Unité 42

I don't get the ratings...it's such a great show! This show kept me glued to the screen. Different stories from the ones usually told on this type of show. Billie's kinda annoying in the beginning but it gets better. Great characters, great storyline. Highly recommend.

This Belgian series is set in Brussels and each episode involves investigations into various crimes where computers are involved in some way. Our main protagonists are Inspector Sam Leroy, a widower with three children, who has recently transferred to the unit and Billie Vebber, a young former hacker who now works as a police officer. Most cases involve murders where Billie's skills are required, sometimes involving bending of the rules.

I really enjoyed this series; unlike most series these days the main plot in each episode is resolved within that episode. It still makes sense to watch every episode in the correct order as there is some character development which takes place over the course of the series. Some events may disturb some viewers; most obviously a case where child abusers are targeted and we learn some details, obviously not too many, about what happened to one child. The cast, both regulars and guests, do a solid job bringing their characters to life. While some of the computer elements are not too believable they are certainly better than many programmes and films which deal with the subject. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to fans of crime dramas. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long for Netflix to get the second season.

These comments are based on watching the series in French with English subtitles.

This reminded me of shows from the 70s, 80s or 90s. Each episode is an individual case which is solved in the end and then you start again in the next episode. Despite good performances and decent dialogue it's all a little to neat and formulaic. Saying that, it is watchable and requires no commitment from the viewer so you can watch a single episode and walk away without feeling that you're missing something.

Unite 42 is a Belgian production. The detective team is of a cyber-crime flavor and the "42" in the title is in reference to "Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy".

You never know when you start a series if you'll like it or not. I've recently turned off some shows after a few minutes, but this one caught my interest and I ended up enjoying it.

I always watch international productions like this in the original audio with subtitles. Subtitles don't bother me at all. I understand some people hate them.

Once again we have a single parent detective (in this case, its a dude) as the main character. The kids are not quite as annoying as they are in some other series (I'm looking at you, Deadwind). I thought this actor was very good.

Another major character is the female tech wizard and she is truly the epitome of annoying.

But overall, I really got to enjoy the characters. The plots -- well, they were sort of silly and so much just magically happens without the characters doing much if any real police work that you have to chuckle. One basically needs to suspend disbelief.

Also... if you are technically inclined, you'll find yourself rolling your eyes quite a bit. The writers do try but... much of just too far-fetched to believe.

This reminds me a bit of a French show called "The Detectives" -- its sort of semi-comedic cop show and very different from the heavy, depressing Scandinavian shows and the angst-ridden Brit series.

There was thing about this production that I really liked and thought kind of unique: there are these shots where the victims, while still alive, look right at the camera. They only last a few seconds but.. they are incredibly poignant. It's like a reminder that while this ia a procedural, that somewhere back in the distance the story is about a person whose life ended. I found it just heartwrenching.

So... this is okay. I'm glad I watched it and was sad when I realized I'd just finished the last episode. I find myself hoping there will be more.

The ratings here are too low, I'm guessing because a lot of people don't like subtitles and want dubbing. But this is a fine series, well written, produced, and acted-and serious viewers want to hear the language and the actors' voices. My reservation is that in crime procedurals the victims are so often women, and they never seem to have a security system, dog, or at least mace. It's just maddening. And why are pictures of naked women on the walls where they eat. I get that they're special ops in a basement, but come on. But, despite rather stupid production gaffes, this is a good show with a lot of strengths and surprising moments of tenderness.

Recommended.