Antwerp diamond district, a city which I like and visited a few times. Main character Noah abandoned his orthodox Jewish family and his fiancée Gila15 years previously and events are set in motion by the suicide of Noah's younger brother, which drags him back from the UK to the uneasy relationship with his father and brother Eli. His sister Adina is the first female trader of the family and proudly so, but their business is going through a rough patch.

Noah has an unsavoury background, inclusive of a criminal mother in law named Kerra and soon everybody is thrown into shady business with drug dealers and dishonest bankers.

Throughout the story we get glimpses of the cutthroat diamond business and its diverse players, the life of women in the orthodox community and the hard life of the police that has to deal with money laundering and drug dealing. All this without any excessive violence or swearing, yet keeping a gritty edge.

So refreshing. There's something authentic about this European series that elevates it above all the US series I recently watched - and stopped watching after a few episodes. Must be because all the US series must follow a suffocating code of diversity, which often strangles the plot into a banal storylines of diverse-good/not-diverse-bad.

In this series they don't have to plant fake diverse characters, because the world shown is diverse enough to include people of different sex, ethnicity and religion.

Excellent Series - Finally!

[SMCC44 · 8/10 · 22 April 2023]

Rough Diamonds is an exception to many of the recent Netflix originals. It is an excellent series, it is authentic, it has no drugs or explicit sex, and no foul language. Queenmaker was another great series with a clean ending; you don't have to wait for season 2. House of Cards, Money Heist, Delhi Crime, Queen's Gambit, Night Agent, and Marcella are good examples of what Netflix should focus on. In the past Netflix licensed excellent TV series like Revenge so that we could watch them without commercials. That was the biggest value proposition for us. Many of the recent originals are pretty bad, full of explicit sex, drugs, foul language with f and mf words. Many have actors who do not belong in the script but are there to satisfy diversity. We love the Korean, Northern European, some other foreign shows.

So So - some parts well done, some parts weak

[twzbsrqf · 7/10 · 24 May 2023]

Have watched 6 episodes so far. Series has some good parts but many weak ones too. It's often unrealistic and far-fetched.

The actors who play Eli and Adina are quite good. The actor who plays Noah is not great, but he's really great at looking confused.

The series has several different stories taking place and some of them make no sense.

Overall, it's not easy to recommend this series as there are much better series available to watch. Hence, the series is disappointing, but could easily have been better with a better script.

One aspect of the series that is interesting is the glimpse into the workings of the world-famous diamond district in Antwerp.

Unlikable protagonist, illogical, caricature of hasidic jews

[vojtacermak · 3/10 · 22 April 2023]

This show has three main problems which make it really painful to watch after a few episodes.

1) Main character Noah is extremely unlikable. He seems to be portrayed as a voice of reason coming to an incapable scheming hasidic family. It is not like they hide his problematic past and even problematic "current employment" is shown. Still, he is presented as the more honest, ready to accept his mistakes, not hiding behind a religion etc. Within this hypocritical family.

Yet, when you really watch, while he always makes gestures of accepting his mistakes, always verbalizes great care for others, his actions speak the opposite. He gets his friends in trouble with no clear remorse. He constantly promises he'll protect someone with no ability to do so. He keeps pursuing his "long lost love", meanwhile starts sleeping with another woman. The whole time telling her how he will take care of her, that he'll take her out of the mess she is in - despite himself being in a much greater mess which could endanger her and her children, and knowing full well that if her family finds out what is going on it will destroy her life.

2) Illogical behavior and utter incapability all around. Characters go to a great length to get themselves out of problems, only to then suddenly care about some random people and dig themselves even deeper in. I guess the show must continue... Also while portrayed as tough guy who knows what he is doing, at many occasions Noah suddenly acts totally stupid.

3) The Hasidic Jews are portrayed as a total stickman for the liberal directors to use for target practice. They are all shown as very one dimensional, rotten, scheming, hypocritical people. I expected the show being situated in a hasidic environment would be a refreshing twist, this portrayal just makes you cringe.

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Overall - I am not sure if the show intended to make all the characters really unlikable, or if they intended for Noah to be likable and he just isn't. Either way, you don't root for anyone in the show, and kinda wish some of them got killed already.

Engaging show into the Hasidic Jews and the diamond trade

[keriso · 7/10 · 25 April 2023]

The show shines mostly on the details on the life of the Hasidic Jews and their cultures and the link to the diamond trade in Amsterdam. The people who wrote the story has managed to interweave all these well into the series and the production values and details are a delightful enjoyment to know more about these two.

On the story plot - this is not something new though within the context of their faith, culture and socio-environment of that group and the business there - this was good. The addition of Noah and his links to London was in my opinion a weak point. You can see the ending coming miles ahead.

Having said that, Robbie Cleiren as Eli is a delightful talented actor - the eyes , so much can be seen from the eyes as the pressure and his weakness causes issues for himself and his family -

Lovely series in the details - at times the story plot can be frustrating but in the end it come about -

Why are there TW0 (2) actors listed for one role

[somervillesuz · 8/10 · 24 April 2023]

I'm enjoying the show - the glimpse into the orthodox Jewish culture is engrossing as is the view of the diamond industry in Antwerp - ostensibly the diamond capital of the world.

The plot's a little formulaic and IMO tries a bit too hard to make a straight forward story mysterious.

That said - There IS a REAL Mystery - WHY are two actors listed for the same role - that of prodigal son Noah Wolfson? Both Kevin Jansenss and Seth Allyn Austin are listed as Noah Wolfson. As both actors are about the same age so it doesn't seem to be a "flashback" situation.

Other than this, the acting is solid and believable, especially that of the under used Casper Knopf as Noah young son Tommy.

Everyone lies, makes promises, and agrees to hare-brained schemes

[steiner-sam · 6/10 · 25 September 2023]

It's a crime drama set in modern times in Antwerp, Belgium. It follows a Haredi Jewish family engaged in the diamond trade in Antwerp who are going through tough times.

The Wolfson family operates a third-generation diamond trading company in Antwerp's diamond district. Ezra Wolfson (Dudu Fisher) is the patriarch, but three of his four children now run the business. They are Eli (Robbie Cleiren), Adina (Ini Massez), and Yanki (Vincent van Sande). However, Yanki commits suicide and has disgraced the family because of his addictions and criminal connections. This sad event brings home from London, England, the family's black sheep, Noah (Kevin Janssens). Noah left his Hasidic Jewish family 15 years earlier. His English wife has died, but he has a son, Tommy (Casper Knopf), and a strong-willed mother-in-law, Kerra (Tine Joustra).

Noah is a skilled talker but highly impulsive. He's in love with Yanki's widow, Gila (Marie Vinck). Eli nominally runs the family business but is doing a lousy job. "Rough Diamonds" follows Noah, Adina, and Eli as they try to thread a safe path through gangsters connected to Noah's mother-in-law and to find a means to salvage the family business's future. They weave through numerous legal perils while pursued by an aggressive prosecutor, Jo Smets (Els Dottermans). The Wolfson family stumbles to the end, but not without significant consequences.

"Rough Diamonds" is a fairly standard crime thriller. Everyone lies, makes promises, and agrees to hare-brained schemes without much rationality. The overall plot is interesting enough, but not novel, and caused my eyes to roll more than once. What fascinated me most was the frequent inclusion of Hasidic Jewish religious rituals as a backdrop to the action. Indeed, the series ending had faint similarities to "The Godfather."

The series is decent "entertainment" if you have six-plus hours to devote to it.

One of my Favorite Netflix Series

[eandmshafer · 10/10 · 26 April 2023]

I watch Netflix everyday for at least 5 hours and this is one of my fav flixs. I liked the lead, Noah and his sister, unlike some other viewers. They resonated with me.......different strokes and all. I had a problem following all of the threads of the bad acts and who was doing what to whom. I was surprised that Noah turned on his mother-in-law in the end. It did not make any sense that his brother's wife would not just stay in Antwerp with him. So Noah danced around a little. He is a man, is he not? Good looking, too! It was great and I highly recommend! I would like another season of it. Who was the guy who was gunned down in the end?

Wooden but ok

[gary-schz · 7/10 · 30 May 2023]

And the wooden acting award goes to the male lead. Really a somewhat irritating character who appeared to have a poor moral compass. His glimmers of affection with his son were unconvincing as were his attempts to express emotion. This soapie felt like it had potential and drew me along enough to finish.

A couple of the female leads were more expressive and convincing. The tension looked set to ratchet up on a few occasions but unsophisticated writing with blobs of implausibility held it back.

I have enjoyed a few shows featuring traditional Jewish communities. Shtisel in particular was brilliant and I've found it interesting peering into a different world.

Loved it!

[loveswillow · 10/10 · 17 June 2023]

Well acted family drama. Almost reminded me of the "Dallas" formula. Remember that old TV show? Rich family drama, one evil brother, one good broth, pretty granddaughter, daughter in this one and a strong matriarch. Oil or diamonds,,,pretty much the same; worth millions. And this formula works well in this Netflix drama. Well done, Netflix!

A lot of reviewers want a season two even though there is closure on this show. I'm with them, these are well written characters and I'd enjoy seeing more of their story. Like me, you will be looking up the Hasidic Jews on Google. This project was very well researched along with beautiful filming in Antwerp. Add all this up and it's a 10/10!

Great start, sad ending

[buweite · 6/10 · 4 December 2023]

This series is one for film school. To demonstrate the importance of the director. Give them students one question: who can tell me which episode is directed by what director?

And to demonstrate the importance of the casting director. Of all Belgian actors, WHY Kevin Janssens in the lead role?

And of the DOP, editor, color grading ... by the time episode 8 was shot they must have sacked half of the crew. And all of the script and dialogue writers with them. There is no other explanation on how they managed to bring down a great idea for an unexpected series, start of so strongly and ended it as a soap opera.

Oh, and one more: I would love to know who did the language training to the actors. For speakers of Jiddish and Hebrew most probably a lot of the dialogues sound really bad, but for me, a very natural point in this series seems the switching between languages. Them non native actors must have rehearsed real hard to get all those lines come off naturally. Correct me if I am wrong?

the Godfather but with a Jewish Family in Belgium

[Otaku_Theory · 9/10 · 23 May 2023]

Really great acting, lighting, and atmosphere.

I enjoyed how similar this was to the Godfather's themes and the Lion King's of the prodigal son returns after a long time hiatus and tries to defend the family's money and lives through crime and intellectual plans to rebuilt the family back to it's former glory.

Obviously, there's crime and mafias in this show too.

Lion King did the same thing with Simba having to return back to Pride Rock after running away. It's very interesting to see this Show reminds me of Tyrant 2015 tv show as well.

Very accurate depiction of Jewish corporate families in Western Europe!!

mayhem in the diamond district

[ksf-2 · 7/10 · 4 May 2023]

An eight episode series, from belgium! The wolfson family is in the diamond business. But when they run into trouble, noah (kevin janssens) returns home to help. Someone has been gambling away the funds, so now they are at war with a bookie. Lots of knocks on the albanians, similar to peter falk's character in "tune in tomorrow". Noah wants to help the family, but there are many roadblocks. His family, deep in the jewish faith, is angry with him. He's taking on the bookie thugs, and needs to figure out how to pay off his suppliers, in spite of the lack of funds. He's finally trying to raise the son he left so long ago. And... his own selfish, manipulative mother isn't helping the situation. And here come the cops, nosing around. So many battles to fight, all at once. It's quite good! Each chapter brings another challenge that the family must face together. Not the most satisfying conclusion in chapter eight, but it did wrap up some of the main issues. I think they were waiting to see if there would be more episodes. I hope so.

PREDICTABLE SOAP OPERA

[Guanche48 · 4/10 · 23 April 2023]

This series is not for me. I saw 3 episodes and the rest I passed quickly with the remote. From the first episode it is very preditable and quite a family soap, and in a bad way.

About Noah, the main character..is the only son who is the black sheep of the family, who has left his Jewish past returns to Antwerp to go to his brother's funeral and becomes a kind of hero with Liam Neeson skills that are really unrealistic and not logical at all. He looks almost like a cartoon.

The actress Tina Joustra(Kerra McCabe), who I did not know, is a Dutch actress and from the first moment she is forcing the English accent, because she is supposed to be from London, they could have chosen a real English actor. Badly made.

They are several inconcistencies throughout, such as the continuous change of languages during the dialoges and in the same conversation, very tiresome. And the changes of wigs or hair and costumes in the same scene, makes is somewhat cheap.

The only interesting thing for me is the Jewish culture and traditions in Antwerp, that is quite well done and told. Although this family is really hypocriet!, so.. not nice to watch either!

There are some exciting moments but they are not in balance with the long dialogues and the slow and repetitive scenes. The balance of these two things is very poorly done which makes it very boring and unrealistic.

I loved seeing the Belgian actor Gene Bervoets again, I like him a lot and it was a while, very nice Gene!

Love the story, excellent actors, but the cinematography...

[attorneyheatheregan · 7/10 · 28 April 2023]

Am I the only one who is, by the beginning of episode four most certainly, completely annoyed with all of this half-headed cinematography?? I mean, I get that the director is trying to add deaths in dimension, while also trying ro be artsy and avant-garde, but in small doses... Please?! It's one thing to pee in the way and not show the actors in the beginning of the conversation while you slowly pan in. But to see entire scenes acted out from the nose above is getting really annoying. Anybody feel me on this one?

What's really odd, though, is that I didn't even really notice it in the first episode or even most of the second. In the third episode is where it got to be nearly constant, and completely turned me off. I'm still watching, if, for you other reason, then I am hoping he curves his enthusiasm of this style of filming and things get back to better. But seriously, I hope something changes because I like the story, and I am interested to find out how it all plays out. That said, I'm almost kind of hoping that there is some sort of systemic digital glitch on Netflix, whereby the director didn't choose to expose each of the actors heads, only from the new, it's up! Why? Why? I struggle with wanting to be the ideal viewer, who engages the work with (Wholly? Just a little?) the willing suspension of disbelief. But alas, i cannot seem to loose myself without the lower half of these amazing actors' heads!!!'

Great Film with Cultural Undertone

[albertval-69560 · 8/10 · 2 June 2023]

The juxtaposition of hassidic Jewish life in the diamond district of Antwerp and a life of crime is something that's intriguing. This is the first series that I've watched that deals with the subject, and the creators Rotom Shamir and Yuval Yefet succeed in their vision for the film. Shamir, who's also the director, brings the story to vivid life.

It's gratifying to have a glimpse of the customs and values of ultra-Orthodox Jews outside of Jerusalem, the center of Judaism.

The drama is engaging and you sympathise with Gila's predicament as she grapples with the future. Noah is in a similar predicament and even if you have watched similar themes before, you feel their angst and helplessness.

Great acting all around. It's not over the top but subdued which makes it more memorable.

Watch this series for a good reason: for the drama, the acting, the cultural backdrop and the beautiful scenery of Antwerp. Cinematography is satisfactory, too.