I had great fun convincing people that in the 1970s. Jon Pertwee played Doctor Who, Van der Valk and Worzel Gummidge all at the same time.
Now in the reboot, I tell people that Sean Pertwee would be taking over from his father. Trouble is Marc Warren is too well known from Hustle so no one falls for it.
The theme tune for the original show is also famous, more so than the television show itself. The new version keeps the theme very subtle, it should had been upfront and centre.
Surprisingly Warren is some years older than when Barry Foster first played Van der Valk. His character is more athletic and in the beginning of this episode he shows off his bike riding and combat skills.
The mystery begins with an abduction that goes wrong. Two bystanders are also taken and later killed. There is a link between these events and an upcoming political election.
It was a good opening episode but nothing outstanding and a bit cliched. I think Marc Warren had a lot to do with making it better than the script deserved.
Warren just easing back enough from the stock character of the grumpy maverick cop with a troubled life. He was certainly not the Van der Valk from the 1970s and 1990s television series which ironically is also being broadcast on a satellite channel.
I thought the ending and the reveal was more Taggart than Van der Valk. There were enough clues left behind that one person did have more to hide. So I was surprised that the police did not chase this up as it was progressing.
There was a depth missing that the English language version of Wallander had. One valid criticism you can make is but for the Amsterdam locations, is this really Van der Valk?