As this six part series opens it is 1978 and the Cold War is still ongoing. Victor Godeanu, a member of the Romanian intelligence services and advisor to President Nicolae Ceausescu, walks in to the US Embassy in Bonn intending to defect. He has second thoughts when he sees a woman he recognises. Early episodes intertwine current events with the events that happened a few days previously that ultimately led him to decide he must leave his homeland and his wife and daughter. Eventually he does meet with CIA agent Frank Jackson. As soon as his disappearance becomes known the Romanians are determined that his treachery will be punished. He may be in West Germany but he is far from safe, neither are his family back home.
I thought this was a gripping series. It captured Cold War tension and had a real sense of danger. There was also a sense of intrigue; Victor's world was very murky leading to his motives not being too obvious. While the story is fictitious the way it used real events, most obviously the Camp David peace talks, gave it a feeling of reality. The cast was solid although I can understand Romanian viewers being more particular concerning those playing real people such as Ceausescu and his wife. At six episodes in length the series neither feels rushed nor does it drag. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to fans of cold war drama.
I thought this was a gripping series. It captured Cold War tension and had a real sense of danger. There was also a sense of intrigue; Victor's world was very murky leading to his motives not being too obvious. While the story is fictitious the way it used real events, most obviously the Camp David peace talks, gave it a feeling of reality. The cast was solid although I can understand Romanian viewers being more particular concerning those playing real people such as Ceausescu and his wife. At six episodes in length the series neither feels rushed nor does it drag. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to fans of cold war drama.
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