The City and the City

I can't say I didn't notice how the creators pretended that their creation held some deeper meaning; I noticed, and it didn't. However, the whole series had an intriguing premise (the art of unseeing reminded me of the famous three wise monkeys), a decent totalitarian atmosphere with a hint of mystery (which unfortunately somewhat dissipated towards the end), and solid acting performances. Admittedly, some aspects left me a bit disappointed, but overall, the series didn't heavily disappoint or anger me. Even though it wasn't a masterpiece, I enjoyed it enough to give it a four-star rating. / Lesson learned: Always look for corporate practices behind everything. 4*- (08/12/2023)

I typically rate pilot episodes of TV series with a three-star rating because I'm usually still getting acquainted with the plot and characters. However, this time I made an exception because this peculiar venture intrigued me right from the start. I'll openly admit that I'm still not entirely sure what I just witnessed. Throughout most of the runtime, I found myself pondering the plot, trying to decipher whether it was a crime story, something akin to the Matrix, or perhaps an Orwellian tale. For now, I'm leaning towards a combination of the first and the third. I had the pleasure of meeting policewoman Lizbyet Corwi, who has effortlessly adapted to the rough male world and now can seamlessly blend in with the football crowd. In my opinion, the main character has gained a valuable ally in her, with a nose for good hair and important VHS tapes (for the younger ones, I recommend Googling this term). Overall, it was a captivating first encounter with this series, and I'm already looking forward to the next episode. / Lesson learned: While Terry Pratchett once created the twin cities of Ankh-Morpork, China Tom Miéville takes it a step further. (08/09/2023)

Another episode, another city, but unfortunately, no improvement in quality. It's a shame, but at the same time, there hasn't been a decrease in quality, which is a relief. The creators are unseeing things here and there, causing me some significant confusion because with these blurred shapes, I constantly feel like my vision has deteriorated. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it's just a crosshatch area. I'm not sure what it will be like when (or if) a third city is added to the current twin cities, but hopefully, I'll manage to navigate through the chaos. I'm still enjoying the story, the characters are intriguing, and the two types of totalitarianism are well depicted. As a bonus, Paprika Steen appeared in this episode. So, for now, I'm satisfied, although I believe there is room for improvement. / Lesson learned: Never jump back-first into a problem. (08/10/2023)

The episode follows current trends and considering that the series doesn't actually focus on romantic relationships (unless we count the relationship between the main character and his wife - who is currently missing), it couldn't be overlooked. In all other aspects, this episode maintained the level of quality set by the previous two, but it raised significant concerns in me because I have a strong intuition bordering on prophecy that the creators will not manage to satisfactorily answer all the questions raised by the previous events within an hour. I was delighted with the presence of Paprika Steen last time, but it turned out that her role was more of a walk-on character, which is a shame. I find the series intriguing; definitely not a relaxing show that would allow you to switch your brain off. I am concerned about the execution of the upcoming finale, though. / Lesson learned: Those who won't take the advice will get a bullet. (08/11/2023)

Contrary to my expectations, the creators managed to tie all the loose ends. I can't say I was completely satisfied with the result, as some solutions felt somewhat predictable and cheap. I was leaning towards a stronger three-star rating, but in the end, I added a fourth star as an apology for my earlier doubts and for still managing to enjoy myself despite all the imperfections. / Lesson learned: When your eyes open wide, watch out for small, flying insects. (08/12/2023)