A fun to watch show telling the history of the first phone sex company, the start of the Dutch dance and xtc. Was a great trip down memory lane. Bringing back the last years of the 80's.
33 Reviews
Funny history show
Jeroenvandermeer9 April 2022
Just don't drop this one to fast.
marijn-vandriest11 April 2022
The start is a little to slow and predictable. After a that it is fun to watch. For a dutch serie pretty funny because I Am dutch and all the old 80/90 brands and labels etc. If you are not dutch and born in after the 90ties you re not gonna like it. I liked it but my score could have been 8 of 9 if it was a little less woke.
Loved it, the music, clothes and atmosphere, love the eighties
ditalia7021 April 2022
Was real curious after watching the commercials on Dutch tv. It did not disappoint and it took me back to the eighties. Amsterdam, the discotheques, the music. The sexiness was a story I had heard about, but it's nice to now a bit more. Of course I googled straight after to find out how they ended up. Characters were good, storyline was good. Very enjoyable and easy watch, but I love the eighties, reminds me of growing up and becoming a teenager. Worth a watch!
Trip down memory lane
evalie-1701010 April 2022
Being 17 in 1989 and living under the smoke of Amsterdam, this series has nailed the Zeitgeist for sure. Dancing in Dansen Bij Jansen, the illegal houseparty's in the Silo, it's exactly how it was back then and I really enjoy being thrown back in time. Plus it's a great history lesson, but only in the background, not only about the transfer from disco to house music in the Netherlands and the introduction of extacy, but also about the start of the gay subculture in Amsterdam.
Besides the nostalgia, it's a good series. The characters are lovable and the acting is good.
Besides the nostalgia, it's a good series. The characters are lovable and the acting is good.
Amazing mix of comedy, drama , and documentary
bright_statement10 April 2022
Great show. Just watch further than one episode as the first episode may seem a bit confusing due to the "parallel" story telling and the facts inserts. After the second episode the show starts to open in all its beauty. Would advise for everyone, who would like to have a positive evening or destruct from the routine. The show also surprises with diversity, equality, and sexual openness. Loved it!
Fun retro show
rozi7217 May 2022
If you are middle-aged or older or a young person interested in the 1980's, you will enjoy this light-hearted Dutch series. The clothes are so typically 80's without being over the top, especially the clothes worn by the Ramon character that I sometimes burst out laughing, and not because they were ridiculous but because it felt like time-travelling. Maybe, and just maybe, some of the clothes and the hairstyles are more an earlier 80's style, for example the teased hairstyle worn by Frank's wife, which, as far as I remember, was no longer popular in the late eighties (then again, perhaps I don't remember it correctly). The interior designs are a lot of fun to watch, too, as are the obsolete technical gadgets (the crew must have had a lot of fun collecting them). The story of how house music became popular in Amsterdam is interesting, too.
Of all the characters, I liked Frank the most because he is a weird but entertaining cross between a successful person and a loser. The actor delivers a fine performance, making very funny faces while also conveying a sense of vulnerability. I also liked the performance by the actor who plays Ramon, although the closeted gay character was not very interesting, we have all seen it many times before.
As regards the stories and messages about sex, don't expect anything novel or earth-shattering here. Considering the fact that the protagonist wants to become a sexologist and this is the period when she explores her own sexuality, we don't even learn whether she manages to come during sex with a partner eventually, or not. There is a scene with her lover (also a sexologist...) that suggests that she doesn't, but it is left at that.
Of all the characters, I liked Frank the most because he is a weird but entertaining cross between a successful person and a loser. The actor delivers a fine performance, making very funny faces while also conveying a sense of vulnerability. I also liked the performance by the actor who plays Ramon, although the closeted gay character was not very interesting, we have all seen it many times before.
As regards the stories and messages about sex, don't expect anything novel or earth-shattering here. Considering the fact that the protagonist wants to become a sexologist and this is the period when she explores her own sexuality, we don't even learn whether she manages to come during sex with a partner eventually, or not. There is a scene with her lover (also a sexologist...) that suggests that she doesn't, but it is left at that.
Don't watch without headphones
amberlovess9 April 2022
The Good Old Days in Amsterdam
dcandido-0838112 April 2022
Even though I didn't live myself in Amsterdam at this time I enjoyed seeing the life in the city back then.
Loved seeing some fresh faces in the dutch film scene and the acting was great. You might get confused with the humor if you aren't dutch, but I'd highly recommend watching if you want a trip down memory lane.
Loved seeing some fresh faces in the dutch film scene and the acting was great. You might get confused with the humor if you aren't dutch, but I'd highly recommend watching if you want a trip down memory lane.
Excellent well produced series. Rooted in real life, which actually is very woke
andredejongh9 April 2022
Really good! The first episode you need for the basic plot set up. Then from episode 2 it gets really good. Chris Peters as Ramon is a real discovery! It really catches the Zeitgeist of that time. Some people are talking about wokeness? Well perhaps Holland was and always has been woke. But the people with their regressive orthodox minds are trying to reverse things to the 1800's. What those people mean with: they don't want wokeness to be 'forced' upon them,' is code for: they want to discriminate, they want to suppress people sexually and they don't want others to express themselves in anyway they want it. They can go watch Russian cable tv, that will please them for sure. I'm old enough to know what it was like in the late 1980's and the 1990's, in The Netherlands. Woke? Nonsense. In the Randstad area (the biggest megalopolis of Europe with at its heart the 4 big cities of The Netherlands: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht) the Dutch were and are still like this. People of every skin colour and sexual preference, the house party scene, the sex telephone lines, the actual sex people had and have: it's a reality. So reality is woke then. Conservatives can go watch all white Friends or Seinfeld and finish with Fox News. Dirty Lines is rooted in real life. Great actors, and great production. With many funny moments.
Actors/Actresses a hit, story not that thought out
arthur_ramse19 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
At the beginning of the show, after I watched the trailer, I thought why not give it try. It looked promising!
So I started watching and the actors and actresses were really not bad, they did a good job! Also, the camera movements and lightning were okay.. It's just all in one, the story isn't so fresh. I don't know why, but there wasn't something BIG, like you know a great cliffhanger at the end. In my opinion, the story could have been told with more kind of hype. Do you know the feeling when you can't stop watching a show? Because of the cliffhangers and everything? Well, that wasn't the case here.
Short said: The story isn't thought out enough.
I watched the German dubbed version and I often didn't understand everything. You know, like why did this character make that that decision, what's his/her goal etc.. So the logic and comprehensibility was missing several times.
Furthermore, the music/vibe could have also been a lot better. The series takes place in the 80s and as you probably know, there is some good music from the 80s. I honestly missed this typical 80s vibe (which you get in Stranger Things for example, even though this is another genre) which you get when adding some nice 80s music. Another thing which wasn't the best, were the character developments...a bit boring..and the conversations between the characters were often dry.
At the end of the day, I don't think this show is worth watching. Even if the acting, camera movements and lightning was solid, the rest is meh. Story, cliffhangers, music/vibe, character development and conversations weren't such a hit.
So I started watching and the actors and actresses were really not bad, they did a good job! Also, the camera movements and lightning were okay.. It's just all in one, the story isn't so fresh. I don't know why, but there wasn't something BIG, like you know a great cliffhanger at the end. In my opinion, the story could have been told with more kind of hype. Do you know the feeling when you can't stop watching a show? Because of the cliffhangers and everything? Well, that wasn't the case here.
Short said: The story isn't thought out enough.
I watched the German dubbed version and I often didn't understand everything. You know, like why did this character make that that decision, what's his/her goal etc.. So the logic and comprehensibility was missing several times.
Furthermore, the music/vibe could have also been a lot better. The series takes place in the 80s and as you probably know, there is some good music from the 80s. I honestly missed this typical 80s vibe (which you get in Stranger Things for example, even though this is another genre) which you get when adding some nice 80s music. Another thing which wasn't the best, were the character developments...a bit boring..and the conversations between the characters were often dry.
At the end of the day, I don't think this show is worth watching. Even if the acting, camera movements and lightning was solid, the rest is meh. Story, cliffhangers, music/vibe, character development and conversations weren't such a hit.
Amazing
menno_de_koning17 April 2022
Great tv show
marisbucciarelli10 April 2022
I really enjoyed watching a show set in the years I was born and found it quite original. It was also interesting to learn a bit of Dutch history. I decided to write a review to tell you to ignore the reviews of the small-minded.
Trip down Memory Lane & Dutch History
mdistelbrink9 April 2022
Fun
butch-931-93822017 April 2022
The pacing is different than the typical American show but it's fun and delightfully surprising. It took an episode or two to get into the flow but the series is fun and entertaining. The time jumping is challenging to follow but it works. Joy Delima is a wonderful. The whole cast seems to be having fun. Grab a cocktail, light up a joint and enjoy the fun. These people giving it 1 star for its wokeness need to get a life.
Unexpectedly well done
dennis-188899 April 2022
I don't like Dutch series, the acting is bad, the storyline is cheap and everything else is even cheaper about it. Will dirty lines it's different. Well done! Acting is good, production is well done, never looks cheap and.for a Dutchie (that's old enough) it's very recognisable. Watch it!
cool but still a slave to the Hollywood norm
Gomaryno10 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
For a series that seems to focus on the breaking of taboos in sex,racism and relationships in the 80s and the now it is still conservative. In my opinion the storywriting still sings the same oldfashioned Hollywood song where only 2 partners can be together with each other. Where the goal in one's life is finding the 'one' versus finding yourself and thus free love.
When Misha kisses Marly apparently it is wrong? The professor having a wife and children is appartenly not OK, or a reason to break up? Misha cheating means that you should break up?
If this is really the 80s: free love and sex, then show me the real deal that love can be free, and that having another partner is OK. This is the time where we again find out that people don't belong to other people, they belong to themselves. And then in the end all of a sudden the 3-way is like a big happening or like a funny joke. This should have been the norm to begin with. What a hypocrisy, what a beating around the real bush! Break the norms in storytelling, true freedom and love is respecting yourself and letting others be free in sex as well. Apparently the 80s and the sexual revolutions haven't reached the studios yet.
When Misha kisses Marly apparently it is wrong? The professor having a wife and children is appartenly not OK, or a reason to break up? Misha cheating means that you should break up?
If this is really the 80s: free love and sex, then show me the real deal that love can be free, and that having another partner is OK. This is the time where we again find out that people don't belong to other people, they belong to themselves. And then in the end all of a sudden the 3-way is like a big happening or like a funny joke. This should have been the norm to begin with. What a hypocrisy, what a beating around the real bush! Break the norms in storytelling, true freedom and love is respecting yourself and letting others be free in sex as well. Apparently the 80s and the sexual revolutions haven't reached the studios yet.
Fantastic!
marloeshonig-5527713 April 2022
Loved it from beginning till the end. Good acting, great look & feel, and good story line. I had sisters that went to Roxy when I was young. So I know the stories. It is so good, that it does not looks like a Dutch show. Great job!!!
Not bad, not bad at all!
lolindirlink11 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Just the right amount of flow, never too boring, never too dramatic.
Production value, being a Netflix Original shows off. This might be the highest quality dutch television production so far.
The characters are mostly interesting, There's a story to tell.
But I'm not sure about timelines, the show sometimes jumps forward a few months and i feel like it might rush a little too much at times.
Overall really enjoyed Dirty Lines. Eagerly Awaiting s2 hopefully!
Satisfying, But cliffhanger ending.
(Also, Good job Blue Circle!)
Production value, being a Netflix Original shows off. This might be the highest quality dutch television production so far.
The characters are mostly interesting, There's a story to tell.
But I'm not sure about timelines, the show sometimes jumps forward a few months and i feel like it might rush a little too much at times.
Overall really enjoyed Dirty Lines. Eagerly Awaiting s2 hopefully!
Satisfying, But cliffhanger ending.
(Also, Good job Blue Circle!)
Boring lines
Laqshayaroraofficial8 April 2022
I liked the concept so decided to watch it but it was too boring, couldn't even finish the 1st episode (50 minutes long), they are introducing new characters after every 2-3 minutes (also their names are so confusing), jokes aren't funny, just nonsense boring moaning adult stuff. Skip it!
Amazing show, season?!
Kedm8922 April 2022
Such a great tv show with an amazing storyline. It took a bit to get into it but I binged it within a day! Great plot with a mixture of comedy, drama and nostalgia. I see some people complaining it follows the 'woke' Hollywood agenda but it actually greatly depicts Amsterdam in the 80's. It was very free and progressive, wat ahead of most places in the world!
I really hope they will make a second season because this is great 😁
I really hope they will make a second season because this is great 😁
This is how it was
tvamsterdam11 April 2022
After bingwatching the complete series I checked some stories about the Skene brothers history and in this "Dirty Lines" it is factual scripted but not complete, which makes it possible for a second season.
So for sure this series is build upon true history, like Hotel Babylon. This is a genre you could dislike because you don't understand that it isn't fiction and you're not able to believe that it has happened for real.
I was 27 in the time these brothers started this business, around the same age. My girlfriend was asked to work for them to do the dirty talks. She rejected because of the poor money (her voice was worth an escort fare). So it is very pleasing that the writers of this scenario putted everything in place as it went. They had to deal with inexperienced students instead of relying on hookers, sexperts, writers or actors! That is what this comedy is about. This lack of business knowledge.
Some lads get an idea to make a new business and instead of focusing on quality they freak around and create their own mess.
Big compliments on scenario and actors/casting. All Amsterdam based talents.
So for sure this series is build upon true history, like Hotel Babylon. This is a genre you could dislike because you don't understand that it isn't fiction and you're not able to believe that it has happened for real.
I was 27 in the time these brothers started this business, around the same age. My girlfriend was asked to work for them to do the dirty talks. She rejected because of the poor money (her voice was worth an escort fare). So it is very pleasing that the writers of this scenario putted everything in place as it went. They had to deal with inexperienced students instead of relying on hookers, sexperts, writers or actors! That is what this comedy is about. This lack of business knowledge.
Some lads get an idea to make a new business and instead of focusing on quality they freak around and create their own mess.
Big compliments on scenario and actors/casting. All Amsterdam based talents.
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