Sleeping Dog Review: The German limited series going by the original title Schlafende Hunde, is directed by Stephan Lacant and Francis Meletzky and is written by Christoph Darnstädt, Noah Stollman and Oded Davidoff. The series stars prominent actors like Max Riemelt, Melika Foroutan, Peri Baumeister, Carlo Ljubek, Melodie Wakivuamina, Antonio Wannek, Luise von Finckh, and others. Sleeping Dog is a 6-part series where each episode runs for 50-55 minutes and is available in German and English audio.
– Sleeping Dog Review Contains Mild Spoilers –
Sleeping Dog Plot
When a prisoner dies by suicide, an ex-cop and a determined lawyer tried to find the trigger, which leads them to dig up the past inviting chaos and excess bloodshed into action. Will they find the truth or let it slip away for the better?
Sleeping Dog Review
When it comes to thrillers, especially cop thrillers, there is always a mysterious murder case that often develops and unravels a hard-hitting truth. Likewise, Sleeping Dog engages in the same way, but they’ve added psychological aspects and an unexpected ending that sums up the series’ worth.
Speaking of the main lead, Mike Atlas, he’s this legit cop who becomes homeless after running away from his house. Why does he get out of his house? Well, it is all because of one murder case. When the culprit that he arrested dies by suicide, the homeless cop returns as a hobo to search for evidence and prove the criminal’s innocence.
The big question behind why he would dig into the past is all due to the guilt that pokes him through his nightmares. As soon as he tries to fix the pieces, the end result stands ahead of what he imagined. And this is one of the best aspects of the series.
Usually, a criminal would be found with a revenge story or such, but in Sleeping Dog, the climax came in an excellent way. Though the former statement sounds paradoxical, that’s the truth. A single anxiety tablet and a chaotic friendship stand as the main reason behind not one or two but multiple murders, losses, and psychological trauma.
I find the series quite amusing because the ending isn’t the only search of the series that I laud for. Rather, I love every episode for the ample insight it gives into the law world. Starting from the attorneys who tamper with evidence to the cops who misuse power, the series helps the viewers to have a perspective on the corrupted legal system.
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Apart from this, plenty of relatable life aspects are also portrayed. Be it infidelity, childhood trauma, LGBT issues, or drug addiction, the series offers a good view of it without detaching from the main plot. There isn’t any unnecessary additional storyline that makes the series feel like a drag.
While Britney’s bond with the orphan child seems like an add-on, it’s yet another educational aspect that teaches why adopting a child requires great effort and thought. Moreover, her character sets an amazing example of an aspiring cop compared to professionals who abuse power.
One intrinsic character of the series is Atlas’ daughter, Tinka. She is the bridging character who drowns herself to get her family fixed. She notices every detail and tries to connect the dots to help her father though she’s been avoided by her parents. She remains strong, sets her aspirations high, works on her body, and confronts her harsh realities.
Usually, in series, teenagers with a rough past tend to leech onto parties, drugs, and such, but Tinka stands out. She sets an ultimate example for teenagers. Though she endures body dysmorphia, she hits the gym and tries to keep herself sane by visiting her mentor. She understands the adults around her far better than the adults who should have understood the agony of a child.
Final Thoughts
Sleeping Dog is a cop thriller packed with insights, interesting characters, a murder mystery, and an ending that’s new. Backed by psychological concepts, the series’ is sound enough to reach well. Additionally, the relatable stories are quite the catch, and it makes the viewers get hooked on the show to know how things will end.
Sleeping Dog is streaming on Netflix. Let us know your thoughts about the series in the comments below!
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