Epitafios

it's an argentinian series, well executed but I jumped off the boat around the third episode.

This is from HBO's website for the show - http://www.hbo.com/events/epitafios/

I set my DVR to record the first episode, as I was a fan of the Argentinean films El Hijo de la Novia (Son of the Bride) and Nueve Reinas (Nine Queens), the latter of which was remade last year for American audiences as Criminal. Also, the show stars Cecelia Roth, who has popped up in a handful of Pedro Almodóvar films.

I recorded the premiere and watched it over the weekend. Interesting and engaging storyline, so I went ahead and set a Season Pass for it. Then, earlier today, I looked in the ON DEMAND area of my menus and they already had the whole series there, so I cancelled the Season Pass and plan to watch the episodes when I have some free time.

This is on HBO On Demand again until the 17th. I'm through seven (of 13) episodes and it's great so far. They actually provide information on the killer and the meanings behind the killings as the show progresses rather than withholding everything until the last couple episodes. The show is fast-paced but isn't rushed and the characters are interesting, especially the dad of the lead detective on the case. I think I saw this being aired once on HBO a few months ago. I wonder why it didn't get a bigger push. Was it just shoved off on HBO's Spanish-language channel?

There's a guy in my office who reminds me of Renzo. He NEVER buttons his shirt up all the way.

I've seen the first four or maybe five episodes (stupid devil-weed), and I think it's a pretty fucking great show. I was trying to describe it to a friend the other day, and the one I settled on was, "If Saw was good, and in Spanish, it would be Epitafios."

Also, is the show set in Argentina? I was assuming it was Mexico City at first, but I never noticed anything to confirm or deny it.

I saw the climax of episode 10 coming but damned if it wasn't another kick in the nuts anyway. This show has only stumbled a couple times so far. I'm afraid it's totally going to drop the ball at the end.

The ball was only partially dropped by the end. There are a couple cliche things that happen to let the killer get away at certain points and the cops are dumber than they should be at many stages in the game but it was still a very enjoyable show. Kind of like a long form SEVEN where the killer has a better motive than "OMG, society is teh sux".

Good show, but a couple of things bothered me. (vague spoilers to follow)

1) I guess Renzo and Laura meant well, but goddamn they sucked at their jobs. I mean, by the end of the show, about 17 people have died directly because of Renzo's inability to call in back-up or apprehend the killer when he had him cornered.

2) It sure took them a long time (seriously, like 7 murders, including some cops) to put more than 2 people on the case. Argentinian law enforcement has some efficiency issues.

3) I never need to see another scene of a serial killer working to classical music ever again.


All in all, though, even when things sometimes got formulaic or unbelievable, they managed to keep them consistently unsettling, and I like that they didn't go for a totally happy ending like I thought they might.

I dunno. I definitely got the feeling that they were stretching Renzo's ineptness to allow for the killer to get away episode after episode. I like the idea of a truly fallible protagonist in a thriller like this, but after awhile I started thinking they should take him off the case, and I don't think that was the intent. What bothered me more, though, was the lack of manpower that the department devoted to what had to be their most important, hugely embarassing case until the last couple episodes.

I noticed that about the topless scenes too, and it made me very, very happy.

I did think it was weird that Renzo refused assistance repeatedly. I can see how he wanted to redeem himself and how he took the whole thing personally but, man. It wasn't until those close to him were in danger than he wanted to start adding people to the case. I think the ineptitude of the police went on at least a couple episodes too long.

I can't believe he was allowed to refuse assistance for so long. About episode 7 or so, he tells someone, "they've put someone from homicide on the case." This is after, what, 9 murders in a month? Several of them cops? All by one person? For comparison, the serial killer from my hometown, BTK, killed I think 7 people over like 10 years, and the police and FBI and who knows what else were all over that. That was the biggest wtf to me.

Has anyone watched the second season, and if so is it possible to enjoy it without having seen season 1? I'm trying out HBO/Showtime and there's a bunch of episodes from S2 available On Demand right now.

I haven't seen any of the shows. But the actors on season 2 are even better than season 1.
Glad it got to you guys. I'm all for more Argentinian set TV going global.

There's a 2nd season? I seem to recall the end of the first closing the book on the storyline pretty hard. How does that work?

 

The second season has the same cop, different killer. Instead of the gravestone/epitaph "clues", it has a storyline with a psychic character providing the names of future victims. It's a pretty weak hook, compared to the original.

Bumping old thread because I finally watched this show by marathoning both seasons over the weekend. Lots that I like about it. The giallo factor, the general style and mood. The idea of a different victim every episode, with chunks of the bigger mystery revealed bit by bit. Some nice production values and cinematography, dig those city shots of Buenos Aires. The best is the acting though- Julio Chavez is brilliant, taking the standard hard boiled, world weary cop role and giving it a real kick in the nalgas. Consistently entertaining performance from him even though his character is kind of a moron at times. I love how he refuses to button up his shirt properly. I love every time he mutters "que hijo de puta!" (sorry Jack Bauer's "dammit!", but I've moved on). He also has this uncanny 1970s Roy Scheider thing going on with his face sometimes, very endearing. As for the other actors, Cecilia Roth is just a fascinating actress, and Villanueva Cosse as the dad may be stuck in a wheelchair but he still reeks old school badass. And Antonio Birabent and Leonardo Sbaraglia are pretty amazing bad guys, charismatic and believably crazy, like Chavez they somehow bring a freshness to roles that have basically been done many times before.

Lots of problems though too, all of them with the writing. And they only get worse with season two. Cop movie cliches abound, plus plot holes, and dead-end subplots. They don't seem to get how to bring the story to a satisfying climax. Few too many predictable "twists" (is anyone really surprised when the transvestite hooker takes off his makeup?). And total keystone cops syndrome, with the bad guy getting away again and again and again. And Renzo Marquez is so utterly shit at protecting his own family and friends from psychos that Brad Pitt at the end of Seven would look at him and think "there but for the grace of God go I".

But I'm an easy mark for a cop vs killer story, and the things I like about the show ultimately put me in the fan column. So I'll be back if there's a season three, as long as Renzo returns. QUE HIJO DE PUTA!