Kreauwen

Competitive reality TV does not get much better than this. Every episode is basically a bunch of people playing board games for 90 minutes and it is some of the most exciting television I have ever watched.

I have put off watching it for a long time because I always thought that there would be a significant language barrier, but you get used to reading the subtitles surprisingly quick and it does not take from the experience at all.

Every episode, even the ones that should have been boring and predictable, are elevated through the use of flashbacks, flashforwards and plottwists paired with ridiculously exciting music.

Whenever you think an episode might end in a predictable matter, there is a significant chance that you will soon be met with a rewind that shows how the game was actually being manipulated by a different person this entire time, all while listening to a soundtrack that wouldn't be out of place in your favorite dramatic action or heist movie. Giving you the chance to experience the surprise and shock of the players that are now screwed, right along with them.

Besides the format and the editting, the cast and their interactions are really fun to watch. When I was on my first watchthrough I was always excited for the exciting teaser for the next episode. Even THAT was something to look forward to.

I always thought it was difficult to give a show a 10/10 rating because even the best seasons have their low points, but The Genius has enough high points to make up for it. Because like another review once stated: "The Genius is an experience you can't get anywhere else".

I think this show is severely underrated. When solely seen as a Squid Game-themed game show rather as something larger, like an extreme example of the dehumanization of capitalism or whatever that review said, it is quite enjoyable. It is not supposed to be some sort of fictional work of intellect, it is a game show with a Squid Game theme...

To be honest, it is actually better than it ever should have been allowed to and some parts go unnecessarily hard. "War" is by far the best episode. Although the two episodes after that kind of ruin the pacing with some boring filler content and mostly just introductions to new characters, it was a good first half overall.

I consider season 2 of this show to be where Dutch television peaked. The main theme of season 2 is "Love" and it fits perfectly. I can't think of another Dutch/Flemish show that ever comes even close to season 1 and 2 of Het Huis Anubis. I have watched it two or three times now and I enjoy it every single time.

It does get a little worse starting with season 3 for me and that is usually where I tend to stop binging it. I really like the mystery of season 3 but it doesn't really hit quite the same as prior seasons. Jeroen (who I consider to be the best character of the show) is turned into a somewhat boring role. Him being absent for a majority of season 4 is also a big loss.

Though I don't doubt that this will forever stay the best fictional show that Dutch television has to offer.