User reviews

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.

Really enjoyed this show. Characters are fun to watch, stories are good, and the additional stories are intriguing. Please make more seasons as there is a LOT of potential in this.

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.

I enjoyed this Belgian crime series right from the first epidsode. It is very well made, and includes good actors and a compelling plot line. Unlike others, I see nothing American about this show. Whilst the IT scenes are a bit far-fetched they never detract from the drama. Given what is on TV at the moment, this series is compelling viewing.

I am on the third episode, and I feel I should be enjoying this more than I am. It has so much going for it. Patrick Ridremont was terrific in En Immersion and La Foret and is good again here; and sometimes it is welcome to have an anthology series, which I sometimes like to watch after watching 8 or 10 episode serials with a demanding, continuous story arc. It has good, edgy storylines; it has well-written dialogue (I have enough French to be able to understand a lot of it in the original with subtitles helping me along with the rest). The problem, for me, is with the editing. During Episode 1, I replayed a 10-minute segment I had just watched, and the longest any single shot was held was 6 seconds - most of the cuts came much more quickly than that. There is therefore a relentlessly manic quality in the way the final product is put together. I think this is possibly intended to mirror in some way the contemporary, unstable, high-tech, high-speed world that the investigators work in, but, for me, it makes it quite hard to watch and retain concentration

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.

This is one of the best crime series I've seen in a long time. The plots keep you pinned to the screen, the pacing and film score are perfectly in synch, and the characters are multi-dimensional, sometime flawed but always human. You care about them. Patrick Ridremont is excellent as the widowed cop trying to do his demanding job and also raise his three small children. Any parent watching him can emphasize. The family situation adds heart and emotional depth to this compelling series. I can only hope that it will be renewed.

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.

I watched only first episode so far, but I dont think it will improve. There are number of cliches about the murderer. Key findings in investigation have depended on coincidences. Usually, this is showing writers are taking shortcuts, or as I see it, lazy writing. I hoped for more realisti police procedure.

I'm a software engineer. The technical aspects of the first episode are complete bollocks. It's possible that the characters and stories in subsequent episodes are decent. But episode one failed on all three counts. Clearly the writers did not have any competent technical advisors.

This show had me watching right from start, great characters with good story.

Its an ok series if not a tad idealistic. The team is good but the somewhat childish enthusiasm of Billie... grating.

I want to like this series as some elements of it are good but it is spoilt by ludicrous plots and ridiculous fantasies about technical support for crime detection . Please ,please dont tell me and dont believe that "Billie", the nerdish IT expert ,can literally find data on everyone in the universe and repair or solve any broken software or equipment ,in minutes,unless you are a conspiracy big state lunatic . Patrick Ridremont as the non techy boss of the unit is excellent and makes you want to watch him and the rest of the team are fine as individuals and actors its just the rubbish they are scripted to say that is the problem .

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.

Quite impressive on first episode itself...nice to watch 45min short thriller movie..

Just started watching this on Netflix and it is a compelling and complex procedural. The characters have chemistry especially Sam and Billie who I consider the main two of the series. Worth watching

Love this show. A total sexy need fest. The crimes are varied and fascinating. The characters backstories are rich.

I really enjoyed much of this series: good acting, quick pacing and decent writing. But over the episodes, I became weary of the overly-caffeinated camera work, with actors moving out of frame and details becoming blurred. I gave up eventually and think what a waste of an otherwise solid effort.

And it's just as well because if the pace were a little slower we'd have time to think about the plot holes and the utter ridiculousness of the internet hacking and detection work.

The first series had more of an overarching theme and I enjoyed it better. The second did too, but I thought the context and its working out were rather hollow and artificial.

I found some of the characters' actions to be completely untrue to life, especially in view of family and work commitments. Risks and actions were taken that I cannot imagine a police team or its members doing. Inappropriate relationships were going on and even when discovered didn't seem to get the officers concerned suspended.

As I said in the title, it was all going at a cracking pace and that made it watchable. I saw the lot and quite enjoyed it. Am I damning with faint praise? I think I am.

Well worth checking out! Based on a cyber crimes law enforcement unit based in Brussels. I thoroughly enjoyed the storylines, writing, acting and production. Its refreshing to view quality who-dunnits that dont follow same old predictable formulae. Character development throughout the first season has been well inegrated without distracting from forward driven plot storylines. Each episode presents self contained crimes, often but not always including homicide, always requiring above average IT skills. The youngest member in the unit is female which made a big difference in realistic representation. Inclusion of a forensic pathologist with a disability is another realistic incousion, thanks to the wroters producers or casting agents who made that choice. I saw the dubbed version although subtitles were turned on also which dont exactly match dubbed dialogue. I persnally dont mind subtitles, when done well they assist in brushing up on other language skills. While that practice is popular across Europe I suppose single language Americans arent keen on this which is too bad. Netflix was started in America? I guess it makes sense theyre pandering to Americans.

I found myself wishing it had been Billie who had been strangled.

It took me a few moments to get into this show. New characters. Foreign language--even with subtitles. There seemed to be a sterility to it. But once I realized what they were about, it became suspenseful and quite exciting. The conclusion had me on the edge of my seat. The cyber crime's unit is very interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes from here.