The Spectacular
{{Short description|Dutch crime miniseries}}
{{Expand Dutch|topic=cult|date=May 2023}}
{{clear}}
{{Infobox television
| genre = Crime thriller, drama
| writer = Pieter Kuijpers
| director = Pieter Kuijpers
| starring = Hadewych Minis, Jacob Derwig
| music = Arno Krabman
| country = The Netherlands
| language = Dutch, English, Irish Gaelic
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 4
| executive_producer = Alexander Blaauw
| producer = Pieter Kuijpers
Sander van Meurs
Iris Otten
| location = The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium
| cinematography = Bert Pot
| editor = Herman P. Koerts
| runtime = 52-56 minutes
| company = {{Plainlist|
}}
| network = NPO 3
| first_aired = {{Start date|2022|01|02|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2022|01|23|df=y}}
}}
The Spectacular is a 2021 Dutch-Irish crime television series directed and written by Willem Bosch together with Pieter Kuijpers{{Cite web |last=van Steensel |first=Tom |date=2021-12-06 |title=The Spectacular: internationale serie komt naar de NPO |url=https://delagarde.nl/the-spectacular-internationale-serie-komt-naar-de-npo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126111141/https://delagarde.nl/the-spectacular-internationale-serie-komt-naar-de-npo |archive-date=2023-01-26 |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=de Lagarde |language=nl}} and produced by Kuijpers's production company Pupkin.{{cite news |url=https://www.groene.nl/artikel/de-dramaserie-the-spectacular-maakt-haar-naam-waar |title= De dramaserie The Spectacular maakt haar naam waar |first=Walter |last=van der Kooi |date=31 December 2021 |accessdate=22 May 2023 |language=nl |newspaper=De Groene Amsterdammer}} The series is set in the Dutch province of Limburg in the late 1980's when a series of attacks were carried out by the Provisional Irish Republican Army.{{Cite news |date=4 April 2022 |title=The gripping Troubles drama full of NI stars that isn't being shown here |language=en-GB |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/the-gripping-troubles-drama-full-of-ni-stars-that-isnt-being-shown-here/41517730.html |access-date=22 May 2023 |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph}}
Dramatization
The character Fiona Hughes is based on Donna Maguire, who, like brother Malachy Maguire, was a member of the Provisional IRA. Hughes left husband and children in the series to fight for the IRA, but in reality she didn't have children until later, with Leonard Hardy, another IRA activist. She was arrested a number of times and eventually convicted in Germany but was released by the court due to a lengthy preliminary imprisonment.
The role of Jeanine Maes is based on Cees Verhaeren, who in reality led the investigation team. In addition to explosives scout, this police officer was also a negotiator-coordinator for hostage situations and specialized in intelligence work. He worked as Chief of the Regional Intelligence Service Limburg. The cooperation he manages to establish between neighboring countries and the Northern Ireland police has been faithfully portrayed.{{Cite web |title=The Spectacular: Jeanine Maes |url=https://www.vpro.nl/programmas/the-spectacular/dossiers/jeanine-maes.html |access-date=19 September 2022 |website=VPRO |language=nl}}
Production
- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, production company Pupkin could not film in multiple countries as intended, so the decision was made to recreate all foreign sets in the Netherlands.{{Cite web |date=2021-12-03 |title=VPRO komt met dramaserie The Spectacular |url=https://www.broadcastmagazine.nl/in-productie/vpro-dramaserie-the-spectacular/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121145419/https://www.broadcastmagazine.nl/in-productie/vpro-dramaserie-the-spectacular/ |archive-date=21 January 2022 |access-date=23 January 2023 |website=Broadcast Magazine |language=nl}}{{Cite web |last=Moring |first=Evan |date=21 September 2020 |title=Haven IJmuiden decor van Nederlandse dramaserie The Spectacular met Hollywoodsterren uit Game of Thrones |url=https://www.ijmuidercourant.nl/cnt/dmf20200921_92329209 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003004952/https://www.ijmuidercourant.nl/cnt/dmf20200921_92329209 |archive-date=3 October 2020 |access-date=26 January 2023 |newspaper=IJmuider Courant |language=nl}}
Episodes
{{Episode table |background=#0C5829 |overall= |season= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 1
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = Tribal struggle
| NativeTitle = Stammenstrijd
| NativeTitleLangCode = nl
| DirectedBy = Willem Bosch
Pieter Kuijpers
| WrittenBy = Willem Bosch
Pieter Kuijpers
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|01|02}}
| ShortSummary = The Dutch-Belgian-German border region is shaken by a series of IRA attacks on British soldiers stationed in West Germany. An investigation team is being formed, led by detective Jeanine Maes. The investigation is difficult because the police services of the different countries do not work together. It seems that the authorities are training the investigative activities. After an arrest, the case seems solved, but a mysterious female member of the IRA cell, Fiona Hughes, is still missing.
| LineColor = #0C5829
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 2
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = Political bodies
| NativeTitle = Politieke lichamen
| NativeTitleLangCode = nl
| DirectedBy = Willem Bosch
Pieter Kuijpers
| WrittenBy = Willem Bosch
Pieter Kuijpers
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|01|09}}
| ShortSummary = In Germany another attack is perpetrated by the IRA cell, this time involving Fiona Hughes. Jeanine knows that it is only a matter of time before the members will also commit another attack in the Netherlands. She makes a plan to be one step ahead of the IRA members, but miscalculates.
| LineColor = #0C5829
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 3
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = The devil himself
| NativeTitle = De duivel zelf
| NativeTitleLangCode = nl
| DirectedBy = Willem Bosch
Pieter Kuijpers
| WrittenBy = Willem Bosch
Pieter Kuijpers
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|01|16}}
| ShortSummary = A violent attack in Roermond became world news and led to widespread indignation. A major criminal investigation follows and Janine is seeking international support. Meanwhile, the IRA leadership suspects that there is treason and therefore sends a confidant to the Netherlands to put things in order. This leads to the members of the cell coming under heavy pressure.
| LineColor = #0C5829
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 4
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = The Irish cause
| DirectedBy = Willem Bosch
Pieter Kuijpers
| WrittenBy = Willem Bosch
Pieter Kuijpers
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|01|23}}
| ShortSummary = By chance, Fiona and the other members of the cell are arrested. Only their leader Declan manages to stay out of harm's way. Despite the fact that the evidence is piling up, it is proving difficult to get the suspects convicted. Because the Netherlands has no anti-terrorism laws, prosecutor De Rondt has to prove the personal part of the suspects in the murders committed. Jeanine plays a crucial role in this, but she will have to give up her secret to do so. When interests at a higher level appear to play a role, Jeanine is faced with the choice of whether she will speak the truth.
| LineColor = #0C5829
}}
}}
Awards
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Award !Date of Ceremony !Category !Recipient(s) !Result !Ref(s) |
| Gouden Kalf
|October 1, 2021 |Best Supporting Actor Drama Series (2021) |Michel Sluysmans | {{won}} |
Cast
- David Eeles - George, MI5
- Hadewych Minis - Jeanine Maes
- Aoibhínn McGinnity - Fiona Hughes
- Carina de Vroome - Leonie van Hartog
- Jacob Derwig - Frank Maes
- Michel Sluysmans - Martin de Waard
- Jochum ten Haaf - Joris
- Porgy Franssen - Sjuul Livestro
- Kenneth Herdigein - Boudewijn de Rondt
- Ian Beattie - Corey O'Keefe
- Kerr Logan - Patrick Lynch
- Cillian Lenaghan - Paul O'Keeffe
- Declan Conlon - Declan Moore
- Michael Patrick - Robin
- Gary Crossan - Michael Handler
- Torsten Colijn - Andrew Garrison
- Fred Goessens - Joep Henriks
- Karen Sibbing - Hedwig
- Nevajo Rezai - Danny Maes
- Mitchell Havelaar - John Habets{{Cite web |date= |title=Volledige Cast van The Spectacular |url=https://www.filmvandaag.nl/serie/7875-the-spectacular/cast |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121201740/https://www.filmvandaag.nl/serie/7875-the-spectacular/cast |archive-date=2022-01-21 |access-date=2022-01-21 |language=nl}}
Reception
Walter van der Kooi, writing for De Groene Amsterdammer, said the show lived up to its name. He praised every aspect of the show, including its scope, its international cast, its production, and its ambition.
References
{{reflist}}