Watch Hackerville

Hackerville is a gripping HBO series that follows the story of a joint investigation between Romanian and German law enforcement agencies over a series of hacking incidents that shook the world. The story begins as a German engineer is hacked and held for ransom. The ransomware attack is traced back to the Romanian town of Timisoara, also known as Hackerville. The German authorities send their cybercrime specialist, Lisa Metz, played by Anna Schumacher, to work with detectives from the Romanian police force, led by the skilled detective Adam Sandor, played by Andi Vasluianu.

The show focuses on these two unlikely partners as they navigate through different cultural and language barriers while attempting to solve a series of cybercrime cases that spread across both countries. The series is set in Timisoara, a city in which computers, mobile phones and the Internet are an integral part of everyday life.

The show's technical producer, Rasvan Pascale, spent six months in Timisoara to experience the city and understand the nature of the hacker community in the region. Consequently, the show captures the nuances and complexities of the hackers, the investigators, and the people of Timisoara in a believable manner.

Although the main focus of the show is on the two detectives, the side characters are given equal weightage and importance. The supporting cast of the series includes characters who present different facets of the city such as local hackers, Romanian criminals, and German IT experts.

The series manages to create a sense of tension and urgency, while also giving enough time for character development, especially the two leads. The show reflects the bureaucratic and technical struggles of conducting a police investigation, as the two detectives encounter red tape, jurisdictional conflicts, and suspect misidentifications. The viewer can see the police use all types of tools such as wiretaps and forensic analysis, hacking, and also befriending the hackers to get the desired results.

The series' plot is well-executed and carries a natural sense of unpredictability. Each episode is packed with plot twists, unexpected turns of events, and keeps the viewer at the edge of their seat. Each case is a different cat and mouse chase, leaving the viewers guessing about how the detectives will catch the bad guys.

The show captures the atmosphere and energy of Timisoara, making the city another character in the series. It features a wide range of shots of the city, including its architecture, traditional markets, and the rural countryside in the adjacent areas. The show's cinematography is well crafted and captures the essence of the city.

In conclusion, Hackerville is a timely and engaging drama that explores a relatively uncharted territory in crime series. The perfect blend of cyber espionage and human drama, the show manages to keep the viewer enthralled throughout, while teaching us about the workings of the internet, and how it can be both a bane and a boon. The presence of two skilled actors, Anna Schumacher and Andi Vasulianu, playing the lead detectives, together with a well-written script and supporting cast, adds value to the show. Hackerville is a must-watch for those interested in techno-thrillers and cyber crime dramas.

Hackerville is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (6 episodes). The series first aired on July 1, 2019.