(D)evil's Throat: Djavolskoto Garlo

This was a very entertaining watch. I did it over three nights so that shows you how it held my attention. I have friends in Bulgaria, and I have visted them several times over the last few years. The part of Bulgaria where the series is filmed is not all that typical, being a relatively rich tourist area. However, the series delivers some good plot twists and more or less believable characters. I could see how the series would end but there were enough twists to keep you guessing. It was obviously trying to capitalize on the success of Scandi crime series, but I would say that the whole thing was less brooding and more melodramatic. What you'd expect from a country like Bulgaria, where it's not hard to meet older people in the villages who wish they could return to Communist days, and which is run by Boyko Borisov, a leftover from the Communist era and who runs his own security company (if you know what I mean - look him up).

If this is what Bulgarian TV is like send us more. This police thriller starts with a body in a lake where it couldn't possibly be and goes on from there.

There are all there character types you'd expect in a former Soviet block police state government trying to deal with 21st Century problems, migration, internet, teenagers demanding freedom, and David Lynch type plot twists and oddball characters thrown in to keep you wanting more.

12 full episodes, and a soundtrack I would sell my mother to get a hold of.

Rich storyline, great implementation of the beautiful nature in the mystery, fantastic camera and dynamic episodes. It deserves a good distribution!!!

An interesting, sometimes gripping series in which a series of gory murders reference core issues in historical and contemporary Muslim - Christian, Soviet & post-Soviet eras. Two cops from different positions and each with their own family problems must find a way to work together, supported by a local cop team, to unravel the reasons for the killings and reveal the killer. Mia's family issue is a stereotypical teenage daughter stereotypically alienated from her. The daughter is important to the plot, but the whole unforgiving daughter theme could have been significantly edited down. The emotional turmoils of Filip & Mia are rather overdone, thanks to both script and their overacting. And Filip, designed as the moody, sexy hero sometimes verges on the creepy or, at least, a real turnoff. But the supporting cast, particularly the three local cops, are interesting, characterful without falling into caricature, and well performed. The final outcome is obvious in the second-last episode, leaving the final episode to make it all even more predictable.

Up until that point, however, it's a compelling, enjoyable series. And it's worth a watch despite the weaknesses. Revelatory, but not intrusive, history, stunning scenery, glimpses of contemporary life and politics in rural Bulgaria and a beautifully constructed soundtrack that fits perfectly.

The show starts a bit like Twin Peaks and then evolves into a crime thriller. Quite original and it doesn't get boring. Still watching so we'll see ...