Hollands hoop

Very much recommended - high quality level start of this new TV series , great actors, good story and you really like to see the next episode once you finished this first broadcast -- perhaps the humor is somehow typical Dutch, but with some sub-titles (if they already exist), everyone can enjoy this. If you like Breaking Bad, and you add some Dutch humor and acting style and Netherlands surroundings, you actually end up with an even better result than Breaking Bad, well at least this first episode was better than the start of Breaking Bad, so very promising! If you also consider that the budget of this TV series is much lower than Breaking bad, you really appreciate the results!

Fokke Augustinus was born in the Top of Holland but is working as a psychiatrist in prison in the West of the Netherlands. As his dad dies in Groningen, where there is plenty of space, hardly anybody living and -above all- hardly any mobile phone connection (running gag), he inherits the farm. He decides to go and have a look and -even more- stay there and starts to get things running in the Dutch outback...

And with it comes another story where he will be a would-be killer, drug dealer and most of all a spin doctor using growing pot as a financial boost. In ten episodes his life is changed completely as well as the life of his oldest son. His wife did change her attitude towards their relation. He has another job from now on and he has his influence on the development of the area (does he?).

Doing illegal things attracts weird people, although the weirdest of them all follows him from his previous employment.

Expect the unexpected. Don't fear, but embrace the worst! As mentioned earlier: it's a kind of Dutch "Breaking Bad", but on a more down to earth budget en really funny Dutch pedestal.

Best show ever made in Holland. Great cast, well written, fast, hilarious violance, good humor, fantastic score!

Just perfect. Actors are the best. Story line is both absurd and intriguing, played with natural perfection. Am afraid you must be Dutch to get the subtle humor. Kim van Kooten just shines in her role. But so do pretty much all key players. Just love this.

Honestly. I did exactly that and "Breaking Bad" is exactly what I got! Which really goes to show you.... It just DOESN'T translate!

HOOP tries to put some fresh spin on the basic concept, I must admit, and, at times, the production offers up some interesting contrasts...But a Totatly FRESH CONCEPT, of course, would have been infinitely better!

Prison psychiatrist Fokke Agustinus (Marcel Hensema) seems to have his hands full with some rather disturbed patients. He apparently, more often than not, is at odds with the Prison Administration as to the best way to deal with many of his volatile and unpredictable wards.

Agustinus' world begins to implode on two fronts. His wife, Machteld (Kim van Kooten) has grown distant from her workaholic husband and has the hots, big time, for her Yoga instructor. Also, his long estranged father passes, leaving him a farm, which slowly begins to show indications of some rather bizarre activities taking place there!

In a seismic life shift, Agustinus is asked to take a vacation from his job and reacts by unceremoniously throwing in the towel and quitting!!!

He also decides the family should wipe the slate clean and get a fresh start by moving to the farm! This move sets in motion a slippery slope downward spiral chain of events that I feel too many viewers will find, in general, just a bit too predictable.

From a socio-cultural vantage point, the Dutch appear to be pretty much intent on following the rules and doing the right thing. Agustinus and his family seem to lack a default setting for when they encounter the "Dark Side" world constructed and left behind by the deceased father.

And here... Dear readers???? Well... HERE...I leave the REST to You!!! ENJOY!!!