Red Light

This review is after watching series 1 (in the unlikely event of there being a series 2).

A Dutch show called Red Light and there is barely any nudity never mind sex scenes!

I tuned in to watch because I loved Koen De Bouw in the Belgian version of Professor T but he only has a support role here.

On the whole, a good series, as long as you understand that in modern TV, all women are angels and only do wrong things for good reasons while all men are evil or weak house husbands.

A very disjointed finale.

One of the best thriller-drama series ever written. Set in Antwerp and Amsterdam, it provides deep insights in the prostitution scene, the related legal and illegal activities and the thorough, complex police work needed to restrict it. Halina Reijn's and Carice van Houten's performances are both excellent; their relation dynamics unsettling. Both entertaining and very impressive.

I love watching foreign dramas, especially Flemish ones, and had very high hopes for this drama. The plot, characters, portrayal, and direction were superb. I binged watched the first 7 episodes and although some of the scenes and the story were very difficult to watch I enjoyed it.

The character of the Opera singer I found neurotic, insecure and really quite vacant. The "Madame" a selfish but desperate woman who insisted on staying with her controlling and really quite nasty boyfriend.

The star of the show was the police lady. I found her and her character very engaging and I sympathised with her plight.

I've not watched the remaining episodes for two days now as I found the whole bargaining for the baby thing quite disturbing, but more importantly the trafficking and exploitation of girls by men even more so. Morally I can't separate what the world should be, and unfortunately is, and thus I'm not sure I can watch the last two shows. I think for a happier life shows like this, that touch on prostitution, drugs, adultery and violence need to be absent from my life.

The title fooled me to think this would just be a sexually explicit romp with little dimension. Wrong. Red Light is a multi-layered drama with several story strands going simultaneously with the main story. Superbly done with some wonderful acting and interesting characters. Highly recommended.

Saw 2 episodes. It is a well made tv series, good writing and acting. Too depressing for me, I think this might very well be all true. If you like to watch the dark side of prostitution in Amsterdam and Antwerp, give it a try.