Petra

Wonderful to see 'my' Genova like this. The original stories are great but the performance could be done better. VI Monte is great though.

At the beginning you have to say that there are three seasons, but only one was to be streamed so far with us. (If this has changed, I'm happy about information).

We get to know a single commissioner, who is around 40 and has her own peculiarities. She has been living for three years in an apartment that is still full of moving boxes, calls a spider her pet but has no name for it yet. She seems tough, dry and seemingly distant at the same time, yet incredibly sympathetic through her style of dress and unagitated manner, never in self-pity, but almost in the pure with himself. One senses a protective layer as well as a personal touch. In addition, she gets a partner who is the opposite of her, open-minded, a lot older, also single but with the optimism to find a suitable life partner.

The two protagonists Cortellesi and Pennacchi are successful comedians in Italy and are absolutely convincing here in a very sympathetic and natural way in a crime drama.

The hand-drawn intro tells of a cardboard box in which she keeps a personal piece from each case.

She goes unconventional ways to solve her cases, which are well mixed and varied. A good mix of interesting case and again a new insight to the two characters. They grow on you and you want more. Since it was clear to me that only one season with a manageable 4 cases is available, I took my time there. Would like to see more.

The series carries the Italian charm, while bringing the people and Genoa one closer.

I have felt very entertained and would be happy about more and more seasons.

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Conclusion: Excellent - interesting cases with refreshing and very likable main characters.

Perfectly showcasing partnerships and very typical interactions among italians, the two protagonists Cortellesi and Pennacchi - usually great italian comedians, but here so good in a drama! - just wear their characters so naturally you suspect they're acting... themselves. Petra never tries to be a bad, embarassing copy of american crime tv series, but rather offers another option in this genre, tight to the beautiful scenario and people in Genoa (Rome as well, in last episode).

Yet it's still quite watchable. The interaction between Petra and the other detective is quite sweet but some of her techniques seem a little dated and not terribly believable. It's okay.

Weak plot, mediocre screenplay, modest acting....a total mis-hit.