Brigada Costa del Sol

I really wanted this to be good, but the "Málaga accent" was way off, it's riddled with cliches and I was reminded of how bad some shows from the 80's could be. I didn't think it was possible to make a show like this in 2019. I only saw half of the first episode and that was plenty for me. Too bad.

This show is fantastic, set in 1970s Spain as it adjusts to post Franco dictatorship. The drugs trade is booming in Torremolinos and four police officers are thrown together and become the areas first drugs squad. The characters are excellent, the script and plot is great, the attention to the 70s setting is faultless, and after a slow start, it just gets better and better. It is such a shame that Netflix cancelled the second series, as there are so many loose ends to tie up at the end of season one. Watch in Spanish with English subs for the best vibe.

I loved this show, reminded me of the Sweeney and the professionals from the 70s and 80s. I think the show is intentionally old school and a bit cheesy, but the lot is fun and the characters interesting. I liked the resolution of series one which ties up the story but leaves things open for a second season. There is a bit too much 'male gaze' on Sara Saloma in the camera work, but she is stunning so.....

It can be a slightly slow burn in the beginning, but by the time you're half way through the series you're engrossed in the characters and narrative, with a deepening appreciation for the acting and script.

Season 1: great - that's cult! The choice of actors matches the slanting roles they play. The stupid shooting around for every 20 grams of hash doesn't diminish the fun of the whole story. The retro intro to each episode alone has earned 9 stars.