From Germany and Netflix comes Sleeping Dog (Schlafende Hunde). This German series directed by Stephan Lacant and Francis Meletzky, adapted by Christoph Darnstädt, and based on the series, The Exchange Principle, created by Oded Davidoff and Noah Stollman. A former detective now living on the streets searches for the truth after a new death raises unnerving doubts about a supposedly settled murder case.
The series stars Max Riemelt, Luise von Finckh, Peri Baumeister, Tara Corrigan, Luna Jordan, Carlo Ljubek, Melika Foroutan, Antonio Wannek, Melodie Wakivuamina, Bernd Hölscher, and Martin Wuttke. While Riemelt's performance as the damaged Atlas is intriguing, there's nothing else about the show that feels distinctive or worth following for six episodes. Riemelt's performance shines here, as a mentally ill former cop whose life just keeps getting convolutedly worse, but otherwise the show is a misery parade with no hope of reprieve. Though Riemelt does his best, there are better shows involving an obsessed, morally compromised cop looking for answers. Riemelt's performance is a slow-burner. Confusion -- and a lack of mobility, hobbling around on crutches -- grows into a sullen resolve to chase down any scrap of a clue about his past.
The series stars Max Riemelt, Luise von Finckh, Peri Baumeister, Tara Corrigan, Luna Jordan, Carlo Ljubek, Melika Foroutan, Antonio Wannek, Melodie Wakivuamina, Bernd Hölscher, and Martin Wuttke. While Riemelt's performance as the damaged Atlas is intriguing, there's nothing else about the show that feels distinctive or worth following for six episodes. Riemelt's performance shines here, as a mentally ill former cop whose life just keeps getting convolutedly worse, but otherwise the show is a misery parade with no hope of reprieve. Though Riemelt does his best, there are better shows involving an obsessed, morally compromised cop looking for answers. Riemelt's performance is a slow-burner. Confusion -- and a lack of mobility, hobbling around on crutches -- grows into a sullen resolve to chase down any scrap of a clue about his past.
The show is just a messy series that at its best serves as a reminder that good writing is essential to the medium and that pouting and looking dour and confused it not really premium-cable-style acting. The troubling questions and terrific performances are enough to keep you following this murky trail, if you're not seriously burned out on corrupt authorities. The show's problem isn't its premise, which is no better or worse than your average gritty crime drama. The show so completely personifies the mundane procedural that it actually becomes awful. The six episodes sent to critics work well enough because of the performances - especially those of Max Riemelt, Finckh, Ljubek and Foroutan - the direction by Lacant and Meletzky, and our wanting to know what Atlas is going to do. It's mildly gripping, not to be dismissed, but sometimes let down by obviousness and by some bizarre underperforming by actors around Riemelt. As a cop-thriller, the show is oddly subdued. This can be very funny at times a traffic jam caused by two turtles rooting in the middle of the road is an early highlight. But the focus remains the two-fold mystery: who exactly is our hero, and why does at least one somebody want him dead? What seems at the outset like a chance for Riemelt to do some heavy existential lifting never quite makes good on that promise. Instead, the show eventually settles into a conventional web of TV intrigue. The story would have been tighter with one or two fewer episodes. Still, it’s an entertaining series that has drive, even when it’s going in the wrong direction. Overall, I dont think anyone will be disappointed with the show and it may actually surprise some people. There is nothing here you havent seen before but it is delivered in an entertaining package.
Simon says Sleeping Dog (Schlafende Hunde) receives:
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