Der Kastanienmann

When I started watching Kastanjemanden, I got a little too excited, and I was quite generous in my rating of the pilot episode. The following episodes gradually brought me back to reality, and I started noticing logic holes. Plus, the members of the police investigation department were turned into hopeless pawns. Episode 5 seemed like a small miracle for me, but the very next one brought back everything that annoyed me. If there’s something I can praise, it's the perfect dark and grim atmosphere that lasted for all six episodes. I wasn’t exactly thrilled, but I certainly don't regret having seen this show. 4*- (25.01.2022)

The first episode of the show lifted my spirits today. Now, I'm not one to revel in brutal murders, but I was pleasantly surprised by the meaningful, quality dialogues, the mismatched pair of investigators, and especially the gloomy atmosphere that enveloped everything. However, it was once again evident that the series was made under the Netflix banner, checking off all the politically correct boxes. (24.01.2022)

The second episode kept up the tense atmosphere, with moments of added suspense, and the case unfolded in an intriguing way. I was satisfied once again. I had a good time overall and was leaning towards another four-star rating. However, then came the conclusion... The writers did a number on the investigators and made them look utterly ridiculous, which was a bit of a letdown. (25.01.2022)

After the third episode, my feelings are even more conflicted than before. I must admit, the atmosphere and tension in this episode were commendable, as they have been since the pilot. However, I can't help but feel the story is starting to lose its grip on me. The Danes, following the embarrassing performance of both investigators in the previous episode, seem intent on portraying the entire police force as incompetent. It's a peculiar approach, to say the least. 3*- (25.01.2022)

So, it's official: not only did the police fail in this series, but the secret service as well. If I ever decide to take the criminal path, I'm doing it in Denmark. I mean, let's be real, considering I'm not exactly built for running marathons and prefer lounging around, the Danish security forces would probably be the easiest to slip past without breaking a sweat. All jokes aside, I found myself more satisfied with this episode than the previous one. (25.01.2022)

Those sneaky Danes! First, they deceive with their seemingly incapable characters, then they deliver a rather unremarkable performance for four episodes (yes, I'm looking at you, screenwriters), and then they hit us with the fifth episode like a freight train. The plot was gripping, the atmosphere darker than I'd expected, and the tension just kept on escalating. To top it off, the exact person I had my suspicions on from the second part turned out to be the main suspect. That was just the cherry on top of my satisfaction. I'm afraid the finale can't possibly top this, but if I'm wrong, I'll gladly eat my words. (25.01.2022)

I hate to say it, but my gut feeling was spot-on. The best episode was definitely the last one, and now it seems the creators have reverted to their old habits by making both investigators look dumb for the sake of drama. Sure, I could overlook many inconsistencies and those last-minute rescues, but the truth is, it could have turned out much worse. (25.01.2022)