Keizersvrouwen

This show is underated and definitely NOT tame. Lots of innuendo. Very accurate depiction of real life in that world. Do not watch this as just a crime drama. It isn't. It's also not quite NC-16 given some of the themes. It's dark. Some scenes will leave your skin crawling.

Why do directors permit their leading actresses to look like they're about to burst into tears? The character is a bold, take-charge woman who runs a string of high-class escorts, yet she's always on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Similarly Laura Sepul in "Banking District" ... who runs a multibillion-euro empire but spends every episode wiping her eyes.

This is a very mediocre crime series from Holland. The acting is not good (especially Thijs Römer, who is from an acting family but cannot act at all) and the storytelling is sloppy. But the biggest problem of this series is, is that none of the characters is likeable.

I got caught up in this series and really engaged with the main characters and then did something I never do: I quit with only two episodes left. It's visually attractive and Holland is a fascinating place but I finally got fed up with the characters always, always making the stupidest choices.I'd like to see Karina Smulders in some other production but life is too short for me to stick with a story I can't be invested in.

The previous reviewer must have been watching a different series, there are a couple of similarly named series. If you do have the correct one, you do know that just watching the first 10 minutes of episode one doesn't really qualify you to review the series? It only qualifies you to review the first ten minutes of episode one.

The lead character is profoundly damaged from a nightmarish childhood and a mother whom she might well have in common with Satan himself.

In addition to a towering performance from Smulders, her bratty daughter also deserves praise. ADDICTION WARNING: If you watch the conplete episode one, you WILL need to watch the entire series.