Unite 42. Involving Belgian cyber-crime unit with strong characters that develop as each episode unfolds

https://youtu.be/IXUqvEbi0XU

Cynics might say that this was simply a Euro-Netflix-by-numbers police procedural series but very contemporary as the crimes (one per episode) are, to a degree computer-based with Unit 42 being the specialist unit that investigates such.

However this would be most unfair for although it does tick very many of the boxes for such a series (traumatised central detective - here coping with his wife’s death and looking after two young children, a team of misfits, notably a genius but difficult young female hacker who has joined the forces of law and order and who has secrets of her own that towards the end start to become apparent, burgeoning and developing relationships among the team, particularly the leader and plenty of very gruesome close-ups (a la Se7en) of the results of the crimes). But all these familiar ingredients are mixed effectively and in an involving manner so that we do not feel it is crime solving by numbers. And while sometimes solving a complete crime in one episode in a series such as this can seem rushed/implausible, here it was very effectively and convincingly done.

A very enjoyable series then, during which you needed to keep your wits about you as the episodes were quite densely plotted (and, incidentally, very well-written). And I much enjoyed the hints about a possible new direction in the second series - which has yet to appear on Netflix.

Thirteen Reasons Why. Remarkably dark, controversial and powerful series, slowly and painfully dissecting the aftermath of a teen suicide

You Series 3. It continues to grip, shock and surprise.