Carlo & Malik

Is racism that archaic in Italy? Goodness, I hope not. Maybe it's just the translation? Well, barring that wretched part, it's a pretty good cop show.

It features a base background kind of like soap opera story, which on top attaches one crime intrigue foreground tale with quick resolution in each single episode. The base story with attractive characters is what makes it compelling, it resurfaces in full force during the last two episodies where it takes over. Leaves some channels open to make a second season.

Nothing frantic, sans car chases (if Luc Bresson did this series, the adrenaline would be higher). The pace of this show seems more life like than most North American 'cop' shows of a similar ilk. The actors are very watchable, the show does scratch are the underling racism Europe - most particularly I think this part (Italy, France, Germany) are suffering from. I very much like that this show doesn't use the glamorous European locations they could, instead, we see the graffiti laden buildings, the squalor of the immigrant sections. In North America this show would probably never get made, guns aren't pulled and shot a few times an episode, the pace - IS SLOW. A nice change of pace. I am 2/3 thru season one, I don't know if there are other seasons.

This show has a decent plot and actors and I am enjoying it. Glaring is the portrayal of overt racism against the cop Malik...every 10 minutes someone either refuses to believe he is policeman, and asks for a "real cop", girls run up to "see the black cop" and then run away, people don't believe his partner would ever agree to have a black partner...it just goes on and on....like watching something out of the '60s. Is it really that bad in Italy? Wow. depressing. And of course, they have to keep repeating that he was way at the top of his detective class...as that seems the only way he would get a job like this...yikes.

I am almost finished watching this series and hoping there will be more than one series.

Set in Italy with dubbed American voices but the dubbing is very well done.

Alba, one of the main characters and daughter of the main policeman is a very attractive girl and plays her part very well.

I had no idea that racism was so bad in Italy. It features regularly in the show regarding the black policeman. The fact that one suspect refuses to talk to a coloured person is pretty awful to watch. Interesting stories and good acting all around make this an entertaining show.

If I have one complaint it is the soundtrack. As soon as people start talking, they play really loud music over the dialogue. It is very distracting and annoying and really spoiled the show for me. This seems to be a trend and is happening in a lot of tv shows and movies lately. It is a trend they need to drop.

I would happily recommend this show for anyone who likes police shows. The scenery is realistic and not glamorous. There is mild profanity and some nudity. All in all, a good show.