The Spectacular

The Spectacular is a 2021 Dutch-Irish crime television series directed and written by Willem Bosch together with Pieter Kuijpers and produced by Kuijpers's production company Pupkin. The series is set in the Dutch province of Limburg in the late 1980's when a series of attacks were carried out by the Provisional Irish Republican Army.

Dramatization
The character Fiona Hughes is based on Donna Maguire, who, like brother Malachy Maguire, was a member of the Provisional IRA. Hughes left husband and children in the series to fight for the IRA, but in reality she didn't have children until later, with Leonard Hardy, another IRA activist. She was arrested a number of times and eventually convicted in Germany but was released by the court due to a lengthy preliminary imprisonment.

The role of Jeanine Maes is based on Cees Verhaeren, who in reality led the investigation team. In addition to explosives scout, this police officer was also a negotiator-coordinator for hostage situations and specialized in intelligence work. He worked as Chief of the Regional Intelligence Service Limburg. The cooperation he manages to establish between neighboring countries and the Northern Ireland police has been faithfully portrayed.

Production

 * Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, production company Pupkin could not film in multiple countries as intended, so the decision was made to recreate all foreign sets in the Netherlands.

Cast

 * David Eeles - George, MI5
 * Hadewych Minis - Jeanine Maes
 * Aoibhínn McGinnity - Fiona Hughes
 * Carina de Vroome - Leonie van Hartog
 * Jacob Derwig - Frank Maes
 * Michel Sluysmans - Martin de Waard
 * Jochum ten Haaf - Joris
 * Porgy Franssen - Sjuul Livestro
 * Kenneth Herdigein - Boudewijn de Rondt
 * Ian Beattie - Corey O'Keefe
 * Kerr Logan - Patrick Lynch
 * Cillian Lenaghan - Paul O'Keeffe
 * Declan Conlon - Declan Moore
 * Michael Patrick - Robin
 * Gary Crossan - Michael Handler
 * Torsten Colijn - Andrew Garrison
 * Fred Goessens - Joep Henriks
 * Karen Sibbing - Hedwig
 * Nevajo Rezai - Danny Maes
 * Mitchell Havelaar - John Habets

Reception
Walter van der Kooi, writing for De Groene Amsterdammer, said the show lived up to its name. He praised every aspect of the show, including its scope, its international cast, its production, and its ambition.