Silêncio na Floresta

This was a gripping series...until the last episode or two. The plot holes are so large that, frankly, the resolution doesn't make any sense. For example, one character ends up somewhere where they logically could not be.

The pacing also had issues. Way too many long scenes of people staring off into space or kids posing for the camera only to have some important plot detail rushed through as quick as possible.

I hope the book is better because I really can't recommend the show.

Some outstanding performances, script can sometimes feel a little slow and muddled but a very intriguing premise that is well executed.

This six part mystery is centred on Pawel Kopinski, a Warsaw based prosecutor who is forced to revisit a tragic event from his past. A man's body is found and items found with him point to a link to Pawel; at first Pawel doesn't recognise him but then realises he is a friend he last saw at summer camp in 1994. Through a series of flashbacks we learn that one night four teens disappeared from the camp in the woods, including Pawel's sister. Two bodies were found and the others assumed dead till one died as an adult; Pawel must consider the possibility that his sister is still alive. While he is trying to uncover the truth he is also dealing with a rape case where the father of the accused, a prominent journalist, is applying pressure to have the case dropped.

I haven't read the book so I can't say how this compares; I did enjoy it though. The mystery quickly got me hooked and the way the stories played out in two different time lines worked well. The woodland setting of the 1994 storyline was suitably atmospheric; brightly lit by day as the teens enjoy their camp but suitably sinister once darkness falls. Plenty is packed into the six episodes as suspects emerge in each case and blame is pointed at the camp's owner. The cast is impressive, most notably Grzegorz Damiecki as Pawel and Agnieszka Grochowska as Laura Goldsztajn, the owner's daughter in the scenes set in the present and Hubert Milkowski and Wiktoria Filus as the same characters in 1994. The rest of the cast is pretty good too. The various questions are resolved in the final episode; some details the viewer is likely to have figured out while others provide a nice surprise.

These comments are based on watching the series in Polish with English subtitles.

This is an intriguing, twisty, heartfelt drama from the mind of the great Harlan Coben. It's great that he is so focused on opening our eyes to talent across the world, and doesn't assume that the best actors come from America. Make the effort to watch this with the subtitles instead of the English language dub; the dub loses all of the emotion and intonation from the rather wonderful Grzegorz Damiecki, who really brings home the heartache of a man who has lost everyone he loves and is searching for answers.

First of all: I really don't like polish tv series, they're dull, with horrible acting and every actor speaks like having lockjaw, so when I turned "The Woods" I was very cautious and expected turning tv in circa 10 minutes. Well, turned out I watched four episodes at one go and today I finished last two. I loved locations and cinematography, acting is very good, also music is quite good. If you like scandi noir and tartan noir with its slow pace, twists and "nothing as it seems" plots - you'll be delighted as I am.