Ciudad de sombras

I feel the need to advise everyone to watch this smart and yet tragic thriller series from Catalonia.

There are loads of TV series out there, but few succeed in being as smart and yet historic in its depiction of near events as this. As a viewer, you are constantly being left to guess what next move will be, in clever picture inserts showing the development, corruption and disregard of human lifes connected to the Olympics in Barcelona in 1992, and what happens with small children in care where no real adults truly care and take charge, leaving space for abuse and corruption.

The two protagonists (perfect chemistry and acting) constantly have to think at least three or four steps ahead in order to catch the culprits. The series is a gripping ride, and make you constantly feel like you're on the edge. The writers, actors and camera men pull this series off brilliantly, much thanks to the outstanding writing which makes every single TV episode feel like a miniature movie but with a cliff hanger. If you do some research about the period (2010) that the series project, you'll notice that they manage to reflect it well in terms of vehicles, fashion, clothing.

However, it's not only down to the writing, but to the acting and filming as well. The casting crew has done an amazing job. You can feel the chemistry between the two main characters who bless us with amazing performances.

This Barcelona thriller is one of the most intelligent, tense, gripping and brilliantly acted dramas I've seen in a long time. It just gets better with every episode, and If you're reading this and you haven't decided if you'll watch it or not - don't wait, as it'll not wait for you.

City of Shadows is a visually stunning Spanish noir that truly finds its footing after a slightly slow start.

The central mystery - a series of artistic, high-profile murders set against Barcelona's gorgeous Gaudí landmarks - is utterly compelling. Isak Férriz (as Milo Malart) and Verónica Echegui (as Rebeca Garrido) have excellent, evolving chemistry as they chase the vigilantes and fight the corruption within their own ranks.

The series is at its best in the later episodes, which are packed with intrigue and refreshingly minimal filler. While the finale provides a solid, complex, and bittersweet resolution, it stops just short of being truly spectacular.

Overall, a highly engaging and successful thriller. A strong 7/10.

We are witnessing a resurgence of the Spanish noir, and all the action takes place in Barcelona. This is a prime example. It's very well-researched, with a fast-paced and engaging narrative. Nevertheless I do find severe faults with it, the fact is, it weaves together too many storylines: Olympic Barcelona; Freemasonry; domestic abuse; political corruption; child abuse; and suicide bombers.

From the first episode, it grabs you and keeps you waiting for a conclusion, which you know won't come easily. Perhaps the characters might seem a bit clichéd, like the detective who has attitude problems with his superiors due to a recent event in his life, the detective who arrives from another area to help with the investigation and use her studies and experience in psychological cases, the incompetent boss who's always more concerned with public image than the case itself, and even the secretary who's always one step ahead of his superiors' requests. Even so, they all fulfill their purpose and don't fall into the banal; even the seemingly ordinary killer gradually transforms into a master of evil. Unfortunately, by the fifth episode, this magnificent edifice begins to crumble and descend into predictability. Every clue, every move the killer makes, and even every unnecessary and stupid decision we've seen in so many other movies and series are predictable. Even so, by that point, we're eager to see how the story ends.

I watched the six episodes of this breathtaking series almost non-stop. As others have already written, the chemistry between the two leading investigators is wonderful, and the silence of investigator Rebeca Garrido, played with great emotion by the beautiful actress Veronica Echegui, complements the tormented character of Milo, an investigator who is on suspension and is brought back to investigate the kidnapping and arson of the famous victims. It is chilling to know that Echegui died at the age of 42 on August 25 from the cancer she suffered from and kept it a secret from her acquaintances. This series refers to the cancer from which her mother died, and even shares with her partner Milo that she knows it is hereditary, and therefore performs tests and monitoring that so far have shown that everything is normal. In the previous series in which she starred, A Muerte for Apple TV, she plays opposite the character of a young man who was diagnosed with cancer. I didn't know her before watching this series, and definitely a loss of talent for Spanish cinema. R. I. P.