Squadra criminale

These comments are based on watching the first season.

This Italian crime drama is set in the northern city of Turin and centred on Valeria Ferro. She is a detective investigating various 'murders of the week'. These tend to feature more personal motives rather than murders that take place as part of another crime.

As well as these murders there is an ongoing storyline regarding Valeria's mother. Early in the series she is released from prison having served seventeen years for the murder of Valeria's father. She has never denied the crime but her former cell mate claims she is really innocent. Valeria initially wants nothing to do with her mother but inevitably gets drawn into looking into the case. Things are somewhat complicated by the fact that her boss, who she is involved with, arrested her mother.

I really enjoyed this series; the cases of the week very much dominate the episodes but the ongoing story regarding her mother nicely serves to link the episodes and make key characters more interesting. The weekly cases are interesting and the identity of the killer isn't obvious. There are always plenty of suspects and motives to keep the viewer guessing.

Miriam Leone is solid in the role of Valeria and the supporting cast also impresses. I liked the setting; the only other Italian shows I've seen have been set further south, mostly way down in Sicily... this feels like different country. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to fans of subtitled crime drama... assuming you don't speak Italian! I hope we don't have to wait too long before season two becomes available here in the UK.

While there are certain flaws, this series got me hooked. Part of the pleasure is the pacing, which is somewhat relaxed but for me adds to it. Walters pbs intro makes an offhand reference to the Montalbano series which he says non uccidere is superior to and from a certain perspective, this is true. There is virtually no levity here and there are many touching scenes.

My wife and I watched all 4 seasons (48 episodes) and we both thoroughly enjoyed the series which is usual as we often don't like the same shows. It had interesting murder plots in most all episodes mixed with an ongoing family related mystery theme that weaved through all four seasons. The cast and acting was decent and the Turin area scenery was scenic and interesting. While there was a lot of in-office romantic nonsense among the key players, as well as questionable procedural practices at times, the cast and plots kept things moving for us both. My wife liked the romantic stuff more than me and I enjoyed the many attractive Italian women who appeared throughout. The final episode was a bit of a disappointment to us both and we wondered what the writers and producers were thinking with a series wrap like that. Two thumbs up anyway.

We have a beautiful detective with no affect, who goes off the reservation frequently but always solves the crime in the last five minutes. Yep cookie cutter stuff. It is entertaining and the plots are well drawn out with interesting characters and it does match Denmark's "The Killing" in mood and complexity. The main character needs to be drawn out more, driven and severe can only last for so long. I suspect we are inching towards a gradual unveiling. The series could also be better at broadening the other members of the crime team, because it seems like a one trick pony crew.

I really liked this series for the following reasons. 1) The acting is very good, and the child actors are not only adorable but they are also talented. 2) Each murder the detectives investigate is interesting, and involves a different part of society. There are murders were soldiers, monks, mixed martial arts fighters, and various other groups and professions are involved. 3) I was never able to figure out where an investigation would lead the detectives, and who was ultimately the guilty person. 4) While there is an ongoing subplot, it doesn't distract from the various investigations. 5) While I would have liked to see the last season of the series end a little differently. I was okay with the final episode. 6) This series that spans a good number of seasons, remains consistently good to the end. Many series don't sustain the original good quality of the first season. It is my impression that directors and writers leave series after the first or second season. This can be true of the original cast members also. That causes a change in a series, that is seldom good. I'm really pleased that this series had as many seasons as it did. I will miss it.