Signs

I was disturbingly caught up in this show, through two seasons. So many fascinating plot threads, unusual people and mysterious time shifts. I think it's best not to expect answers for everything that happens but perhaps it would be good to keep copious notes. Write down each character as you encounter them and make note of what they do and what happens to them. I would have liked a little file to remind me who X was because X hasn't been on screen for six episodes and now is critical to the story. None of my confusion was helped by the score, which is on occasion really creepy and surreal. And time is not linear. By all means, dive in!

A small town in rural Poland a project to develop land, a corrupt mayor, a weird parish, bones and skulls found, two girls murdered. A detective transferred from Kracow takes to investigate. This comes out as a natural crime thriller, intriguing at a proper pace, with a complex puzzle, not artificial twist and turns, not contrived situations, and on top of that not boring.

A couple of little bits in the first episode had me wondering if I was about to watch a soap opera. Not exactly sure why I had that feeling. It could have been a transition or background music. It was a bit of a mixed bag, but definitely engaging enough to keep watching. I'm happy I did, because I enjoyed it! As another reviewer has mentioned, one should not watch this if they've trying to quit smoking, (or drinking)! It's everywhere. Everyone's smoking darts, all the time! And half of the characters are boozing as well. I don't think any of the filled ashtrays contained stunt cigarettes. They were all legitimately smoked. By cast, by crew, even by passers-by perhaps!

The reason I wanted to write a review is because I think the camera work should not go unnoticed. Yes, it is a help to have some naturally stunning nature to film around, but I sense that whoever is in charge of getting these shots must have a real art background. Almost every scene/shot is balanced and framed beautifully, whether it be with colour, or the asymmetric balance of objects/scenery. The detail is amazing. Falling snow, rain, shining drops of water in the sun after a recent downpour...The elements were captured beautifully. The colour grading in this show is absolutely stunning. This shines on a nice OLED, where you can see how well they've handled the many night time scenes, and indoor scenes with daylight streaming in, fire, skin tones etc.. Everything is balanced and beautiful. Also, great to have a full 16x9 ratio filling up my TV space for a change!

The story? Engaging enough for sure. Kept me interested! It's always nice to have variety. I search out international shows like these because it's so great to see other countries and their people, even if it's fiction!

I know it's a strange review, talking all about the things on the surface as opposed to the whole, but as I mentioned earlier, I felt the need to call out talent when I see it! A big hello to Poland from me in Australia. :-)

As Monty Python once said ...AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. The same cast is there with some interesting additions but the focus has to some extent, switched to the Nazi "treasure" that may or may not be in the vicinity. There are flashbacks that explain the presence of the newcomers but it is not always clear which time zone we are in and the editing is so bizarre that occasionally the storyline becomes incomprehensible. Having thought about it for a few days, I have to rewatch it since I feel I may have missed something..In fact, I enjoyed it so much I will go all the way back to S01

As this Polish series opens a young woman is seen walking while talking on her phone; suddenly she is fatally shot by an unknown assailant. The action moves forward ten years; Commissioner Michal Trela has recently taken over as the head of the local police and there has been another, almost identical murder. Many suspects will emerge; a local religious group; those working at a new quarry and even people looking for rumoured Nazi technology which was apparently made during the wartime occupation. As the story progresses there are inevitably more murders and the discovery of older human remains.

I really enjoyed this series; there was a good sense of mystery... not just the question of who the killer is but also the sense that the ultimate answer to some questions could be Nazi sci-fi or even supernatural in nature. Some questions are answered at the end of the first season but more are raised before it ends. Similarly the ending of the second season left me keen for there to be a third as question marks hand over the lives of certain key characters. The cast does a fine job bringing their characters to life and the setting adds to the atmosphere... I had no idea rural Poland was so beautiful. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to mystery fans looking for something a little different.

These comments are based on watching the series in Polish with English subtitles.