Parfum

Very loosely based on Patrick Suskind's highly unusual and much acclaimed book this is a very intriguing series. The plot takes some following as there are so many characters with personality disorders but if you like a mental workout this is for you.

Clever plot (perhaps too clever) with good acting set in current day - totally unlike Suskind's original book. I'd recommend that you see it !!

Wow - this is an unusual piece of television. It is very dark, full of sexualised behaviours which are quite unhealthy. Its almost like a Freudian guide of murder. This dark and convoluted tale should hold you inits grip. It is a piece of art. The acting is superb and for once the actors chosen to represent the adult characters actually resemble them which strengthens the impact of the story line. Most of these characters are pretty awful individuals and the epitome of dysfunction. The cinematography is well done and the dismal winter surroundings bring an added feeling of doom that enhances the story line. This is seriously worth a watch. It is not for those who like fast police shows with lots of action and poor or predictable story-lines, you will need to engage your grey matter with this but it is worth every second.

I have not read the novel Parfum, so I have no way of knowing if it's an attempt at an adaptation. I it doubt since the novel is such an integral part of the plot. Props for atmosphere and acting here. I watched it with subtitles and heard it with English dubbing. At times, the subtitles and dubbing were using rather different ways of saying the same thing. Kind of fascinating. It was a good mystery/crime story and the writers made use of the multi-episodes to gradually reveal a bit more of the mystery. I found it difficult to tell the boys apart when they were younger (exception being Toothless) and couldn't quite figure out who was really Elena's boyfriend back in the day. The writers made good use of flashbacks.

But, man, what an interesting, well-made series. I didn't like that they left a lot of ends dangling and the fact that a lot of bad people got away basically scot-free. It's the American expectation for things to be tied up into a pretty bow, but I'm willing to accept the difference in this case (and maybe we're left to assume the one cop actually focusing on doing his job will finish things off). Every suspicion I had early on was correct, but I kept binging until I finished it. It's almost 3 a.m. and I get up for work early, but I had to finish it!

This is the first German show I've ever watched and I have to say I am impressed. Perfume kept me hooked throughout the whole season and is quite unexpected. For instance the last episode was a complete surprise but also wrapped things up very nicely. The characters are very real and flawed to an extent that there aren't really any character that I even liked. They all seemed, for a lack of a better term, like bad people. But that is what made this show so interesting. The theme itself, although inspired by the book and film of the same name, explored the sensation of scent a bit more and dwells into human psychology and the desire everyone has to be loved and appreciated. Although be warned, this tv series is definitely quite dark and in some moments even repulsive, so I would say it's not for the faint hearted. In conclusion, if you are into dark European crime thrillers and don't mind reading subtitles, check it out, as I personally feel this show is the highlight of Netflix 2019 so far.