The idea of taking a team of British actors and placing them in a crime fighting scenario in another European country can have mixed results. It worked with Maigret and it didn't work with Wallander.
It DOES work with Zen. Whether or not it adheres to Michael Dibdin's novels I don't know because I haven't read them.
Visually this series is a treat. The men are impeccably dressed and all look like James Bond! The stories themselves aren't going to win any awards but the journey is nonetheless an enjoyable and satisfactory one.
If you're worn down by the usual shaky-cam stupidity of most modern trashy UK drama featuring the hyper-melodramatic plot lines and scripts with the usual, overly used actors and you need a reassuringly glossy and understated look into a world of low key drama then Zen is for you.
Not masterfully intelligent but neither is it insultingly cringe-worthy.
ZEN is a thoroughly enjoyable drama and a refreshing change of pace.
