1985

This is brilliantly presented.

The main storyline of three friends finding their way in world and the paths they take is very believable and all credit to all the actors involved. You like the goodies and hate the baddies.

The really harrowing background of the story is the corrupt judicial and law enforcement in early 1980s Belgium. This is not fiction, this happened and some real news footage is used at times.

These people were/are criminals, right wing extremists with no respect for life, law or society.

The fact that to this day justice has not been done is quite abhorrent and maybe indicative of just how deep the rot was.

Having featured the worst of it all it is a shame that the ending could not have been more satisfying for the viewer for Marc, Franky and Vicky.

This mini-series tells the story of 3 main fictional characters from 1983 until 1987. Their dramatized lives are intertwined with real events and real characters while the main historical events are resumed at the end of each episode.

Overall, the actors were quite good. The story is also engaging and very well paced to create zero moments of being bored. Eight episodes seemed quite the right amount for this particular story: not over stretching it but still creating time to engage fully with the characters. I also enjoyed the mix of Dutch and French.

The production is also great. I highly recommend watching this.

This Series is a powerful and emotional dramatization of one of Belgium's most disturbing unsolved crime stories - the case of the "Gang of Nivelles." It gives a very realistic and sometimes shocking look into the events that happened during the early 1980s, a time when Belgium was living in fear.

The story follows three fictional characters - Marc, Franky, and Vicky - whose lives are closely connected with real events and people. Their personal journeys feel believable and emotional, and the acting from the entire cast (especially Peter Van Den Begin, Tijmen Govaerts) is excellent. The series also mixes Dutch and French, giving it a more authentic feel.

One of the most impressive parts of the series is how each episode ends with real news footage and facts from that period. It helps the viewer understand what really happened and shows how little justice has been done. The corruption and manipulation within the justice system are truly shocking. Although some parts of the writing feel a bit unrealistic or rushed, the directing and production are very strong. The soundtrack is beautiful and adds to the emotional weight of the story.

1985 is more than just a crime drama. It's a historical document that invites viewers to learn more about a dark chapter in Belgian history. Even if you're not from Belgium, it's a must-watch, because sadly, similar cases of injustice have happened in many countries.

Highly recommended for those interested in true crime, history, and political drama.

Please watch this TV series as a document, nothing else. It is awesome if you remain in the learning of what happened in Belgium in the eighties, with the Brabant killers case. Many brutal and bloody killings occured in those days, without any explanations, killings perpetrated by commandos who first stole automatic weapons from the Gendarmerie arsenals.... This case was never solved, because those killings seemed to be covered and unofficially approved by the power, the governments. All those who tried to understand what really happened were threatened, lost their jobs and also maybe were killed. This plot is interesting only if you like this kind of scheme. But the dialogues, story telling and making is lame, flat. However the acting is not so bad. Another movie from Belgium evoked this story; TUEURS, from 2017. Excellent ending, though, for this TV show.

2 young Belgian men join the Rijkswacht (crossover of the army and the police) at the beginning of the 80's and are accidentally involved with every famous event from their first day on.

As you can see, the writing is unrealistic and stupid. It feels very rushed also. 1981 looks like it almost happened in one day.

Also there were subtle unnecessary changes in the described events. Like when Bouhouche and Beijer were eavesdropping another BOB-agent and his informant, was changed to them just installing that equipment at the main office where the big boss caught them directly.

But the directing and casting is great though. Especially Tibo Vandenborre as Leon Francois is very convincing. The two young lead actors (Aimé Claeys & Tijmen Goovaerts) also play very well.

If you look beyond the bad writing, it is quite enjoyable.