Salamander

Season 1 was average/slightly above average. The second season didn't make it that high. While the story around Jonkhere bank was still intriguing, the Belgian-African adventure was often boring, the protagonist seemed more and more insipid, and the logic faded over time, and with it the whole story. All in all, I wasn’t impressed by the series, and I consider it to be a waste of time. (12/21/2018)

The Belgian filmmakers greatly disappointed me with Season 1 of Salamander. I was looking forward to a real crime series with elaborate atmosphere, suspense and action. Instead, I got something that felt like a farce at times. The protagonist, Inspector Paul Gerardi, didn't even need to bother with any investigative work. He was led to the goal from the very beginning by an intricate series of total coincidences. Plus, the constant flashbacks to what had happened previously in the story got on my nerves. I felt as if the target audience were people suffering from senile dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. 3*- (12/15/2018)

The first episode serves as a typical introduction to the series, where we get to know the characters and the main storyline. The tension and atmosphere worked pretty well for me. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that I've seen a similar plot before. So, three stars will have to do for now. (12/09/2018)

I'm dropping my rating to two stars for the second episode. The private investigation in the bank felt incredibly amateurish, and my disbelief peaked when the experienced detective used the same gun a suicide victim had, then tried to convincingly claim it was a suicide. The only thing missing was someone saying, "It's not what it looks like." (12/09/2018)

I was initially leaning towards giving the third episode three stars. However, Detective Paul Gerardi let me down again. He lost his cool and flagrantly broke several rules right in front of a police car. So, two stars it is. (12/10/2018)

There are definitely some questionable moments in this episode, but I'm willing to overlook them. Gerardi might make some dumb decisions, but his fear for his daughter is palpable. It feels like the creators bit off more than they could chew. The main issue is the weak script, which drags everything else down with it. (12/10/2018)

Aside from the highly unrealistic integration of Paul Gerardi into the P9 organization, the episode was quite enjoyable and breezy. The balance between the investigation and the relationship drama was well-handled. It all made for a pleasant, three-star episode. (12/12/2018)

Another three-star episode — it’s just middle-of-the-road content that neither impresses nor offends. It's a shame the creators haven't managed to create a truly paranoid atmosphere, which is something the show's theme practically begs for. (12/12/2018)

The episode was pretty dull, with too much time spent mourning the wife’s death. Gerardi’s revenge quest quickly turned into a farce. If you’re pointing a gun at someone’s head for information, it shouldn’t end with you getting nothing and sharing your life trauma with everyone around. (12/13/2018)

This episode was a star better than the previous one, mainly because I enjoyed the flashback. However, it's pretty clear now who’s behind the safety deposit box heist and their motive, so the writer really dropped the ball. Now it's just a waiting game until Paul Gerardi figures it out too. He's got another lucky break by running into someone who can help him out, but seriously, aren't there a few too many coincidences at this point? I guess not. (12/13/2018)

I was actually enjoying the political intrigue of the powerful Salamander organization. But then the script fell apart in the final moments, taking my rating down with it. Seriously, lying in wait only to start shooting after the target is out of sight behind an obstacle? What was that about? I get that Paul Gerardi has to survive, but wouldn't it have been simpler to just skip the shooter altogether? (12/14/2018)

Either the writer can't craft better scenes or just doesn't care, assuming the audience will settle for mediocrity. It's frustrating because the foundation was promising. I enjoyed the orphanage subplot and the tightening noose around Persigal. But then it devolved into C-movie horror territory. To top it off, swapping out a magazine after a single shot? Come on. (12/14/2018)

Paul Gerardi, through an incredibly unlikely series of coincidences, ends up exactly where a thorough investigation should have led him. It's so charmingly silly that I gave it three stars. I have to say, the flashbacks to Wolfs' youth are quite entertaining. (12/15/2018)

I've gotten used to the writer messing with me, but this time everyone joined in, and it was just too much. The case ended exactly as I predicted (the script made it clear halfway through the series), but some of the creators' ideas were beyond laughable. Emile Jonkhere faked an attack with a band-aid on his forehead (maybe he got poked with a pin), Wolfs was driving around town with a bullet wound in his chest like it was nothing, and the highlight was "Klaus" getting shot. Three bullet holes in a triangle on the door, yet he stumbles out with three straight-line chest wounds. Normally, I’d laugh, but here it just annoyed me that the creators didn't put in the effort. (12/15/2018)

I wasn’t very pleased with Season 2 of Salamander. Granted, it couldn’t have really disappointed me either, because after the first season I wasn’t expecting anything groundbreaking. I was just surprised how the creators gave up on their effort to write a good story. In fact, they only used what they thought had worked last time and applied the same strategy to the second season, which bummed me out right from the start and it didn’t get any better afterwards. I was quite bored, the characters’ actions often didn’t make sense, and I was glad when it was finally over. (12/21/2018)

The Belgian version of War with the Newts has returned for its second series, and although I didn't expect significant (or any) improvement compared to the first season, the opening episode managed to unpleasantly surprise me. Part of the plot took place in the land of some future fellow Europeans, and I have a very unpleasant suspicion that it could be a series filmed with the help of EU grants, so that in the end, the Belgians could lament and welcome a lot of new enthusiastic scientific workers. I sincerely hope I am wrong. (12/16/2018)

It seems the second season is closely mirroring the first. Apart from the African storyline, everything feels like a repeat - the powerful Salamander is once again rearing its threatening head, and Gerardi's new family finds themselves in danger all over again. (12/16/2018)

Finally, an episode that I can rate as slightly (very slightly) above average. Ignoring some of the main character's odd behavior, it seems that this season Paul Gerardi has actually decided to investigate the case, rather than relying on pure luck like he did in the previous season. (12/17/2018)

The show sadly fell back into its usual subpar groove. Most of the time was spent on Paul Gerardi’s escape from P9, the super-secret service, which wasn’t enjoyable at all. Paul showed a complete lack of imagination, making his escape attempts painfully boring to watch. (12/17/2018)

I appreciate the attempt to spice things up with the quirky character of Rudy, but I still have to stick with my usual two-star rating, mainly because of Jacky. I get that people can behave irrationally, but fleeing Belgium out of fear for your life only to meet in a hotel room to sell diamonds is just bizarre. And those two pulling tricks like they’re in some kind of street hustle — why not just take the diamonds? What would she have done? The scriptwriter clearly isn't keeping up. (12/20/2018)