Fatal Crossing - As Garotas da Balsa

Very poorly scripted, with too many plot holes and unrealistic plot behaviour. Foreign viewers may not notice the theatrically presented lines and artificial lines, but a Danish viewer will quickly notice. Foreign viewers will, however, notice how slooooowlyy things move. The 8 x 40 minutes could easily have been reduced to half without losing anything. But not even that would make it worth watching due to the poor and unbelievable plot. I never understood why film makers don't have professionals proof read their scripts before thet start filming, among others to check if the behaviour of the poliecemen is at least remotely plausible.

I can't even begin to describe what a massive disappointment this show is, no amount of words would be too much.

I remember reading an uncomplimentary review and thinking 'it cannot possibly be this bad, I watched many shows that others thought to be bad but I enjoyed', and I started watching the first episode, and it looked bright and well made and I thought 'this is going to be an interesting watch' but then I got to episode two and it's all slow talking and slow thinking and slow standing and slow looking at things, and there is no reality in which a child goes missing and the police doesn't even bother to investigate, that's when I realised I was watching not only the most boring show in the history of television but also the most unbelievable one.

I hope you read this and go 'this was the most boring review I ever read'. I'm sorry, I was only trying to give you an idea what it's like watching this trash.

This is a slowly evolving narrative. It's not anything like as bad as some suggest. There is nothing doubt some scenes are on the ponderous side so the direction is a bit at fault. The story is credible and interestingly convoluted. There's definitely a number of points where you try to get Nora to behave a bit more rationally. Lisbeth is played with some menace by Susan A Olsen who stands out here compared to other roles she has been given in Borden or The Eagle. Over all worth watching. It is important to accept the play is about the character development and underlying psychology of the individuals here. I enjoyed it even with the slow pace.

I seen some reviews that were critical of the program being far too slow. Apparently, they are entertained by the procedural programs in which after a crime is committed in the first 10 minutes the rest of episode is spent gathering facts and suspects until the last 5 minutes when an arrest is made. Police work often is far more extensive requiring days, weeks or longer to arrive at a resolution. The weakness in this program was the potential police coverup which has become something of a cliche. Also, another cliche is potentially attaching a crime to the wrong individual. Otherwise, this particular program was very entertaining.

So they skimped on an editor - a shame. Could've worked in four episodes. Way too slow paced. The last two episodes, where you'd expect it to become exciting, 'thrilling' it completely deflates and leaves the viewers in this household yawning and glancing at their phones. The author surely can't be pleased with the result? The actors all do their best to make this glacier-moving narrative work, but have apparently all been told to speak excruciatingly slowly. If you have the time, then give it a go, but if you don't need to have everything repeated and regurgitated for you again and again, then give it a miss.