Overspel

I found this series to be fascinatingly engaging on many levels.. I honestly didn't know from one moment to another what was next.. the acting was superb with a plot that is unique .. I liked getting to know these families and the individuals.. it's a great series where I found myself really bummed when it was over.. I felt like I really knew these people and all they'd been through! Don't miss it!

In 'The Adulterer', a prosecutor's wife has an affair with a defence lawyer, who just happens to be representing a man her husband is currently prosecuting. The setup sounds cheesy, and is certainly contrived. The best thing about this drama is a credible portrayal of life within a family the foundation of whose wealth is organised crime, albeit on a relatively small scale (think corrupt family business rather than full-blown mafia). It's weakness is the one-dimensionality of many of its characters, particularly the smug prosecutor and his almost-perfect wife. Although some details of plot were nicely developed, I didn't really care how the romantic aspects of the drama worked out, or feel any of the sexual passion supposedly driving the story.

The name "overspel" (adultery) may a bit misleading. It made me suspect that this was going to be some female-oriented cliché-ridden drama. Nothing could be further from the truth.

There are many characters here all of which are equally important. The plot revolves around their relations with each other. Couwenberg is boss of a construction business, then an accident happens that puts the relationships of everyone in the series under pressure. Step by step the plot moves forward and gets more intricate and intriguing every episode. Adultery is only a small part of the problems emerging for every person in this mess. The characters are completely real and believable six episodes in and not once have I been disturbed by a stupid cliché or unreal irrational actions by the characters. They act as any sane man or woman does in their situation.

With a plot so much based on characters, the acting has to be top-notch, and I'm delighted to say that it absolutely is. Rarely have I seen such strong performances from Dutch actors. Add in the brilliant directing and grim cinematography and you've got a series that gets more compelling with every scene. The 6th and latest episode was the absolute highpoint for me. It ended with a music compilation lasting many minutes on Deep Purple's Child in Time and was absolutely masterly executed. One of the best directed pieces I've ever seen.

Overspel is gripping, compelling, well written, wonderfully acted, even better directed, and fit for every single audience, even kids if they're into this sort of thing. Perhaps watching the full season with the entire family at Christmas is a perfect family bonding activity for many.

Just been able to catch this in NZ. Great drama, great acting and complex story. Very stylish production and brilliant characters, every one a gem. Subtitles very eay to read and follow. After binge watching series 1 have to ration series 2 and 3 as I don't want it to finish. Definite recommend to fans of good European drama.

... this series not working on a couple of levels, main one being lead-casting... deciding on Sylvia Hoeks' as a character that's a working photographer, devoted mother to a young son, wasn't a proper decision-choice... looking all-time more like the super-model she really is, she's just put on the wrong side of the camera-lens in this story... then attempting portraying her as a nice person, and good mother, again not making logic-sense, for along with another extremely selfish character (her-affair's-lover), she spontaneously-eagerly enters into a steamy sexual liaison with this married (two children) shady lawyer, who finds her absolutely irresistible (least that's believable, as she is alluringly-beautiful) if morally reprehensible given his family circumstances

... and so it goes in what appears absolutely no time, they've moved-out-abandoning their families, setting up their love-nest in her very attractive work-studio on-harbor-edge... throw in some family characters with their own tedious storylines, and you have Overspel (Adultery)... also, it all took far too long in thirty-plus-episodes, could-would-have been better in a third-fewer-shows

... then there's ending's final blow, for all-those anti-adultery-viewers (can't say why), but it's so really nasty how selfishness does all this harm to so many, and then gets-future-finalized in this fashion... ugh.