I really wanted to like this series and watched right up to Episode 6 ebfore calling it quits. In the end the often visceral violence, sex, and swearing could no longer disguise the weakness of the plot and the characters who inhabit the world of 'Dogs of Berlin'. For a lot of the time the plot simply doesn't ring true and is frankly incredulous. For example at one stage early on, one of the main characters gains access to the dressing room of the German football team before a vital match, and orders everyone out except the players. He gives them some news in the hope of influencing the outcome of the match. Yeah, right. Totally unbelievable.
Many characters seem caricatures, such as the police chief who is in a same-sex marriage, or another who barks orders like a Nike advert, "Just do it!". The head gangster is portrayed as a psychopath, etc. It all feels terribly cliched.
The full frontal male nudity feels gratuitous rather than in any way developing the plot, or character development. The same with the various sex scenes. It all felt a bit like, "how far can we push this", rather than trying to deepen the characters or advance various plot lines.
The series also attempts to draw attention to theunder-current of neo-Nazi fascism in the under-class of white Berliners. An important issue and one that is indeed deeply concerning. But here it feels like a caricature.
These are important issues facing German society and this series deals with them in a sympathetic and a time courageous manner. I just think the basics of character and plot development took second place to these issues.
In the end, seeing splattered brains on the footpath and hearing so many four-letter words to describe female genitalia got the better of me. I don't think I'm a prude but violence, sex and foul language could not alone sustain my interest over ten episodes. I needed more, so stopped watching Your milage may well indeed vary.
Many characters seem caricatures, such as the police chief who is in a same-sex marriage, or another who barks orders like a Nike advert, "Just do it!". The head gangster is portrayed as a psychopath, etc. It all feels terribly cliched.
The full frontal male nudity feels gratuitous rather than in any way developing the plot, or character development. The same with the various sex scenes. It all felt a bit like, "how far can we push this", rather than trying to deepen the characters or advance various plot lines.
The series also attempts to draw attention to theunder-current of neo-Nazi fascism in the under-class of white Berliners. An important issue and one that is indeed deeply concerning. But here it feels like a caricature.
These are important issues facing German society and this series deals with them in a sympathetic and a time courageous manner. I just think the basics of character and plot development took second place to these issues.
In the end, seeing splattered brains on the footpath and hearing so many four-letter words to describe female genitalia got the better of me. I don't think I'm a prude but violence, sex and foul language could not alone sustain my interest over ten episodes. I needed more, so stopped watching Your milage may well indeed vary.
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