Manayek

This is the first Israeli TV series I have watched, although I have familiarity with Israeli culture. If you liked the British TV series Line of Duty, then this is worth a look.

There are 2 seasons to date, with a credible storyline that carries through both. It's essentially about police Internal Affairs officers investigating high level corruption at various levels in the Israeli police force.

The acting is generally good, the script is mostly well written and the direction is generally competent, although not exemplary. There is plenty of attention on the main characters' personal stories as well as the complex web of police investigations.

It's rather rough around the edges with no pretentiousness and little refinement, compared with the more nuanced approach in Line of Duty. The stories are very loosely based on real events in the history of Israeli police, and it's quite revelatory how the main IAD characters cope with the myriad of hurdles and obstructions thrown their way with sad resignation and frustration, almost an acceptance of how things just are. For those who don't live there, it's also quite an interesting reflection of Israeli cultural approach to life in general.

Great acting, very well written. The plot is really good and will keep you on the edge of your seats most of the time.

This Israeli series is centred on Izzy Bachar, a policeman approaching retirement who works in the Internal Affairs Division. When, following a shooting, it emerges that the arrested attacker was a serving police officer Izzy is called in. The officer offers to name corrupt senior officers in exchange for a lighter sentence. The most senior of these is Barak Harel, a good friend of Izzy's. At first he recuses himself from the investigation but is brought back in and soon thinks the statement about his friend might be true.

I really enjoyed this series. Unlike many series that are full of twists and turns it lets us know who is corrupt early on and shows us their attempts to keep themselves from being implicated. The characters feel real, each with their own motivations and the thought that some have been drawn into corruption rather than been that way from the start. Izzy is a great protagonist, unlike the typical Hollywood lead he is world weary; Shalom Asayag does a fine job in the role. Unfortunately only the first season is available on Channel Four in the UK; hopefully they will get further seasons as I really want to know what happens next. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to fans of the genre.

These comments are based on watching the first season in Hebrew with English subtitles.

Manayek is a very good Israeli production of the British Line of Duty.

Both deals with police corruptions and shows each country nuance of cultures.

Must see both.

A well-played police series - corruption in the police and in the higher ranks. Excellent game. In short, an excellent and recommended series. The main actor, Shalom Assig, plays excellently and even won the Israeli Oscar in this role. He plays a role as an investigating officer in the police investigation department. And before retiring he investigates a case of corruption and murder at a police station. The rest of the players play well. The commander of the corrupt station was the hero's close friend. The series has 2 seasons so far and there will probably be a third season (at least). The best police series I've seen.