Firstly, the title "Freud" is misleading. You would expect slightly boring biopic, not a fictitious occult thriller, which it is. More appropriate name would be "Young Freud", as unwritten rule says, that this is a code for non-canonical adventures of young fictitious or historical characters, before they got famous. Take Young Einstein (1988) for example, which was not named "Einstein".
My impression is, that the creators were under big influence of the great Netflix hit Stranger Things (2016), and it would surely look different, had there not been Duffer brothers' hit. Of course, the action takes place a hundred years earlier, in late 19th century Vienna, and the serial is not appropriate four young audience. But the protagonist, nerdy and shy doctor, accompanied by tough police officer with a history behind him, discover a plot penetrating the city. Dr. Freud, ridiculed by his colleagues, develops a deep relationship and fascination with mysterious young lady, who possesses strange psychic abilities and is used by evil people. Sounds familiar?.. And Fleur Salome's visions in starting episodes are almost a carbon copy of the Eleven's mind exploring. Which is not a bad pattern, and does not seem imitative, considering, that German-speaking serial, taking place in late 19th century Vienna, is something very different from common Anglo-American productions. One more thing: I could not help thinking about possessed Sigourney Weaver from Ghostbusters (1984), while watching Fleur Salome in Taltos incarnation.
The serial explores forgotten fear of ordinary people committing bloody crimes being hypnotized, like in German classic from 1920s, Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari (1920). Towards the end of series, the action gets more absorbing, and the whole thing is pretty entertaining.
My impression is, that the creators were under big influence of the great Netflix hit Stranger Things (2016), and it would surely look different, had there not been Duffer brothers' hit. Of course, the action takes place a hundred years earlier, in late 19th century Vienna, and the serial is not appropriate four young audience. But the protagonist, nerdy and shy doctor, accompanied by tough police officer with a history behind him, discover a plot penetrating the city. Dr. Freud, ridiculed by his colleagues, develops a deep relationship and fascination with mysterious young lady, who possesses strange psychic abilities and is used by evil people. Sounds familiar?.. And Fleur Salome's visions in starting episodes are almost a carbon copy of the Eleven's mind exploring. Which is not a bad pattern, and does not seem imitative, considering, that German-speaking serial, taking place in late 19th century Vienna, is something very different from common Anglo-American productions. One more thing: I could not help thinking about possessed Sigourney Weaver from Ghostbusters (1984), while watching Fleur Salome in Taltos incarnation.
The serial explores forgotten fear of ordinary people committing bloody crimes being hypnotized, like in German classic from 1920s, Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari (1920). Towards the end of series, the action gets more absorbing, and the whole thing is pretty entertaining.