I liked the concept of re-telling the story of Medea and Jason at the background of Dutch politics, so I had high expectations for this mini-series. Knowing that controversial director Theo van Gogh was murdered right after finishing this product, made it all the more interesting. So, I gave it a try.
When a renowned politician ( Krijn ter Braak ) is in a tight spot due to accusations of being part of a fraud with building companies, his daughter Medea ( Katja Schuurman )allies with businessman Jason( Thijs Romer) to help her father out. At first their relationship is just based on doing business, but it rapidly transforms into an amorous and passionate affair. Jason, being bored by his success in real estate, wants to use Medea as a leverage to gain the political power to become minister-president( PM )of Holland. By campaigning against the so called '' old politics '' he becomes more and more popular among the voters. But by gaining power he starts to become more estranged from his pregnant wife Medea, and their turbulent relation comes to a radical clash.
I had the entire time the feeling that something was missing. It felt a bit too distant and too artificial for my taste. I never had the idea that I was watching real people of flesh and blood. It didn't help that soap star Katja Schuurmans was in a lead role. She's gorgeous by having the beauty of a Greek goddess, but her acting is stiff and shallow. Thijs Romer did a better job. By slightly over-acting he managed to give the character Jason a certain ''theatrical'' air to it. For some reason that worked splendidly.
The screenplay by Theodor Holman was well-written, though I must say that there are too many side roads to keep the main storyline around Medea and Jason from running smoothly. There is almost no tension. Too much happening in too little time.
When a renowned politician ( Krijn ter Braak ) is in a tight spot due to accusations of being part of a fraud with building companies, his daughter Medea ( Katja Schuurman )allies with businessman Jason( Thijs Romer) to help her father out. At first their relationship is just based on doing business, but it rapidly transforms into an amorous and passionate affair. Jason, being bored by his success in real estate, wants to use Medea as a leverage to gain the political power to become minister-president( PM )of Holland. By campaigning against the so called '' old politics '' he becomes more and more popular among the voters. But by gaining power he starts to become more estranged from his pregnant wife Medea, and their turbulent relation comes to a radical clash.
I had the entire time the feeling that something was missing. It felt a bit too distant and too artificial for my taste. I never had the idea that I was watching real people of flesh and blood. It didn't help that soap star Katja Schuurmans was in a lead role. She's gorgeous by having the beauty of a Greek goddess, but her acting is stiff and shallow. Thijs Romer did a better job. By slightly over-acting he managed to give the character Jason a certain ''theatrical'' air to it. For some reason that worked splendidly.
The screenplay by Theodor Holman was well-written, though I must say that there are too many side roads to keep the main storyline around Medea and Jason from running smoothly. There is almost no tension. Too much happening in too little time.