Zwarte tulp

The first episode of Zwarte Tulp gives the sense of a well-directed but conventional television series. Cynically speaking, this is 'just' another Dutch drama, in an age of extraordinary serial storytelling. In fact, it has a lot of the same plot elements as Showtime's 'Ray Donovan' written by Ann Biderman, but nowhere near its kind of gravitas.

The acting is generally very strong, which in Dutch television is actually rare. Marcel Musters, Anna Drijver and Raymond Thiry are naturals, but a few actors can't shake the infamous Dutch 'stage tone', which drags down the series. Benja Bruijning is a terrific addition from the 2nd episode, which made it stronger than the first, but not strong enough to get me to watch ep 3.

This series was definitely made by a very skilled and experienced director (Ben Sombogaard) and writers, but it feels like they lacked the vision on how to tell a relatively standard story to today's audiences, who have been spoiled with the likes of David Fincher, Aaron Sorkin, Vince Gilligan, Matthew Weiner and basically every HBO show. If RTL wants to be a contender in the on- demand future of TV, they better start hiring crazier writers and show runners.

This is a Dutch family drama set around two feuding families the Vonk's and the Kester's. The families have two basic areas of contention.

First is an accident that happened 15 years prior involving a tractor trailer being driven by Vonk patriarch Luuk Vonk and a family car being driven by a Kester. The result of the accident was the death of both Kester parents leaving the two young siblings Lynn and Martijn Kester orphans. Their uncle and aunt, Henk and Lilian, adopt and raise them as their own with their older son Felix.

Second is the development of a true black tulip, it would be the first in the world and both families are eager to achieve the goal and claim the $80,000 euro prize. On the eve of the annual flower parade, Luuk Vonk makes the big discovery that he has a black tulip. Unfortunately, he dies...with a little help from Martijn Kester and the fall-out of his death sends his Black Tulips on an interesting journey.

I love the use of Shelby Lynne's song "Wayfaring Stranger" for the theme song for Black Tulip, it sets the mood beautifully for this twisty family drama. Which brings me to the second thing I really enjoyed about this Dutch series and that is the twisty plot. I enjoyed how things kept coming back to the accident and changing our initial perceptions. I enjoyed watching people make decisions out of hurt and anger and then seeing the rippling affect that, that really has. Also, all the interconnecting ties that the two families have make the story interesting and help you want to keep tuning in.

On a personal note, the character of Ben Vonk drove me crazy...the continual quest for more money, and not a prudent bone in his body. I feel like his wife could not only do better, but deserved more. His mom and the other enablers, should have been knocking some sense into him at a much younger age. Roos and Jisanne Vonk were great. It was fun to see these two separated by four generations interact...one just starting her life, but seeing the ghost of her deceased grandfather and the other desperate to not leave this existence. They bookended the Vonk family in a beautiful way, staying outside of the chaos and hostility with the Kesters.

I enjoyed some of the art...from the paintings of Marieke to the floral floats for the initial parade. It was fun to see the massive greenhouses and the process of bulb production in the Netherlands, especially for me as a Skagit County girl...who has driven (or been driven) through our tulips fields every year since before I could walk...and am writing this review just as the tulips are just starting to show their colors which will attract the hordes of tourists, especially those coming down from Canada.

I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a good family drama. I think this walked the fine line as a drama and was saved from falling into the soap (or daytime drama) category by some decent writing. It's been fun for me to see a lot of these actors in other projects (like The Story of My Wife).