Channel 4 is generally the best place for foreign-language dramas thanks to its Walter Presents series, which brings the best of Europe’s dramas over to British audiences.
The platform, which is available for free, recently acquired Polish-language crime thriller Crusade, which was known as Krucjata when it aired in Poland.
The synopsis reads: “Detective Manjaro and his team in Warsaw investigate celebrity murders, uncovering a larger conspiracy by an anti-system terrorist group.”
The 13-part drama follows a group of detectives as they attempt to solve a series of seemingly unrelated crimes. However, as the drama progresses, it becomes clear that a city-wide conspiracy could be behind the bizarre murders.
Speaking about why he brought the drama into his collection, curator Walter Iuzzolino said: “I have always been a fan of Polish drama, and Crusade is a perfect addition to our substantial and ever-expanding slate of the best Eastern European titles on the market. It is an intoxicating cocktail of gritty and glamorous, fast pace and twisted – a brilliant show which will keep you glued to the screen.”
Although a second season of the show was produced, it’s not currently available to stream in the UK.
Crusade’s reception
Most fans have agreed with Walter on the show’s quality, as one said: “Thoroughly enjoyed S1 can you please air S2 now,” while a second wrote: “Overall, I’d certainly recommend this to fans of Euro-drama looking for something away from Scandi-noir and sunny Mediterranean dramas.”
The praise wasn’t universal as another viewer surmised: “The flow of the scenes sometimes shows inconsistencies. The storytelling could have been handled more effectively. The mysteries scattered throughout the story are not successfully connected with the main structure of the series. Nevertheless, I still recommend watching this series. Despite all my criticisms, I enjoyed it.”
Writing for Entertainment Focus, Martin Howse penned: “This series won’t be for everyone. If you prefer your crime thrillers at the fluffier end of the spectrum, you’d find this show way too bleak. But if you enjoy gritty, urban thrillers, and are prepared to commit for the long haul, this might well turn out to be very rewarding.”
Who stars in Crusade?
Crusade has some of Poland’s most notable actors, including Julian Swiezewski (1983), Tomasz Schuchardt (Good Home), Vanessa Aleksander (War Girls) and Masza Wagrocka (The Mothers of Penguins).
© Channel 4Also starring in the show are Michal Kaleta (The Mire), Michal Czernecki (Na dobre i na zle), Górecka-Hanuszkiewicz Iga (Bunt) and Pawel Mandziewski (Hound’s Hill).
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