Review

  • Warning: Spoilers
    This is a TV series that feels that it stretches out a 2 hour cyber-thriller mover into an 8 or 19 episode version. The two season Hanna Amazon Prime productions don't add any new dimension to the film Hanna with Cate Blanchet.

    What is impressive is that the lead actor was also a producer and director! At times, he has the intensity (and looks) of Tom Hiddleston.

    The pacing would be found to be slow for US viewers who want everything immediately, but for those who appreciate plots and relationships that unfold (slowly) but unexpectedly, there is much internal drama in the periods of silence.

    The plot itself is not original - intrusive, blanket surveillance of everyone, everywhere, supposedly to provide predictive intelligence on terrorists, but utlimately, if unchecked, provides too much temptation to be used for selfish, monetary, or plain evil ends by the people/organizations who alone know them, and control them.

    The plot has elements of Mr. Robot (lone, save-the-world hackers), The Fugitive (innocent man who has been framed and on the run), Person of Interest (omniscient intelligence algorithm that can use anyone's data and manipulate them, visually, factually, database wise, with no oversight), and the unprincipled, asocial secretive State operatives who justify the most evil behavior as "in the interests of national security".

    The atmosphere is ponderously monotone, matching the grey buildings, grey weather, and humorless personalities; there is no comic, colorful, or verisimilitude relief. That's fine for an hour or two in a film, but all season long without reprieve may turn off viewers unaccustomed to the German-theme of "angst" as part of life.