Hunters

Hunters introduces a young man to a secret group pursuing Nazi war criminals in 1970s America. Al Pacino gives its leader a persuasive presence, but the series is not aiming for the restraint of a historical investigation.

Its style is deliberately heightened: revenge adventure, dark comedy and more sombre material sit close together. That combination can be gripping and can also jar. The programme works better when its characters have enough space to register as people than when another elaborate flourish becomes the main attraction.

The historical background should not be confused with the fictional conspiracy and invented incidents. This is a heavily stylised thriller using that background, not an account of a particular real operation.

Try it for Pacino and the bold genre approach if sharp tonal changes do not put you off. For a much quieter drama about deception and trust, A Spy Among Friends is a better choice. Hunters is interested in a more extravagant form of confrontation.