PARADOX

reż. Greg Zgliński, Igor Brejdygant, Borys Lankosz, 2012

The main characters of the 13-episode series are Inspector Marek Kaszowski (played by Bogusław Linda, the unforgettable Franz Maurer from Władysław Pasikowski's “Dogs”) and Assistant Commissioner Joanna Majewska (played by Anna Grycewicz). Majewska is sent to the police station on behalf of the Internal Police Service Bureau to look into Kaszowski's work. She is actually quite determined to find irregularities in his actions and methods. She does this as part of an investigation that her superior, the head of the Internal Service Bureau (played by Andrzej Zielinski), is conducting against Kaszowski to prove that he is smuggling drugs and acting for his own benefit. Naturally, the two are not fond of each other. She, the scrupulous daughter of a policeman, pits every little loophole found in the archives against Kaszowski, pointing out every shortcoming. He, on the other hand, operates according to his own internal code, which sometimes passes the Code of Law. He is the archetypal criminal investigator from a crime series - a lone-wolf type after a history, who has his own methods and his own sense of justice. And although he can sometimes be inaccessible and repulsive, the viewer can understand his motivations and feels that the inspector has his heart on the right side. Majewska also becomes involved in solving ongoing cases and increasingly feels part of the new team. As time goes on, the situation thickens and the main intrigue becomes more complicated than it seemed at the beginning. It is already unclear who is on whose side, who can be trusted and who will ultimately turn out to be the right cop. Apart from the main characters, we have a very interesting mosaic of supporting characters: Kaszowski's boss - inspector Talak, played by Przemysław Bluszcz, prosecutor Sobecki - played by Arkadiusz Jakubik or aspirant Jacek ‘Młody’, played by Cezary Łukaszewicz. There are also interesting female roles - Ewa Skibińska as a court pathologist or Gabriela Muskała as a police commissioner. Each character is clearly outlined and has a baggage of their own, often complicated experiences. The dialogues, sometimes comic, sometimes ironic, are quite well-written, they add lightness to the scenes and sound authentic in the mouths of the characters, which is probably also due to the good cast (for example the dialogue between prosecutor Sobecki and assistant commissioner Majewska on the subject of doughnuts is excellent). On the other hand, the restrained, almost monochromatic colour scheme of the frame corresponds well with the darkness of the stories told, and the blue filter imposed on the archival photographs makes it easy for the viewer to know when they are dealing with scenes from the past.

“Paradox” is a “procedural” or “case-in-point” series. The genre dates back to the “pre-Internet” days, when it was still impossible to watch an entire season in one evening. When there was a rigid TV schedule and you had to wait a whole week for an episode, a type of series was created for pure entertainment. For an hour, it took the viewer into a world of intrigue and crime or big corporations and decisions worth millions. In a condensed hour-long format, one could get both the mystery and its solution, and then return to one's own life. Each episode encapsulated the story as a whole. The disadvantage of this type of series proved to be a certain predictability - each episode brought a solution. A different form of storytelling was gaining more and more fans - a series constructed in the fashion of a long, drawn-out complex storyline, divided into episodes, in which more attention is given to the protagonist, his emotions, his development. In order to save the procedurals from death, the two forms were combined. In addition to a story closed in one episode each time, we also have plots that continue throughout the series, narrative arcs that allow the viewer to get closer to the characters, learn about their personal stories, observe the changes taking place in them. 'Paradox' is a perfect example of such a hybrid.

Although, according to the script, the series is set in Warsaw, the vast majority of the shooting was done in and around Łódź:

Textile Headquarters Building

Probably due to its awe-inspiring silhouette, it played one of the capital's police stations. Seen only from the outside, usually filmed from below, the skyscraper makes an overwhelming impression, perfectly capturing the suffocating atmosphere of the crime series. The building appears on screen several times, each time bringing the action to the police station. The interiors of the police station themselves in “Paradox” are a completely different space - for the series they were created in the shooting halls of the producer, Opus TV. In one episode, the policemen also meet on the roof of a skyscraper. They choose this location for a reason - they discuss a plan of action against drug dealers and want to avoid being overheard. The actors walk across the entire rooftop, which may not look very attractive, but it offers a panoramic view of the city from all sides. It is interesting to note that the view of the city from this roof also appears in the opening credits of several episodes of the 1970s TV series Far from the Road.

Grand Hotel, 72 Piotrkowska Street

A shooting occurs in the lobby of a well-known hotel, resulting in one man being wounded and another allegedly dying from gunshot wounds. Inspector Kaszowski and Commissioner Piechocka (Gabriela Muskała) arrive at the scene of the crime. It turns out that military services have already arrived at the crime scene. A verbal tussle ensues between the policemen and the agents over the supervision of the case. The situation is resolved by the arrival of prosecutor Sobecki. Commissioner Majewska returns to the crime scene after some time to speak to the staff again and analyse the events of that night once more.

Vienne House Andel's Hotel, 17 Ogrodowa Street

On the roof of the hotel and in the glass-enclosed swimming pool, meetings take place between the head of the Internal Service Bureau, Piotr Zielinski (Andrzej Zieliński), and a mafioso with whom he discusses a plan to frame Kaszowski for smuggling a large amount of drugs.

Casablanca Restaurant, 2 Podrzeczna Street

Deputy Superintendent Majewska meets in this iconic restaurant in the Old Market Square with a woman who gives her some information about the personal situation of the murder victim. They provide a new lead in the case.

ŁKS Stadium

A conversation between Kaszowski and criminal and smuggler Piotr 'Chain' Wachnicki takes place under the stadium clock. In an earlier episode, the men meet in the old ŁKS hall. They agree on the details of the delivery of the 'goods'.

Former summerhouse, 49/51 Popioły Street

Sub-commissary Majewska and aspirant Jacek ‘Młody’ Czerwiński arrive on the streets of Popioły. They are looking for a contact to a young man who was involved with the murdered woman. Things take an unexpected turn. Fortunately for Majewska, the situation manages to be brought under control. After a while, inspector Kaszowski and prosecutor Sobecki, accompanied by a pathologist, Barbara Bartke (Ewa Skibińska) and other police officers, arrive on the scene.