User Reviews

I love Polish Crime Series such as Oldwilz (The Thaw) and Rojst (The Mire). I had really high hopes for Forst and the series started really good. The atmosphere is really good and acting is good. Nevertheless, it was a bit hard for me to finish this serie since I started to notice plot holes with each episode. The ending was shocking but still there were many gaps in the story which makes it really hard to understand because the motive of the killer is unclear. Furthermore, it was hard to understand the last scene of the serie. I guess that there will be a second season which will explain everything but if there will be no a second season then I can clearly say that do not waste your time on this serie. As a result 6 points over 10.

Web series review: Detective Forst streaming on Netflix

This Polish Web Series based on a novel showcases the life of a brilliant but troubled detective Wiktor Forst, whose maverick ways get him kicked out of his job . Will he still be able to work outside the system without any rules and get to the bottom of grizzly murders that r taking place and catch the killer who is committing his crimes with impunity!!

Starts off decently as the first three episodes showcase the murders being carried out with a message. These episodes r the best of the six part series where they showcase Forst's inner demons and the murders.

I don't know what happened next .. guess the writers got lazy and finally in the last episode they literally bailed out leaving the passengers ( viewers) mid air twiddling their thumbs to figure out their own version of the ending 😄!!

Some positives - The cinematography is brilliant, the snow clad mountainous landscape in Zakopane,Poland adding to the captivating & visually stimulating ambience that is truly out of the world. Kudos to the cinematographer!!

However, was it necessary to show the altitude of all places showcased in the series ( the reason is unclear.. actually doesn't serve any purpose!!).

Acting is not bad with the cast giving an earnest performance!!

Downers - the non linear narrative, coupled with names that r cumbersome to remember ( keep in mind , it is a Polish series !!) make it difficult to co-relate things and piece together the finer nuances of the tale!! The ending too leaves more questions than answers.. with the conclusion left entirely up to the viewers!!

Hope there is a sequel soon to give answers and provide closure to the unfortunate viewers!!

Not bad .. a one time watch. Cudve been much much better with the writers doing their job especially in the last three episodes of this 6 part series!!

Going with 2.5/5 .. adios 🙂!!

#sanjuzzreviews #netflixindia #detectiveforst #polishwebseries.

This series has an excellent premise, a very interesting and solid development, a severe amount of violence, a cunning villain, relatively well-developed characters, a fluid and tense script, good actors, good performances, atmosphere and photography that are always heavy and suffocating, in other words the almost perfect recipe. At times it even reminded me of Seven.

But the ending is absolutely disappointing. I even think that the final scene was written on purpose to leave a hook for a second season. However, I believe that if there is, it will be clear that everything would be resolved with one more episode, not an entire season. It would give a rate of 7, but with that ending, 6 is enough.

Some screenwriters need to be humble and remember that sometimes less can be more.

I liked the look on this one so I decided to watch it and give it a go.

What I got after the series had ended was a slow burner which is fine if the story goes well, but this one wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be so each episode went awfully slow.

Next was the story line, Forst who is the main character was bedding every woman that looked at him, really were all those women that desperate to sleep with an ordinary looking guy?

This side of the story had me rolling my eyes and asking myself really, which made me laugh out loud.

Then there were the awful, tiresome sex scenes just to show how much of a stud the hero was.

When it came to conclusion, I knew who the main bad guy was halfway through the series.

If Netflix have another one of these Forst series, I will not be watching it.

Do yourself a favour and give this a miss.

The last minutes of this seven series thriller were ruined by a poor end that I cannot spoil further here. These episodes included everything that you expect from a dark murder mystery. The soundtrack and special sounds made it really creepy. The main actors delivered a top performance and I watched it in original language with French subtitles. Nice landscapes of Poland that I have never seen before offered the perfect atmosphere. The running time of each part wasn't too long and it was never boring. This novel has been written by the polish writer Remigiusz Mróz.

It is not a very new and never shown story but the elements were original. I would have rated 7/10 but as I told at the beginning the end was disappointing and so the final vote is 6/10.

The thriller series had an unnecessarily convoluted plot that left me utterly confused. The confusing ending added to the frustration, making it difficult to enjoy the overall storyline. I expected a gripping resolution, but instead, it felt like a jumbled mess that left more questions than answers.

This thriller series lacked any cohesive link between its storylines, making it a disjointed and unsatisfying watch. The plot elements seemed randomly thrown together, resulting in a narrative that failed to engage or make sense. The absence of a clear connection between events left me feeling disconnected and disappointed with the overall viewing experience.

Detective Forst started eerily well with the spectacular wild scenery., supposedly in the Tatra Mountains. Then the usual graphic scene of introductory violence. Interesting use of altitude changes as setup for each scene. But the problem started for me when I realised that the actors weren't really there. Neither a hair was ruffled nor a flake of snow touched the obviously warm and dry cheeks of the gathering that discovered the first body on the wild and blizzardy mountain side. Outdoor sound effects were realistic, but clear dialogue showed no battle with the elements. They were obviously filming indoors, with that scenery just just running in the background. Filmed cheaply, doubt whether I'll bother to proceed.

I am just glad that I actually decided to give this show a watch and not swipe it away because unfortunately that is the level of quality of most of the netflix's shows these days; the very thumbnails are repulsive ! However, this is a fantastic show and I was disappointed to learn that S01 ended with just six episodes..Hope new season arrives soon.

However, I hope that new season focuses more on Detective Forst's detective abilities to help him get out of the predicament he finds himself into, as we learn from one character that Detective Forst happens to be the ace detective. Better not reduce the character to mere sex and headaches.

From poland! When holly-weird-usa went on strike, the smart guys at netflix said let's start adding subtitles or english dubbing to all our films! So we have police detective victor forst investigating a moidah in poland. Borys szyc is forst. When two dead guys are meant to look like suicides, forst is on the scene. But he seems to have lots of enemies; he's already been thrown off the case, for some reason. Someone high up... somewhere, doesn't want the case solved too quickly. And his own love life is goofed up, since his ex is acting crazy. And one of the bodies turns out to be the son of the high minister. But the body has no head! Can they prove it's him? And what doesn't the minister want coming out on the six o'clock news? Female nudity in episode four. It seems to boil down to past history, and wictor's origins. It's pretty good. Entertaining stuff. No big surprises, but an interesting story, directed by daniel jaroszek.

The Poles know how to make quality, dark crime thrillers and dramas. That's why it was a pity that this was not one of them. The series starts promisingly, but by the third episode at the latest, the downward spiral begins. The series becomes more and more implausible and illogical. At the same time, the number of clichés increases. Not even the twist at the end saves the series. That in itself is very unfortunate. The beginning seemed promising, the series was well made, shot and staged. The landscapes were on the one hand starkly beautiful and on the other hopeless. This was a missed opportunity.

Our Polish cinematography is always behind - 20 years after the world discovered romantic comedies, we were making romantic comedies, and now, 10 years after the world discovered serial killer series, we are making serial killer series. And each one is identical. Every dark Polish series is a mishmash of Swedish series. There's a detective with a past, who has issues with his superior, there's a rebellious journalist, there's a psychopathic killer performing rituals. How many times have you seen this? So this one is for connoisseurs - those who don't have enough yet. The actors are good, the cinematography is good, but there's too much repetition and too many stereotypes. Not great directorial work.

This is a Polish drama about an a police officer using unconventional methods to track down a serial killer. I believe it is based on a best-selling book? I really enjoyed it although I had no idea what was going on really.

Wiktor Forst has been sent packing from the police in Krakow due to some misdemeanour and is back in the back of beyond, in the mountains, in his home town's local force, when a particularly gruesome serial killer goes on a killing spree. The victims are connected, but how?...

At every new location a caption appeared on screen to tell us how far above sea level it was. Perhaps because I'm only 19 metres above sea level, I didn't quite understand why I needed to know this or what difference it makes. In any event, It was quite high up.

At a couple of points I got James Bond vibes. In one episode they visit the mountain top hideaway/nightclub of an eye-patch wearing evil genuis (or something) which was very George Lazenby 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'. Forst also sits in a shower with a love interest, which is rather Daniel Craig in 'Casino Royale'.

At other times Forst reminded me of 'Kev' from Ricky Gervais' show 'Derek', particularly when he was making luurve to his numerous lady friends (not all at once of course) in a caravan! Honestly I am quite concerned Forst will have a sexually transmitted disease because there didn't seem to be much of a gap between the ladies, some may even have been the same day.

Yes Forst is a bit of a ladies man. The whole time I was watching it I was thinking he reminded me of someone and I think I have concluded it is Roose Bolton from GoT or maybe Jason Isaac's. Anyway I wouldn't kick him out of bed, unless he took me back to his caravan.

I guessed who the killer was immediately on seeing them but it didn't detract from the enjoyment.

I thought Forst had some fab music in the soundtrack which really helped the atmosphere.

Overall great fun, I'm confused but I'd watch another series.

Devoting 4.5 hours to a six-episode TV series, only to be left hanging with unresolved plot holes and the prospect of another season to possibly provide answers, is quite disheartening. This series, while showcasing exceptional cinematography and competent acting, disappoints in its storytelling. The lack of a definitive conclusion in the final episode leaves viewers with more questions than answers, undermining the investment of time and emotional engagement. In an era where cohesive and satisfying narrative arcs are crucial in TV shows, this series falls short. It teases the audience with the potential for resolution in a future season, but this does little to mitigate the frustration of an incomplete story. Despite its visual appeal and solid performances, the series struggles to justify the time spent watching it without delivering a conclusive and fulfilling plot.

The latest offering from Netflix Polski (or whatever they call themselves) offers something of a dilemma. Forst is the filming of a novel about a 'renegade / maverick' - aren't they all? - detective, the eponymous Forst, and I, for one, suspect that there are crucial elements in the novel which either didn't make it to the series or perhaps could not make it.

In short, in a sense the sum of its parts just don't make it into a whole. We are left to choose: is this 'a thriller', 'a psycho-drama' investigating childhood trauma or perhaps, least likely of all, an 'art film' masquerading as a thriller. Whichever it is - and I'm not at all sure - it leaves just a little to be desired.

Because I prefer to avoid giving spoilers in my reviews rather than tick the 'spoilers' box, I must tread carefully, but I shall do my best. But, frankly, Forst jumps the shark rather too often. Sometimes that doesn't matter - as we say 'it's not the joke, it's the telling of the joke'. But with Forst unfortunately it does matter.

Forst kicks off with two highly unusual murders, which are both so elaborate the staging of the bodies could not have been achieved by just one person. Then Forst is introduced and I have to say he doesn't really come across as the 'maverick' we are invited to accept that he is.

There follow, in the each of the six episodes of the series, a number of initially obscure elements (and perhaps I am a tad thick), but one or three remained more than a little obscure when the final scene faded to black. Another unfortunate development is that the 'plot' or whatever one wants to call it makes 90 degree turn in the last two episodes and although both 'plots' are seemingly related, none of it is too convincing and the connection between them is not at all clear. Perhaps it will all come a little clearer in 'the second series'.

Then there's the cinematography and the soundtrack: both are more than intriguing and interesting, but neither is 'relevant'. In fact, both are in many ways what is 'best' about the series but both add to a suspicion that Forst is rather too much style and not enough content. And again I am left with the impression that cinematography, especially all that weird camera angled stuff and music borrowing heavily from electronica do the heavy lifting in a great many films.

Take away either, especially 'wacky' soundtrack and that 'thrilling', horror or mystifying scene pretty much doesn't stack up. Both before the function - as here in Forst - of informing the viewer 'right this is the frightening bit'. Taking out the garbage or going down the shop can seem 'mysterious', 'horrifying' or 'thrilling' if you slap a soundtrack on the footage of the deed.

I'm stymied in my comments by my stated commitment not to include spoilers, but I can say that when the final scene does fade to black, there are more than enough loose ends - and not just that final scene - to irritate.

As I say, in many ways Forst is the triumph of style over content. That is fair enough if that is your bag and it often is for me. But I do get the feeling Forst is playing both ends agains the middle and wanting its cake and eating it. Sadly, something doesn't quite come off. That's a shame, but that's as it is.

At the time of writing this has a 5.6 rating on IMdB. That might be misleading: Forst is a great ride, but somehow, though, ita doesn't quite deliver.

I think I said everything in the title of the review.

The ending is especially irritating.

Actors - very good.

Everything else is the wish of the producers, director and screenplay to turn this into artistic masterpiece.

They didn't make it.

Many series have appeared recently with the same problem. They try to leave an open ending, yet make it seem perfectly done. But viewers are not fools. We have a psychopath who kills, and no one is smart enough to catch him, and he manages to deceive everyone, and so on, and so on...

I need to fill in 69 more characters, but I've already said everything.

They might get away with it if they shoot a second season and continue this story more thoughtfully.

Forst is incredibly tense and intriguing and I think the biggest factor for it is that it's so short - an episode is about 30 minutes (if you exclude the credits). However, while I still don't see the relevance for all the sex scenes, I absolutely adored the plot. Wiktor Forst is a stereotypical morally grey disgraced investigator who had to move to a small town police station. He is not good with romantic relationships, and his methods are otherwise far from conventional. I don't think the plot was predictable either, though I had some suspicions, and I love that the end left me considering whether Wiktor Forst ever was a reliable narrator.

The plot is borderline parodic in its lack of originality - it's like if you asked a class full of people taking a creative writing course to pen a crime thriller and then had the team from the Zakopane tourism board edit the script.

Reclusive protagonist with a questionable past, a drug problem and a lack of respect for the rules, who also happens to have slept with every female character? Tick.

Bad guy with an eye patch who used to be a Nazi? Tick.

Snowy, moody backdrop? Tick.

Angry boss who locks horns with his subordinate at every chance? Tick.

However, if you get past that, it's actually well made; the cinematography is of a high quality and the acting is solid. Even the script is alright, which is saying something considering the plot on which it had to hang.

There is actually a reasonably good twist at the end, which would mean we'd be in for a second series if it wasn't on Netflix - seeing the reviews here, it'll definitely get canned before they have a chance to wrap it up, which is a bit of a shame. I must say, I am surprised at the amount of reviews here suggesting it's a poor ending - I actually thought the series improved (slightly) as it went and the finale was just as good as anything else you watch before that point; perhaps some people didn't like the fact it ended on a cliff-hanger? Either that, or I've misinterpreted the ending as a cliff-hanger, and it is indeed an astronomically nonsensical 'deus ex machina' ending. However, I suspect I am correct on this one and it was really intended to keep us guessing into the second series.

Anyway, if you're after something to kill the time and you fancy looking at cutscenes of the Tatra mountains, then give it a go. If not, I wouldn't worry about missing it.

I read the books a while back and remember them being pompously written, with repetitive descriptions, and the characters' main personality traits being what they wore, the kind of chewing gum they liked and how much they swore. The series has similar 'depth' and it's over reliant on you having to fill in the gaps in the plot.

The choice of the main actor was also quite predictable, although personally I imagined Forst differently, but thats only a personal opinion.

You get to see the beauty of the Polish mountains though, and if you're not too fussed about things making sense then give it a go.

Some actors are great, the rest are average. Photos and refinement level ok.

I wonder if this is how the books on which the series is based were written. Or are we going to have a typical Netflix treatment again? We will finish the script so that there is little left from the original - because the conversations and characters are very shallow.

A weak script - the dialogues are simply poor and unnatural - it also means weak characters.

It draws on a proven pattern, looking over the shoulder of Scandinavian crime authors, where the misery of everyday life is overcome with frozen tears.

At best, this series can be rated as merely correct.