Quicksand (TV Mini Series 2019) Poster

(2019)

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8/10
Decent acting, tough story!
patrios-562845 April 2019
I didn't expect much, so I have been surprised by a well written swedish show. The acting - especially of the main character Maya and her lawyer- has been very good. Some characters could have been scripted a bit deeper, but the surrounding of a tough story with a lot of ups and downs is worth watching. There have been a lot of bad shows on Netflix in the near past: This was none of them!
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7/10
Excellent overall with one major flaw
allenms-775808 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Really liked this series and I thought the acting overall was excellent. But I was floored that the relationship between Maja and Samir was not expanded during the court proceedings. "We were friends" would not suffice when their relationship was much more than that and he clearly had sour grapes. How such a high profile case with the best attorneys would not have turned over that stone is frankly a big miss! Forensic evidence is great, but a spurned lover cannot be trusted!!
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8/10
An intriguing show for binge watching
edita-ivancevic5 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I did not know anything about the show before I started watching it, but it surely surprised me. Quicksand is a magnificent example of good story telling and really good acting. I do not know actor's real age, but it really seemed like they were in their 17s and 18s. At the beginning, you assume one thing, but it has a brilliant plot twist at the end (at least it did for me). Emotions were acted well, especially moments when being high/wasted. I would recommend this show to anyone who has a stomach for vicious violence, doing drugs, even rape. European cinematography has always differed from Hollywood's and similar, and this is a great example of it.
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9/10
The trial was excellent
lottanorin6 April 2019
The first episode was kind of cringe, especially with Majas parents, but it gets so much better and I was unable to turn it off after the second. Great acting by Hanna (Maja) and the lawyer. Very realistic trial and the pace was perfect to keep you in suspense until the end.

Had to watch this since I have kids that grew up in Djursholm and went to that same school called "Sammis" or VRS/VRG. Got some genuin flashbacks from the Djursholms drama, the houses with the typical interiors and I recognised the weird parents with no time but lots of money and the spoiled entitled kids. Most of those kids turned out really good though :) like mine!
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10/10
A winner from start to finish
brmccorkle8 April 2019
This is superb filmmaking at all levels. The pacing was spot on and the story arcs were skillfully executed. The suspense is maintained throughout; the courtroom episodes were terrific. The actors, especially the lead and the lawyer were just great. In fact, all the actors delivered; no weak links. A must see for fans of drama. The sub-titles didn't bother me at all.
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7/10
Was waiting that promised plot twist
leonorarudaj-0680014 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I dont really get why people say it has a plot twist at the end. I mean I thought it seemed quite obvious that she didnt purposely do it. So I was waiting for a plot twist to happen that she did do it or maybe someone completely unexpected was involved but nope. I found it quite predictable, even that mysterious witness was obvious to be Samir. But I still found it a very enjoyable series with a very high suspense note until the end and really great acting jobs by the actors. I bingewatched it in a day so all in all I'd say it's definitely worth a watch.
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10/10
Great adaption of the book
J-2316 April 2019
If you have read the book, there wasn't as many surprises as it might have been if you didn't. However I am blown away by the adaption of this great book and especially the young actors that are in the show. Hanna Ardéhn, Felix Sandman and William Spetz were all marvelous in their roles. I think they all really brought the complexity and seriousness of the characters to life as well as the struggle to handle mental health issues. You can clearly see from the beginning Sebastian's dysfunctional relationship with his father, and how Maja is suffering because she can't save him from his demons which I think that they portrayed beautifully in this show. In conclusion - great acting, great adaption of the book and a great interpretation of the Swedish upper class society

Would recommend this to everyone (do watch with Swedish sound and subtitles instead and NOT the dubbed version)
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6/10
Good but slow
vagins5 April 2019
Quicksand is quite true to the novel. Acting is impressive throughout. Editing could be better, though - the pace is slowed by scenes that are repetitive, too long or simply offers no real development.
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9/10
This is a great show and it's also right for it's time!
ebbewahlstrom6 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This is a tough but important show. Drugs,rape, violence in close relation and one of the biggest problems in the world school shooting! This series shows all of that and it's an very important lesson for both parents and teenagers to see this show. It's also very intressing to see how the legal system works in sweden!
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6/10
It Could Have Been So Much Better
bshaef11 April 2019
The actors were sort of ok and the story moved along well and held my interest for all the episodes which I watched in 3 sittings. However, there were so many holes in the plot and the lead character was so unbelievable that even though I liked the series, I really didn't. I don't know whose fault it was, the writers or the directors but they didn't achieve the desired result. If I was a badass critic I probably would have given this a 2 and torn in to 4 or 5 of the leading characters. Netflix you really crossed me up on this one.
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9/10
If I ever go to jail...
phil-128123 April 2019
... I want it to be in Sweden. What an outstanding justice system they have. People (prisoners, defendants, even suspects) are treated with civility and respect. None of this American influence where courtroom and prison life is made as dismal, dangerous and inhumane as possible. And the prisons: cells with nice lighting, comfortable furniture and guards who genuinely want to help their "clients".

Sound like Utopia? Nope, it's Swedish prisons apparently.
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7/10
Good trama
getuliohf19 February 2020
The story is good but I think this show would be enough with less episodes. However, this show describes well how young people can be stupid when they have the power of money and no behavior limits.
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5/10
Watchable but frustrating
msredsonia-180-8217048 April 2019
I liked the premise and was intrigued to find out how it all unfolded, and it kept me hooked but was ultimately disappointing.

The main reason being I couldn't like or identify with any of the characters. Maja was self-absorbed and too easily influenced by Sebastian, who was portrayed as pretty much a sociopath. Maja forgives him his awful behaviour pretty early on in their relationship so it didn't really come across as domestic abuse. None of the friends have many redeeming qualities except maybe Samir but even he's a little pathetic. And really, wouldn't her parents have a bit more backbone? Totally vacuous characters.

I also found it difficult to know what Maja did and didnt remember. The screenplay kept this vague throughout. But even though she apparently can't remember much, its no secret from the outset that Sebastian was responsible for shooting some people dead. Yet somehow she's not visibly traumatised by any of it and doesn't seem to have changed her opinion of him?

Overall it was okay and the acting was really good, but I probably wouldn't recommend it if there's something else to watch.
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10/10
One of the best non-english laguage series on Netflix!
johanssonv10 April 2019
I very rarely cry over a movie/tv-series but Quicksand managed to captivate me and keep me on edge for the whole 6 episodes.

Acting (especially the lead and the lawyer) are spot on. So is the cinematography and editing. The latter is used to slowly build up a clearer picture of what actually happened in the classroom and run parallel to the story that lead up to it.

As to adress some of the reviews mentioning "plot holes" or "bad acting". DO NOT watch this with a voice over... Also, do not underestimate what PTSD can do to short term memory of an extremely traumatic event. Or how naive a young person can be in the hands of someone manipulative...

This is a must watch!
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9/10
Very thrilling
ludvigburud-956467 April 2019
I am usually not a fan of Swedish film and TV (with only a few exceptions) so I was very sceptical. However I decided to start waching since A. it had funding from netflix, B. a friend recommended the series and C. I am a student at the school in Djursholm that the series portrays (VRG). The series manages to portray all the different steriotypes at the school, and I can recognize schoolmates in the characters in the show (which made the whole thing so much more surreal and horrifying). This show completely blew me away and I have proceded to recommend it to all my friends.

Compared to other swedish shows, the story is very well written, with many ups and downs. I can't say much more without dropping some spoilers. So to conclude, this series will have you on edge and will provoke a range of emotion. Also it's only 6 episodes long so very bingeable. Once you start watching you cant stop.
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6/10
Not enough "due process" even for 1919
refordgarry10 August 2020
In this Viking "noir" we have a contrived situation where leaver-student Maya is a mistaken accomplice of a classroom mass shooting, tension wrought solely by Maya being in the wrong place, at wrong time, with wrong people. What sort of civilized judiciary of would allow a bells-and-whistles trial of a teen on such flimsy evidence? A State Prosecution proceeding on so many counts - conspiracy, plus all THREE counts of murder? Just think about it. Counsels for defense and prosecution would have surely struck some sort of lesser-charge deal here. Unsuitably researched to say the least. A ridiculous situation.
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9/10
Excellent show
dsittek7 May 2019
This swedish show was one of the highlights of the year so far. Not only because of the superb acting and ongoing suspense delivering a high binge factor. I really liked the narration style enlightening the viewer about the initial "occurance" only piece by piece or episode by episode until the whole picture is being revealed in the last seconds of the show. Very good.
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6/10
Not enough "due process" in 2003
refordgarry10 August 2020
In this Viking "noir" we have a contrived situation where leaver-student Maya is a mistaken accomplice of a classroom mass shooting, tension wrought solely by Maya being in the wrong place, at wrong time, with wrong people. What sort of civilized judiciary of would allow a bells-and-whistles trial of a teen on such flimsy evidence? A State Prosecution proceeding on so many counts - conspiracy, plus all THREE counts of murder? ABSURD. Counsels for defense and prosecution would have surely struck some sort of lesser-charge deal here. Unsuitably researched to say the least. A ridiculous situation.
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10/10
The best tv show for 2019
katiha7 April 2019
Ok,so i created an account just because i want to share with you guys that this show is amazing.You must watch it.the acting is increadible,the story is brilliant and tough of course.i saw a reviews like "this is not the reallity,the show is really slow,etc.".i want to tell you that this is exactly the reality.the friendships,the relationships and unfortunatly the connection between parents and teenagers.And also the story is not going slow at all.actually its getting more tense with every single episode.Guys,go and watch it :)))
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7/10
Better not commit mass murder, you might get 14 whole years
segesta6520 April 2019
All the positive and negative reviews are accurate: unlikable characters, baffling political correctness, too long. But also very well acted, an interesting story, and worth watching.
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10/10
Great show and very similar to the book.
agnesselnes5 April 2019
Really loved this show. Its hard and tough to watch but very good.
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6/10
Well shot, but hypotonic.
''Quicksand'' is originally a novel, written by Malin Persson Giolito and it should be noted that the book was awarded with the Glass Key Award (2017). This 6-part television series remains faithful to the original material and if you liked the novel, I think that you will be satisfied by this adaptation. ''Quicksand'' narrates the story of Maja, an upper-class teenager in today's Stockholm who, along with her boyfriend Sebastian, opens fire in their school class one morning with fatal consequences. So, as anybody can understand, there is no mystery here regarding the whodunit aspect but the emphasis is given to the whydunit. What reasons could possibly Maja and Martin have in order to commit such a horrendous atrocity? Through the, slow-paced, evolution of the plot we gradually learn about the true motives of the two perpetrators and the wider context of their troubled lives. There is a lot of family and courtroom drama involved, as we follow Maja's prosecution from her arrest all the way till the final verdict. The main problem is that I find it impossible for the audience to really empathize with Maja, who is the main protagonist, or with any of the main characters for that matter. It is a sad and distressing story, narrated in a distant, even cold, manner. I believe that it will mainly appeal to the readers who enjoyed the novel, otherwise I don't think that it matches with other recent Nordic Noir television exports in terms of quality.
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4/10
It was alright
amandahelton24 April 2019
Nothing to write home about and boring at many times. I agree with the other person, you could watch the first and last episode and get the whole story for the most part.
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10/10
Must watch
bl-7866511 April 2019
I finished the series yesterday and can not stop thinking about it. The filming and acting was incredible. It felt so real.... and how they tied everything together with the last episode. The truth versus the collaborated story based upon assumptions and missing pieces. It really makes you think. No matter what language or culture you can not watch this and not relate to this girl and the story line.
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8/10
Adults failed the younger generation big time.
rachelmoylan14 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I normally don't care for coming of age tv programs but this tackled so much of what young people and parents are dealing with today.

My take away was the adults seriously let the young adults down. Sebastian's father had given up, none of the other adults questioned the kids and what they were doing .

After Sebastian tried to kill himself I was shocked they did not remove the guns from the house. That right there was a huge fault of all the adults who knew there was guns available to him.

Take home was watch and listen to your kids , they give you more clues if you just pay attention, and if someone tries to kill themselves remove weapons .
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