Belgium, where also yours truly hails from, is a great country to live. Period. Sure, we have a political system nobody understands, and we pay lots of taxes nobody knows the purpose of, but there's welfare, freedom, and a rich cultural history. There is one unresolved crime case that is hanging over our country like a dark and traumatic shadow, however, and that is the case of the "mad killers of Brabant" (Bende van Nijvel). In the first half of the 80s there was a spree of violent hold-ups of grocery stores and restaurants, and the gang members didn't hesitate to brutally execute innocent people. Since the beginning already, there were clear indications that prominent police superiors were directly involved and that a genuine investigation was always obstructed. 30 years later, as the facts threaten to render time-barred, the horrible events again lead to a series of (semi-)fictional series and movies. "Niet Schieten" ("Don't Shoot") was a successful film released in 2018, and the series "1985" is also inspired by the same events.
The first episode is immediately captivating, to-the-point and shockingly confronting. The series starts in 1981, with the first unmasking of corrupt police officers and the discovery of their involvement in drug-trafficking. Certain police superiors and politicians consider themselves untouchable, throw decadent parties, and look down upon their honest and sincere colleagues. At the same time, two young and enthusiast cadets enroll into the Brussels' academy. The series feels authentically 80s, with excellent throwback set pieces and soundtrack, and both the script and performances are very promising thus far. The pilot episode ends with an overview of the actual events and archive footage, which I hope is something that will remain in place in all episodes.
The first episode is immediately captivating, to-the-point and shockingly confronting. The series starts in 1981, with the first unmasking of corrupt police officers and the discovery of their involvement in drug-trafficking. Certain police superiors and politicians consider themselves untouchable, throw decadent parties, and look down upon their honest and sincere colleagues. At the same time, two young and enthusiast cadets enroll into the Brussels' academy. The series feels authentically 80s, with excellent throwback set pieces and soundtrack, and both the script and performances are very promising thus far. The pilot episode ends with an overview of the actual events and archive footage, which I hope is something that will remain in place in all episodes.
