Max Anger - With One Eye Open

I really don't know where to start without jotting down some random events without them being spoilers. Who would pen a a really important and urgent letter on a PC, even in 1996, print it out and send it by post instead of email? The utter cliché of machine guns missing their intended victims and being ineffective against revolvers. The heroes using the same very obvious car all the time yet not being picked up by the omnipresent cops. Bothersome people being left alive by the all-powerful forces they are arrayed against.

Yes, it's all nonsense. However, I watched it all. A plot was devised for the mid 90s that foresaw events in Russia culminating in the situation of the present day. The fictional events leading to today's political and economic circumstance were actually a clever imagining. I just wish the execution and detail of this story of derring do had been more meticulously planned.

There were so many coincidences, hairsbreadth escapes including some out of windows, convenient cars arriving, hidey holes that the police were unaware of.

In the meantime, in Stockholm, there was a takeover drama happening partly dependent on the events unfolding in St Petersburg. There were twists and turns but given the revelations, I was surprised at the "Three Months Later" events pertaining to this.

In the result, this was not a satisfactory series in particular. I watched till the end but thought so much more could have been achieved. There won't be a second series because of the nature of this one and its ending and because all possible secrets were revealed. I'm not really sorry about that.

Was able to watch this series after Viaplay was made available on Comcast in the US. The English subtitles were all bungled, so missed understanding lot of dialogues. Max Anger With One Eye Open is based on the first of Martin Osterdahl's series books 'Ask No Mercy'. I enjoyed the books; like many Scandinavian thrillers, the book is fast paced, gripping and page turner. The tv show, however, deviates considerably from the book. Characters like Mira are not in the book (instead Ilya - Max's friend in the book is an interesting character). I was surprised to see Max speak English rather than Russian with Russians while in the book it is said Max & Sarah met in Russian language class when they were in the military. Anyway, such interesting details were missed in the show. I think all actors did their best given the script. However, I liked the show, better than any US tv show. Hope there will be Series 2 based on Book 2, with better English subtitles!

Considering some of the rubbish on TV these days, this stands out as something different.

It's an old school political, espionage thriller.

The story doesn't lag throughout the 8 episodes and there is plenty of action.

The story is a bit convoluted but it comes together towards the end with a twist that is only shared with the viewer ... clever.

The good are good and the bad are really bad!!

Best drama we have seen this year.

Swedish (English subtitles).

I started to think I was watching the same episode over and over; nothing ever seemed to happen except pointless chases. Maybe this story could have filled out three hours, but eight? Watching became a chore halfway through, but I doggedly finished. Was not worth it.

Just like @laduqesa writes - I also watched it all, even though I had a hard time not to laugh (and totally ruin it all for my wife) during some of the scenes that were supposed to be the most exciting or tragic. I'm not one of the die hard fans of Adam Lundgren but his acting here boils mostly down to him rolling those big eyes of his. Not nearly good enough! Evin Ahmad, as 'Pashie', has also done way better acting but I'd guess the poor general framework for this series just doesn't make it easy for the actors either.

The 90s backdrop, connecting to the dark Soviet secrets of the distant past, works fine and the best part of it all is that the Russians do speak Russian!

The flashbacks from the traumatic events of Max Anger's childhood belong mostly to the comedy department, complete with the must-have lens flares of course.

Putting it mildly: not one of the masterpieces of the genre, this one.