Rocco Schiavone

My wife and I loved the series. Like many series, it got better as it matured over its 3 seasons. It wasn't overly violent compared with many US cop shows and had humor throughout just like the somewhat similar Montalbano. The Aosta scenery was often beautiful and we enjoyed seeing the various locales used. Our main complaint was that Rocco smoked constantly.

I loved this series. I binge-watched it. Rocco was such an interesting character, philosophical and sexy. I think it was the first Italian series I've watched.

The detective makes this show. His outlook on life with his dead wife haunting him for 7+ years is incredibly realistic. He cares deeply for people but hardly cares about himself at all and isn't afraid to cross a few lines along the way. The show takes a hit with the stupid detective comic routines, but if you're a bit melancholy yourself you won't be disappointed by this one. It could also help if you speak Italian. I only found English subtitles. I found the dangerous battle against organized crime realistic as as well. In many countries there are criminal organizations that are nearly as powerful as the government and they are not afraid to assassinate cops. Overall, very entertaining.

Roco Schiavone is a touching and beautifully made mystery series. A brilliant detective who grows up in Rome with thieves as friends, but thieves with honor and a belief in only taking from those who deserve it. Rocco loved his wife, and continues to be haunted by her as she tries in vain to get him to "live his life' without her. He is sent to work in a beautiful but freezing location in the Italian Alps. Everything about this show is wonderful from touching and often funny dialogue between the motley crew Rocco works with, to the moments he spends with his wife's ghost, to the adorable dog he adopts after his owner is found dead, to the exceptional and pitch perfect acting. A special show indeed. The only other mystery I like as much right now is Vera, they are both beautiful, rich and moving mysteries.

/refers to all 4 Seasons and episodes/

Well, I mean, no constant sunshine, lambent sea, people with a few sexy clothes, but high snowy mountains, cold and moisture - this is Aosta, almost Switzerland, far away from Rome, a real hinterland... But crimes occur there as well, although not often, so the personnel is not too gifted and experienced. So Mr. Schiavone (splendidly performed by Marco Giallini, who was before unknown to me) has to deal with both current crimes and his "demons" from the past, sometimes helped by some dubious childhood friends and balancing on a thin line of right and wrong...

In spite of some evident exaggerations in depicting some officials, the Series is pleasant to watch, gloomy crimes are stressed by the bad weather, and the wrongdoer is not revealed too soon. Schiavone´s past enables to include leitmotifs in addition to the cases to be solved (usually 1 per episode), thus being part of the modern, 21st century approach and moving beyond Poirot-Wallander type of series.