Il Capitano Maria

... the episodes are just too, too long. Fortunately there are only four of them. But after having invested so much time in episode 1, we went ahead w/ episode 2, and then told ourselves only 2 more episodes to endure ... and 3 was worse than 2 and 4 much worse than 3. Vanessa Incontrada is beautiful and likeable as Capt. Maria. But the plot is beyond ridiculous. Granted, in most fiction you have to suspend belief ...but the degree of 'poetic iicence' called for here is astronomical. And most of the characters are stereotypes (except for the fact that they behave in completely incoherent ways in which real stereotype do not) ... and other than Incontrada - who is not such a bad actor (but I'm no judge) - the rest are just terrible.

This series begins with a strong first episode. It's full of suspense and interesting characters. The second episode introduces "Neverland" which, with hindsight, signals a departure...to less realistic storylines. I suppose it's up to the viewer whether this is to be endured or embraced. Or rejected. I won't say anything more specific than that. Other reviews on this site do.

I kept watching to the end because I'm a fan of Carmine Buschini, who plays Filippo. This was his first series after debuting in Braccialetti Rossi, the Italian version of The Red Band Society. It's certainly worth watching for his fans.

The story is interesting, it is dynamic, it is not boring. People sometimes act as really stupid. Some parts are like for 3-years old children.

The worst thing on that is really bad acting. I can't imagine how director could be satisfied with that.

But it is still watchable. Review based on 1-episode (from four).

I watched all of this within a thirty six hour period and thoroughly enjoyed it despite the obvious deficiencies in the story and the script. What happened to the drugs charges, for example? Did the cocky footballer ever get his comeuppance? Where did "the Swede" disappear to? There were so many loose ends that a second series could easily have been commissioned. I'm surprised it wasn't.

Belief had to be suspended on occasion. A paradise for youth wishing to leave society is jealously guarded online but easily findable in the real world. A PE teacher finds a cure for a disease that has defeated experts. No one notices a modern-day Fagin and his village of lost kids.

At ninety four minutes per episode, there was enough going on to hold the interest. Captain Maria (who is far more portly than she appears in the publicity shots) follows her investigations with flair and intuition.

The settings are interesting. They town has a beautiful old section and the surrounding countryside is dotted with fascinating ruins and landscapes. Even the port, which is meant to be one of Europe's busiest, looks elegant.

I don't regret having watched this at all.

Seems almost like it was 8 episodes and you only saw four of them. I really liked everything about it and I wish they would come back and explain the parts left out. It's different and it's creative and it seems almost like a parable dream and I would like to see more of it.