Having survived a terrible car crash, a reporter decides to leave South-Africa and return to his home country. While travelling by ship, he meets a luminous beauty called Melissa. A whirlwind romance ensues. Still, it is wise to do a good think before marrying someone, especially if this someone is part of a weird little clique running on alcohol and secrets...
"Melissa" is a mix of thriller and drama, with accents of both tragedy and comedy. It's a well-made and well-acted series. Although the pace is somewhat slow it turns into an enjoyable viewing experience, especially in the later episodes, when the various cracks in the clique become apparent. The finale of "Melissa" boasts a taunting confession by a tap-dancing murderer, which must be pretty unique in thriller annals. The theme music is particularly apt, with currents of sadness or stress running through the jazzy smoothness.
The series also functions as a warning against the dangers of hasty and superficial courtships. The male protagonist, who is an investigative reporter of some note, jumps into marriage with a woman he's just met, without bothering to find out more about her past, nature or environment. Yes, she's a ravishing ivory-skinned beauty, but what does that say about her personality or her suitability as a partner ? Unsurprisingly, this lack of attention will come back to haunt him in a truly soul-crushing fashion. All over the world there are millions upon millions of real-life individuals, male or female, who make a similar mistake, thus setting themselves up for a grievous collision with reality.
"Melissa" involves characters carrying illicit cash in jolly hatboxes, so as to avoid detection. When I was young my job sometimes required me to transport considerable amounts of (legitimate) cash, even through some of the less appetizing parts of Brussels. So here's my tip, born from years of experience. Take the cash and shape it into an irregular heap, somewhat like a family pack of meat. Wrap it into into sturdy and non-translucent material - and don't skimp on the tape. Package the result in some bland-looking paper of the kind used for butcher's or baker's products. Now fill a well-worn shopping bag, preferably made out of macramé, with the following items : a pack of butter with an easily recognizable logo, the money, some lemons, a celery and two or three leeks. The tops of the vegetables should be visible from afar. Ready to go !
"Melissa" is a mix of thriller and drama, with accents of both tragedy and comedy. It's a well-made and well-acted series. Although the pace is somewhat slow it turns into an enjoyable viewing experience, especially in the later episodes, when the various cracks in the clique become apparent. The finale of "Melissa" boasts a taunting confession by a tap-dancing murderer, which must be pretty unique in thriller annals. The theme music is particularly apt, with currents of sadness or stress running through the jazzy smoothness.
The series also functions as a warning against the dangers of hasty and superficial courtships. The male protagonist, who is an investigative reporter of some note, jumps into marriage with a woman he's just met, without bothering to find out more about her past, nature or environment. Yes, she's a ravishing ivory-skinned beauty, but what does that say about her personality or her suitability as a partner ? Unsurprisingly, this lack of attention will come back to haunt him in a truly soul-crushing fashion. All over the world there are millions upon millions of real-life individuals, male or female, who make a similar mistake, thus setting themselves up for a grievous collision with reality.
"Melissa" involves characters carrying illicit cash in jolly hatboxes, so as to avoid detection. When I was young my job sometimes required me to transport considerable amounts of (legitimate) cash, even through some of the less appetizing parts of Brussels. So here's my tip, born from years of experience. Take the cash and shape it into an irregular heap, somewhat like a family pack of meat. Wrap it into into sturdy and non-translucent material - and don't skimp on the tape. Package the result in some bland-looking paper of the kind used for butcher's or baker's products. Now fill a well-worn shopping bag, preferably made out of macramé, with the following items : a pack of butter with an easily recognizable logo, the money, some lemons, a celery and two or three leeks. The tops of the vegetables should be visible from afar. Ready to go !