I had heard the name of this show quite a lot when I decided to watch it - although I had not been told what it was about; my logic was that if a subtitled show was making traction in the English-speaking market, then it probably had something about it worth seeing. In terms of design of the period, it is obvious a lot of effort went into it. It looks terrific even when it is in the defeated and poor areas, or the drab normality of an office - all of it seems in keeping with the period, and not tarted up or overdone for the sake of spectacle.
With this as the consistent backdrop, the show has an engaging story with one central thrust but several others which spiral off or around the main one, giving it greater depth and feeling more satisfying as a result. There is a lot going on with it, and the one downside of this is that it doesn't totally stick the landing with that final episode. Instead it sort of feels like it needed to provide a reason to come back for a second season, and for the characters to have continuing arcs; which is good in a way, but does rather fly against the steady pace and tension of the previous episodes. Performances are strong throughout, even if there was less character than there was plot-necessitated content.
Overall though, a strong first season that will make me watch the next one, even if it didn't quite come together as I would have liked.
With this as the consistent backdrop, the show has an engaging story with one central thrust but several others which spiral off or around the main one, giving it greater depth and feeling more satisfying as a result. There is a lot going on with it, and the one downside of this is that it doesn't totally stick the landing with that final episode. Instead it sort of feels like it needed to provide a reason to come back for a second season, and for the characters to have continuing arcs; which is good in a way, but does rather fly against the steady pace and tension of the previous episodes. Performances are strong throughout, even if there was less character than there was plot-necessitated content.
Overall though, a strong first season that will make me watch the next one, even if it didn't quite come together as I would have liked.
