Die Legende

An intense, delicately produced crime thriller,

It is likely that you will fall for the natural performance, sharp and smooth editing, detailed story plot, suitable casting and some necessary coincidences.

A good choice during a meal, also a good choice for a night of entertainment.

Looks like it's rational to expect a sequel.

Finally something good on Netflix. Acting, photography, dialog, tension...everything is gripping, entertaining, and high quality. Character development (finally) is deep and layered. There is no torture, cut limbs , or any of that nonsense. The violence is mostly psychological, with some bloody scenes. Even English dubbing is flawless. The only tiny negative: the music is sometimes too loud. Uncomfortable when listening with the earphones.

A mere 20 minutes into episode one and I knew I was in the presence of something thoroughly special, and this despite the familiar territory. The very atmosphere of the series drew me in immediately. I am no stranger to Nordic noir, being a seasoned subscriber to MHz/Topic. This is up there with the best of them particularly due to the beautifully nuanced performance of the incredible Maria Cordsen. Afshin Firouzi was just as compelling as the villainous Miran. Very much worth your time, most definitely!

The concept of inserting a not fully trained asset has been well used in series and films. What makes this plot unique? Halfway the second episode I haven't found something sticking out. What I have found is numerous scenes that were done too lazy and cheap. Let's pin that on budget for now. With more budget this could have been a top series. This doesn't mean it's no good though: the show is nice to watch, mostly due to the fine acting and directing.

There are things that bothered me - underdeveloped characters, opportunities left unused, the lazy/cheap scenes. For example, the really low key reception at the jeweller's shop - without food, music or displays, just champagne served in silence - could have easily been done better. This set the expectation for the episodes to come, and indeed more cheap and lazy was delivered in this production. But when you overlook the faults and holes, "Legenden" is a nice paced crime drama which you will want to keep watching.

Did anyone notice that in episode 1 there was a scene lifted directly from the French series Le Bureau? Tea meets her handler in the restaurant, and he asks her to describe two women at the bar. He then asks her to get their names and phone numbers by the time he's finished his lunch. Enjoying the series, despite this homage.