Penoza (2010–2017) User Reviews

It can't get much better than this...

[PGMHeuts · 9/10 · 11 March 2013]

Penoza means underworld (also crime scene as in 'the criminal world', not 'the place where a crime took place'). It's a superb Dutch series with incredible acting, a great storyline and an incredible cast. At the beginning of the first season, it soon became very obvious that Penoza was not an average series but one that had much more to offer. The series gained a lot of fans and critical acclaim all over. As a result of this, a second season was produced. The second season - of course - continues where the first one stopped and takes the viewer even deeper in the world of the leading character Carmen and her family and friends and all they experience when she unwillingly becomes more and more involved in the world of crime. I have to admit that the second season is even better than the first one. I'm very happy too, that a third season is being produced right now. This is very high quality stuff. Fact: the American TV Network ABC has produced the series Red Widow, based upon Penoza. The first few episodes have been broadcast only a couple of days ago. Even though I haven't seen Red Widow yet, usually nothing beats the original (even though for some people the fact of a series being subtitled keeps them from watching it). A real pity, as there are many non-English-language series out there, that are just too good to be missed (like the Danish series The Killing, The Bridge and another fantastic Dutch series called Overspel, the Dutch word for adultery). If you get a chance to watch this, do so!

After watching season 3 of Penoza, I increase my rating from 9 to 10. This season is even better than the first two, believe it or not. Amazing!

Black Widow

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 23 July 2017]

Carmen's husband smuggles cannabis into The Netherlands as part of the 'family business'; it is profitable but his partners get greedy and steal a cocaine shipment belonging to another dealer. This puts them in a very dangerous position and soon he is gunned down in front of his young son. Carmen knew what he did but had no idea of the details so believes her brother when he tells her that it was her husband who stole the cocaine. It isn't long before some very dangerous people are coming after her to get what they think her husband stole; this puts both her and her family in danger. She is pressured to use her husband's network to bring in a single shipment of cocaine… of course it doesn't end there and despite her best efforts she finds herself being drawn into the criminal underworld. As she is she learns some shocking truths about her family and just who was behind her husband's death.

These comments are based on watching the first two series of 'Penoza', retitled 'Black Widow' here in the UK, in Dutch with English subtitles on Channel Four's 'Walter Presents' strand.

One could be forgiven for expecting this to be 'Breaking Bad' crossed with 'Mafiosa' (French series also on 'Walter Presents') but it is quite different. Those series wasted little time getting the protagonist willingly involved in an illegal business; here the protagonist is slowly dragged in to this violent world. This series also lacks the deliberate humour of those series. The story is well told; nicely combining Carmen's gradual entry into the criminal world, her desire to protect her children and problems with the police who believe that she is more involved in crime than she is at that stage. Given the subject matter it isn't surprising that there is a fair amount of violence; some of it quite brutal. Monic Hendrickx does a fine job in the lead role making Carmen's unlikely situation seem believable. The rest of the cast are pretty solid too; the only reason I don't mention anybody else by name is that I don't want to look at the cast list and learn how long characters survive! Overall I found the first two seasons of this series really gripping and hope we don't have to wait too long before more episodes are available here.

The wages of sin

[paul2001sw-1 · 7/10 · 20 June 2017]

'The Godfather' explored the problems of an essentially good man trying to escape from his criminal family; 'The Sopranos' explored how such a family might live amongst the ordinary upper-middle classes. Dutch drama 'Black Widow' blends both these themes, as its protagonist is a mafia widow who finds herself lumbered by her murdered husband's criminal debts. It's strength is in displaying the ambiguous relationship that such this person (and the other non-combatants in the family) might have with their bread-winning relatives. But it lacks the operatic quality of the Italian drama 'Gomorrah' (my favourite mafia story of the year), and it's also lacks that drama's rich portrait of how organised crime permeates civil society. Overall, it feels mostly plausible, and well-plotted, but I found it a little hard to care about Carmen, our semi-innocent heroine who merely wants to continue her good life without having to pay for it.

Exciting, realistic, touching, drama, all in one series

[herman-101-514212 · 10/10 · 27 October 2013]

Penoza is one of the greatest series produced by the Netherlands. After her husband is being killed, Carmen decides to take over the role of leading an organized crime scene to protect her children. But being a mother and a "godmother" is not all that easy. She is under continuous attention of the police, and every now and then getting close to convictions. Members in her family are turning against her, and when she discovers the secret of her father she is almost devastated. The competition with other gangs leads to liquidations and cold blooded killings. But it never gets too bloody for the viewer, all goes in a very realistic play of drama and thrills. Exciting inside in the real underworld. Great actors, great roles and a fantastic story are the ingredients of an exciting series you don't want to miss!

Very Good Indeed

[steveex2003 · 10/10 · 30 May 2017]

Fantastic. The best series I have seen in a very long time. Neither given to write reviews, nor watch two entire series in two sittings yet here I am. Often brutal but utterly communicative with a sensational lead performance, this is a story of good people doing very bad things in an ever desperate downward spiral toward oblivion. The juxtaposition of the viewers empathy toward a mother utterly betrayed and her acts increasingly destitute of all morality, is perfectly poised.

I was only able to view the first two series here in the UK, so any further series are an unknown quantity to me.

This is not The Sopranos, and has only the theme of crime families in common. Like the Sopranos, this is quality TV of the very highest calibre.

Most recommended.

The Black Widow

[skubrik1 · 10/10 · 12 March 2023]

This series is by far the best Dutch tv serie ever made. I've watch season one to three for at least 10 times. This series gives a good view into the Dutch crime scene. Since i'v worked as a prison guard i know this series gives a good inside view into Dutch crime. Not all the actors are that good but over all the character build up is pretty good. You really feel sorry for Carmen when she does everything to protect her family. Season one,two and three are really good. But after that it is getting real bad. And to complete the mess they cldsed it up with a really bad movie. But still i love the first seasons very much and will watch it again in the future because it still amazes me.

Great crime drama

[frederickwiddowson · 10/10 · 29 July 2021]

This is a really compelling show and one I recommend heartily. I just have had no luck finding out where to watch season 5 and the internet has been no help. I've finished 4 seasons already.

crazy drama non-stop

[justgeorgeous · 8/10 · 13 April 2023]

This woman "carmen" does nothing 'wrong', but is involved in a multitude of crimes and killings all in the name of protecting her family even thou she loses 2 husbands, a father and a sister. A bit unrealistic at times but a good drama to watch that is full on and entertaining. They probably milked it for a bit too long (5 seasons). The first 2 seasons are the best. Carmen is portrayed beautifully. She is a standout in the acting department in this series. Some of the acting for nat, luciene, and storm is a bit weak at times. Berry plays his role well. As i said they story lines goes off the rails the further the series goes which is really quite normal. Overall it was a decent watch.

Not Quite A Ten For Me

[lofts55 · 9/10 · 27 November 2021]

I have just finished 'binge watching' the entire 5 Season 48 Episodes and I loved it. Yes, there were some definite let downs - I thought that Sigrid ten Napel was a let down, Sigrid from the start and more so when teamed together with Gijs Naber as they didn't really 'appear gel' for some reason and towards the end Gijs acting let him down even more. I thought that the part of Boris was great given Stijn Taverne started out at 14 and evolved over the 7 years of filming. Overall, I thought it was great. I realise the Series was very much in line with the Gangland/Drug Genres with the 'old Matriarchs' scheming behind the scenes, but it was really excellent overall. I have a real penchant for anything from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, UK - in fact pretty much anything from Europe are my 'go to' TV Shows to watch. The ending was great with the 'cliff hanging scene' leaving you wondering and wanting more.

Don't bother after season 2

[Brdly_Fshr · 6/10 · 7 January 2020]

The first two seasons of Penoza are definitely worth the while. Good story, good cast and they kept everything somehow realistic. However, the decision to give the kids of the main character Carmen a more prominent role from season 3 on really killed the show for me. They are such poor actors (especially the girl) that I found myself not able to watch the show anymore. Twice I have tried to finish season 3 but everytime I just find myself so annoyed about these actors performances that I have just given up. Too bad because I held the show in such high regards the first two seasons.

Good, O.K, Bad

[postvoorberti · 6/10 · 24 February 2014]

This series goes from good (series 1), OK (series 2) to bad and boring (series 3). And now there's talk about a series 4. Please don't.

The series is about a woman (Carmen) whose family is in the drug business. As her husband is killed her happy family life is overand she becomes very much involved in the business.

We all know these kind of stories, but being set in Amsterdam and with good acting the first series was very good.

Series 2 brought in some new characters and was pretty much OK, although it didn't have the good story lines.

Series 3 was completely unbelievable (Carnen takes on the Russian as well as the Mexican Maffia).

So if you wanna see some decent dutch acting, watch series 1 and leave it at that.

A pretty average series using a well worn theme

[qui_j · 5/10 · 30 June 2017]

This is a pretty average Dutch TV series that uses a well worn theme of a woman who takes over her husband's drug trafficking network. It's reminiscent of the Italian series where the daughter took over the Father's mafia network, and also the Mexican series, "Reina del Sur". The story is spotty in areas, and the overuse of flashbacks at the start, and during each new episode, becomes extremely annoying after a while. They lend very little to the continuing story, and one has to resist the urge to constantly "fast forward" through those scenes. Character development is good for the lead character, as it shows how the business can seduce anyone to become totally changed as a person. In other instances, more development could have been done with some of the other characters e.g. the detective Leeflang. The acting is average. While there are 4 seasons listed, I was only able to view two of those but if the other reviews on this site are right, the series seems to go downhill after season two so I may not have missed much.

.. some reviewers correct, after first couple seasons don't expect much

[bjarias · 6/10 · 26 December 2023]

... really a series to have been watched week to week when first aired, for streaming makes it increasingly-repetitive, tending towards very boring when viewing more than a couple episodes at a time... and there is no 'crime-family'-story, just the female lead character continually saying she-wants-out but never leaving her life of crime-death-suffering

... what the show does do to some degree is to showcase the absurdity of wars-on-drugs, as they are futile beyond any-all measure... as with any class of drugs billions of dollars are involved, and whenever a small, unscrupulous-element seizes control, there will always be unending numbers of others wanting to take over... bodies piling up very quickly

... there are several very strong as well as weak performances, the weaker ones don't really sink the couple early seasons, but eventually the entire production suffers under their negative weight... so watch the early years, enjoy them for what they are, then quit or you'll-get-what's-coming-(to-you)

Humorless, cynical, unrealistic

[ari-74 · 5/10 · 4 December 2013]

I just saw the last episode of the third series. The acting was very good but the story was totally unconvincing, sadistic and lacked any kind of humor at all. but at the same time I watched the fifth series of Breaking Bad, that has humor, terrific acting, not always full speed, but it takes its moments that gives it a good atmosphere.

But maybe that is the wrong comparison. I always had a bad taste after i watched the episodes. I hope there will be made a good Dutchcrime-series. It should be possible with such a cast. The cinematography is very good, the acting is terrific. But only black scenes and no relief at all

I am not going to watch the next Penoza.....

Great start but ends up so bad

[bif-21647 · 1/10 · 7 September 2021]

First season was great no doubt about it. But starting with the second season, you will find a lot of "most" in this TV series namely: 1. The most stupid cop 2. The most stupid DA 3. The most despicable mother 4. The most despicable family 5. The most stupid boyfriend exposing his own son to a criminal family.

6. The most pathetic daughter 7. The most evil brother.