User reviews

As Episode 1 of "The Thaw (2022 release from Poland; 6 episodes of about 45-50 min each) opens, we are introduced to Detective Zawieja. Much to her dismay, she is just informed that the recent death of her husband, a police officer, is ruled an apparent suicide. In a parallel story, a woman is found dead in a river. Turns out to be the woman is the daughter of the District Prosecutor. And she was 9 months pregnant. Detective Zawieja takes the lead in the investigation... At this point we are 10 min into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: this is a crime mini-series out of Poland, and other than recognizing Polish actress Kataryna Wajda in the lead role of Detective Zawieja, I can't say that I am familiar with anyone else on the production team or the cast. Based on the opening 2 episodes that I've seen to date, this is OK although still a bit tentative so far. Of course also plot-heavy so I'm not going to say anything about that. The production is sleek but I found the acting of some of the cast (not Ms. Wajda) slightly stilted at times. But here is the bottom line: we are in search of a killer and this whodunit has caught enough of my attention that I will check out the remaining episodes when they become available.

The initial 2 episodes of "The Thaw" were released this past weekend on HBO Max, where they are now available on demand. New episodes will be released on Fridays. If you are interested in a crime series that is definitely not your regular Hollywood fare, I'd readily suggest you check this out.

UPDATE 4/22/22 I've now seen all episodes. I've upgraded my rating to 7 stars. Things really get more interesting as the episodes roll along. All is revealed in the final episode. Check it out.

The story is concise and goes straight to the point. Which is both good and bad, good because it doesn't feel stretched and you don't get to be bored, bad I will cover below.

The shots are nice, most of the time you can feel immersed thanks to the camera work, it doesn't feel static.

The setting is good, it creates a gritty mood and that works great with the story that's being told.

My main problems with this show are:

The ending, which I don't think was thoroughly explained, even though I had watched this show in two sittings, so I don't feel like I forgot or missed much.

There were no fillers and sometimes it felt a bit rushed. We didn't get to know anyone on a personal level, apart from a few flashbacks for the main character.

And while we're at it - the all-knowing main character. It felt like every call she made, even by coincidence, was correct and pushed the story forward. There was not a lot of mystery solving, it felt like she was supposed to find clues and answers and she did that easily, without much thought.

Overall I believe it's worth giving it a shot. Are there any better, short shows? Sure, but I don't think you will have a bad time with the Thaw.

... good Polish crime drama... entire cast is very solid and production values equal any top notch shows being made anywhere today... yet this series works as well as it does because of Katarzyna Wajda... she is outstanding through each and every episode... guarantee you'll be searching for some-any of her other screen work... ending was slightly muddled and predictable, but overall it's a series well worth searching-out-watching.

The Thaw is well-written and acted, esp. Kataryna Wajda as Det. Zawieja. The cinematography featuring a dreary Polish port city is suitably creepy. My main criticism is the "bad mother" motif. The single mom detective who can't look after her child is the most tired trope in Euro-Noir. It slows everything down and adds nothing except canned bathos. There's always a dead husband who the woman is grieving and the kid is a mess because of it. Then there's the mother or grandpa guilt-tripping the bad mom. Really annoying and unnecessary. Grieving and torment are fine for noir leads but the whiney kid has to go.

A promising beginning, interesting story, nice cinematography. Unfortunately it devolves into silly, overwrought melodrama. The final three episodes made me feel like I was watching a telenovela- it was that bad.

I really object when an otherwise decent police procedural stoops to stereotyping a female lead as an irrational, impulsive liability, rather than just allowing her to be a good detective who gets the job done. And then to have to watch her fall into bed with a hated moronic colleague in a moment of weakness - shame on you filmmakers for giving in to this kind of crap.

I'd add that I'd choose subtitles any day over the truly awful dubbing HBO Max jammed down my throat.

I second my fellow commentor, smashcut' s review to the t as it voices common frustration of majority of us Euro-noir bingers. Creators need to decide whether the series will be a gripping, compelling thriller/police procedural or a cocktail of mainstream drama with thrilling crime infusions. And why resort to that kind of desperation when you have a such a compelling thriller with high potential at hand?

This is a much sophisticated screenplay to be wasted on cheap stereotypical soap drama. Please leave that to daytime...of course unless you wish to be in the same vagon with all mainstream H. Coben adaptations..if so we bid you Farewell.

This HBO production is the first Polish, and for me the first Polish crime series I have ever seen. From what I saw, there must be more to come. The series is very good. The environment and characters may be reminiscent of similar Scandinavian series, but still have a different expression, which makes it stand out. The action unfolds in a Polish city, with a female protagonist (investigator) struggling with her own troubles and problems. Her fierce struggle to find the truth rubs off on us who watch, and I think that every single one of the 6 episodes was both engaging and not least very exciting. The script is good, the plot seems involving and everyone involved is believable. Will there be a new series? Hope so.

The cinematography was great, the pace was fine, although yes it is slow, I just don't mind that in this instance. The problem with this series is a police detective who does not notice that she is being followed day after day by the same car? That it is her young daughter that notices? And maybe it is just the polish culture but the detectives behavior toward each other and their suspects was inexplicable to me. Overall, it could have been great but the behavior of too many of the main characters was just, well, lame. Hence only 5 stars and that is mainly for the cinematography. I fast forwarded the last three episodes just to see what happened. Not a good indication.

Deep characters, wonderful scenery and very engaging plot. The case of the missing child and a female detective who is looking for any piece of life in her job - This series will surely stay with me for a long time.

This series follows the recipe used in so many Polish mysteries. Make it as confusing as possible, throw in a couple of scenes randomly that have little or no connection with the current thread, ensure that the editing offers no chance of viewer continuity, and have a fair amount of moralizing about religion. The story is poorly told with huge plot holes, and leaves one wondering about the efficiency of the Polish Police Force. Best to watch the version in Polish and subtitles as the dubbing is hopeless. It will help pass the time when there is nothing much in your streaming queue!

This is the first polish series I really enjoyed, even though there is nothing really unique about it.

This series is simply a murder case that the detective and the team need to solve. The pace is fine and the climax reached perfectly, not slow or fast, not boring nor forced.

If you enjoy murder cases then you will be fine with this one.

I didn't really know what to expect when I started this series.

Actually this was my first polish TV series ever.

I really liked the movie. Photography is amazing, music is also a great choice. The whole film has a depressing vibe that accompanies you from start to finish. I really liked it and although my tips were constant, I didn't guess until the end who could be the killer and where the baby might be.

Overall, I really liked it, it was tied up and it was a nice surprise, so I give it 10 points.

Nevertheless, I send my greetings to our Polish brothers from Hungary.

This drama is very similar to many Scandinavian cop shows with its grey exteriors, neutral colour favouring wardrobes of its lead characters, and of course, a cop who manages to solve the mystery all on their own.

The show is very confusing. The main character is a cop, widow, and now single mum, mourning the death of her cop husband, who died under mysterious circumstances. Her daughter is a pre-schooler who she seems to just leave a school or with Grandpa and never seems to develop a believable relationship. I'd even argue that the daughter is solely in the series as a plot device.

But the actual crime story is very confusing. The murder victim is the daughter of a high-powered prosecutor. She gave birth before being murdered and her baby is missing. But it took the writers 4 episodes to untangle a suspect in the disappearance and it still wasn't 100% clear how that person was involved.

More confusing and frustrating is how many cops at the station try to derail the investigation with their aggressive and violent behaviour towards anyone coming in for questioning. Maybe that's just standard police TV protocol but the "good cop, bad cop" routine is so overused.

The side-side plot about the main character's husband's death was another confusing rabbit hole I wish that the writers had left alone.

Acting is fairly good but nothing special. The scenery makes Poland look as cold and grey as an English countryside. This show really could have been set anywhere in Europe due to its generic scenery.

Unless you speak Polish fluently or can quickly read subtitles, you may miss some important information as I definitely did watching this. I had to rewind several times to understand where the story was going.

6.5 stars out of 10.

I am at episode 3 now and am still interested in the plot of this series.

My biggest compliment is that this has been dubbed into English so I do not have to read it. It seems like Poland and Norway do not have any problem dubbing their series or films.

I like the series and films coming out of Europe a lot, but I do not like to read the dialogue while I am trying to watch the action on the screen.

There should be a way for viewers can opt to have all films and movies dubbed just by clicking in icon. I am sure the technology exists somewhere.

Anyway, I do like this series and the mystery within the story line. I do also agree that it was not necessary to add a daughter to the main character.

But just hang in there and keep watching even if it gets a bit slow sometimes.

Why is this title "The Thaw"? There was no thaw observable anywhere: neither in the landscape nor in our protagonist's relationship with her young daughter.

It became not only frustrating but then downright disgusting to watch our protagonist ignore her daughter, and pass her off to whoever might be willing to take her . . . Again . . . And again . . .and again. And when no one is available, you take her to a crime scene?

New scenery and an unfamiliar cast held my interest . . . Just. Between the tired plot with outcomes perfectly predictable from the first episode to the outcomes themselves, both negative and positive, I found it overall quite unsatisfactory.

Everything exceeded expectations. Great acting, plot and filmmaking. The lead character and her partner had a good tension between them. The side stories of each character involved in the murder investigation kept the audience guessing as to what was a red herring and what was important. Many poignant scenes that were filmed so perfectly they evoked empathetic emotions and tears. Only good films can do this. The moment between the lead character and her deceased husband's father when they both realize how he actually died-so well portrayed and emotional. The final episode of season one was extremely well done. Bravo to all involved in this project.

Not sure what is this actually about.

Is it possible that it's another story of a murder, in which for 6 episodes we are wandering through mudd buildings and sad buildings with a policeman leader? Who has a number of sepf problems?

The main character is very good, not irritating. Good camera shots. Besides, there is nothing. There is no apparent bond between mother and daughter. A child - as in every Polish film - wooden.

Waste of time.

Well done show that starts off slow but gradually picks up as more and more of the plot is revealed. Katarzyna Wajda plays a grieving wife and a mother torn between her daughter and job. Wajda delivers an excellent performance that draws you in.

The plot is complex enough to keep the story interesting but keeps the twists from becoming a distraction from the characters personal storyline.

It might just be that I am American and Polish men behave differently but almost all of the male characters are uncaring jerks. I'm hoping the writers did this to make her situation seem more dire and not a reality.

Must watch,fantastic 6 part crime series,I was totally absorbed from start to finish,mind you had to download each episode,and then SRT subtitles (English)and then embed into each episode and was totally worth it...don't miss this,rating 10!

The Thaw is a crime drama/ mystery set in Europe.

The series has a dark/ gritty feel, which is good. The story centers on a female detective investigating a woman's murder

The story is nothing special and the characters are pretty cliche. Although the main character is not a total 'Mary Sue,' the character does have several "Mary Sue" character tropes: Only she has the powers to solve this crime, everyone else is obtuse, arrogant, or just background noise. In addition, many of the characters surrounding the main character are one-dimensional, male chauvinist types whose sole purpose appears to be to impede her plainly superior investigative skills that allows her to see things better than everyone else.

I've watched a few Polish police procedurals, they run the gamut from terrible to really pretty good. I've enjoyed this one the most. Great acting, story isn't too complex which a few other policja have issue with. This has a good mix. Good production as well. I feel compelled to recommend this because I watched another Polish policja show on Max USA and it was really bad. The personal lives of the leads aren't too much and I liked that they didn't try to write the personal lives into the crime in the first season. It's easy to become convoluted when that is the case. It also made the police competent not fumbling for weapons or missing obvious clues. Is it the best police procedural of all time, no but it's very watchable and didn't have me exasperated.