Cuatro estaciones en La Habana

First, I have to say that I am a Cuban, living here in Havana. Several of the scenes regarding the murder of the young teacher were shot a few blocks away from my parent's home. If you really wanna understand completely the plot(s) you have to read the books by Leonardo Padura. Better still if you can read those directly in Spanish. I live in a very rough neighborhood, accurately depicted in the series. The characters are quite realistic; they act, talk, think just as described. Cuban police is very much alike the police forces in the series. (Even when the headquarters is not an actual police station, but a beachside resort, ahahaahaha) I've read an user complaining about weak police drama; I have to disagree. First, murder in Cuba, even in Havana, is not a very common deed. Homicides occur, but usually with close to none planning, as a result of a quarry, over women, or crime- related account settings. This user also says that crooks usually confess without needing to; but then you have to understand the way we Cubans think about crime and punishment. Usually when somebody does something very wrong, the bet is on not being caught, on remaining clear of the police. But once caught, almost everybody thinks that the game is over (and it usually is). Cuban police does not use torture, in the Abu-Graib way, but they have a lot of very capable officials pushing on every button of the suspect's mind to obtain a confession. So, the series is also realistic in the relation between crooks and police. Police forces are depicted the way they are: a non monolithic organization, where you are going to find good, not so good, and frankly bad, persons, with their real lives, conflicts, mistakes, struggling to do the good the best way they can find. Again, my advise, read the books by Padura

A very good adaptation from the 4 series of books by the same name,Conde is how I'd imagined him as are all the other characters. I've never been to Cuba but this does also how I imagine it,you can almost feel the heat during the night scenes. Not a long review but if you like Montalbano and detectives tv of that ilk you'll enjoy this too. A bit more X rated than Montalbano tho

What we have is good storytelling. And what we have is great character's struggling to find identity and placement in career as an aspiring alcoholic Detective and want to be Writer battles his demons and his past being stuck in crime + police work and criminal cases. We see what his life is from his past. Also, we see his friends. And in character study CONDE is a lovable drunk who remains just sober enough to amble around at 65 to 70 percent sober during the day....maintains just enough reserves to sort out by meandering through clues to resolve cases...this noir aspect is the sexy night shots taken of the city (and its odd lot assortment of rebellious souls who use rum and music and rehash of the past to show themselves, their livelihood's might have left long ago;) but a rebel spirit remains' that manages to survive in old Havana. The costume's are very real. The characters very real. This is Columbo--Havana--Style. Maybe the only time a cop hero role reserves compassion, since the women see the life that he never resurrected as the failed writer; and the passion they find in that wounded bear....the guy just needs to be loved....and the good man underneath will finally emerge, if given that love. The women are ready, and willing to try to love him back to the life, (if there are any explanations) the sex scenes feel as real as the characters needs so they film true, ( like euro cinema;) the way passion's are displayed is like the French--Italian ways in nondescript beds with the only heat and lighting is the sweat off their bodies... being ravaged by passion. If your a Writer like myself "this is the most complete way... to show this passion lives." Obviously, this is a first rate examination of this world, and it's well worth your time and keep in mind they were constrained by politics but they still managed to show the police divisions honestly and with great clarity. This is a station house that deserves to go on for the 5 year run with a lot of great characters to explore. You hope they find a way to give this cast at least a few years to keep it all going and what we have is a great example of what mucho magic can be found filming in Cuba. There is a wealth of good actors and writers and technicians. I pray that they allow this cast the next four more years to explore what Havana offers! This CONDE might just be one of the best cop character's we've had in many years!!

This is an outstanding police drama. The characters are complex and multifaceted. Jorge Perugorría's performance is masterful as Mario Conde, a Cuban Harry Bosch-like police investigator, facing his own demons as well as those within the system in which he must work.

But beyond the story and characters, the images of Havana and its people are mesmerizing. You could watch this series of 2-hour dramas just for what seem like paintings on film. At points I paused the film just to look at the color palette of Havana. Simply stunning.

Havana is a beautiful city. I always like to watch the show in the places I have never been to because I feel like I was traveling. Each story is well done. There are many people in each episode, but they are not so confusing. The stories are involved in politics and corruption and it is common all over the world. Their life style I see in the show is nice. The shows describe how they live. Everybody's acting is excellent. Casts look natural and beautiful unlike the TV shows in different countries all plastic surgery type actors and actresses act in and show off modernization.