User reviews

Lets get this out of the way. This is a entertaining series. If you come into this expecting a lightweight by the numbers affair full of the usual cliches, you can't be blamed. It starts with the simple title of the series "Crooks". How can that be really entertaining? It surprises you with the fact that it is entertaining.

Its still a pretty much by the numbers affair but its done very well. I'm not dissappointed in the worn out cliches that are on display. The directors and producers actually took the usual cliches and made it entertaining and suspenseful. I'm disappointed because the series is held back by some very implausible plot decisions. It could have been better. That problem aside, the on location filming and musical scoring kept things moving along very well. The series is worth watching.

The question is can a story about a gold coin be that interesting to hold the viewer in rapt attention all throughout the series? Yes. This is one instance where the viewer gets into a roller-coaster ride from Berlin to Vienna to Marseilles. The ride has enough traction that the viewer is willing to invest his time as the main protagonists go from one mishap to another.

The actors are competent in performing their roles credibly and naturally without hysteria. One can ask another pertinent question: can the relationship of Charly (Frederick Lau) and Joseph (Christoph Krutzler) happen in real life? I guess so if we consider their respective personalities.

The length of the episodes are just right, which means the pacing is ok. And the actors, coming as they do from different ethnic backgrounds, are able to pull off the scenes.

The last episode suggests another season is possible.

This series deserves your time and attention.

I have got this series from a girl friend after I didn't have anything to watch on Netflix.

This series rocked really and I enjoyed to see every episode because it was always very entertaining. I mean there was good acting, nice locations and the story was sticked with suspens and original plots.. It was never boring and the end lets all open for a sequel. Congratulations to all the staff and the actors who did a very good job.

I recommend it to everyone who wants to check out an interesting thriller with emotional moments packed with action. I rate it solid 7/10 for this high entertainment value.

The series captivates with its compelling narrative, keeping viewers glued to their screens. It offers a raw, unapologetic depiction of the underworld, distinct from conventional portrayals by other directors or movies. The creators spare no detail in showcasing the harsh realities and violence of the underground scene. Through a diverse cast of characters and cultural influences from across Europe, the show delivers a fast-paced, action-packed experience that seamlessly weaves together various plot-lines into one cohesive narrative. The slight friction between Germany and Austria is entertaining in terms of language specifics / the way how close and far from each other the two countries are. Worth watching! Thumbs up!

Brilliant show - elements of Dogs of Berlin with a Guy Ritchie edge. Very well done and hits the mark of a gangland action drama, but with an under thread of a real friendship story with a very human touch. Great scenery, fast paced, sure - not the most cerebral watching but really entertaining and captivating. Great characters, great casting, great locations which are represented realistically (Berlin, Vienna, Marseille - all pretty true to reality). I watched it in German with English subtitles (as I always do as find it more authentic) and it didn't disappoint. Not sure why some gave it low reviews - it doesn't promise to be anything it's not. Simply a very good action series.

The only reason I could imagine why this series has so many negative reviews is maybe because one is used to the Hollywood style movies and watched this one in English.

You should really watch it in the original language with subtitles, makes a huge difference! I watched it in the original language and did not find the acting so bad at all.

Now coming to the plot, I found it very interesting and quite suspenseful and made me wanna watch the next one after each episode.

Overall I find the series worth the watch, with good acting, good enough cinematography and a balance of action and humor..

Crooks is a complicated though we'll scripted action packed thriller series, as long as one overlooks the many small unrealistic plot events. (It's easy to look beyond them as the suspense captures the viewer!)

The eight episode season (one) - not sure if there will be additional seasons - also utilizes the different settings of Vienna, Berlin and Marseille well. The change in scenery and cuts to alternate locations adds to the show.

The characters are well crafted - even adding some near comic relief with the Algerian gang chief in Marseille. Joseph, the lovable teddy bear, is endearing.

Charly, the main man, is kind of a renaissance man among gangsters. He can fight, pick locks, use a gun and pretty much do anything else required to keep him and his family alive!

Crooks is a good crime, action show which lulls you into binge watching all eight episodes without much thought. Thoroughly enjoyable!

There is no way, German series at least on Netflix tends to be stupid. This series begins well, then it lapses into idiocy in order to follow the usual plot. Two people get an object many criminals want surviving to many perils in several trivial ways. In the most unlikely ways, other 2 people try to escape other criminals which want their vengeance. Just to understand: imagine a city where hundreds of villains search for 2 people and just the two leaders meet them casually for unreliable reasons annoyed because of unsatisfying results in the search. Unbelievable. One of the protagonist always understand the real intentions of his opponents... What absurdity.

The first few episodes had some good moments, but with each subsequent episode the plot became more and more predictable, full of clichés, the characters were mostly flat and boring. I know that all the dialects are there to better represent the characters and the different groups, to show the local distance and also to clarify the social differences, but often it ended in a minute-long mumble in which nothing could be understood. Why do you have to mumble like that?

Unfortunately, the acting performance of some of the actors was anything but credible. I keep asking myself what makes some German actors think that they have mastered their craft!

Sadly, it was a waste of time and it dragged on like chewing gum.

One advice, keep away from it, at all costs. AT ALL COSTS. This is a pure cheesy, lousy, clumsy, garbage junk destined to homewives.... I expêcted a violent, rough, gritty, poignant series, but I must admit that after seeing GOMORRA, I was really handicaped, because NO SERIES, can give you the same terrific feelings as this Italian masterpiece, and certainly not this piece of sh.... Unbearable characters, - especially this man that should be under diet instead of acting - lousy acting, and those unnbearable romance lines, ROMANCE !!!! In such a story which the ONLY good point is that it is not boring. Yes, not boring, that's the only reason why I could make it till the end. But...Oh my God!!! CROOKS, yes, all the makers of this crap are definitely CROOKS.

The acting, the writing, the plot, the directing, everything is below average here. Way way below.

The characters are caricatural as can be, forget about nuance! The main character is supposed to know how to pick locks, but suddenly he's a martial arts expert, a professional biker, a criminal mastermind.

There's no suspense, it is so un-engaging, with its numerous inconsistencies, holes and blatancy, its clichés and complete lack of atmosphere.

It keeps viewers glued to their screens? Maybe the ones who ate too much and fell asleep.

Not even a mid-tier show, it's painstaking on every level.

Except for two notable Crooks, der Rote and his son, this 'crime' series is an example of mixing cliches with cliches, complete unlogical developments and flat cliche characters. There is absolutely no credibility whatsoever that "Samira" a woman with a college degree (she is a vet) would risk the life of her son and herself for having a relationship with a crook like Charly Markovic. Watching the whole series was a complete waste of time. If you want to see an entertaining crime series on Netflix there are very good options, a 2024 series like "The Gentlemen" is a perfect example of a good an original series.