Amsterdam Empire Review: When Betty is blindsided by her husband Jack van Doorn asking for a divorce, she decides to go scorched earth and demands his loving coffeeshop The Jackal. However, that demand comes with its own challenges.
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Amsterdam Empire Netflix Cast
Famke Janssen, Jacob Derwig, Elise Schaap, Jade Olieberg, Yannick van de Velde, Jesse Mensah, Bart Slegers, Romana Vrede, Victor Löw, Raymond Thiry
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Amsterdam Empire Series Creators
Nico Moolenaar, Bart Uytdenhouwen, and Piet Matthys
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Amsterdam Empire 2025 Directors
Jonas Govaerts, Max Porcelijn
The series has 7 episodes, each with a runtime of around 45 minutes.
Amsterdam Empire Review
In Amsterdam Empire, things take one terrible turn after another, resulting in the “jackal” coming out the winner in the end… or does it? The series, much like every other mediocre show on Netflix right now, showcases the rise and fall of a powerful dynasty under an influential man and how, after repeatedly being left behind, it’s those who support these men who take the cake.
First and foremost, I will say that, although betrayals between spouses aren’t anything new, there’s something very interesting about Jack and Betty’s dynamic. When your wife knows every bad thing about you from the inside out, betrayals should be done very, very carefully. Otherwise, you know what they say – hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
However, despite this central dynamic being the most interesting part of the show, I couldn’t help but wonder about the glaring plot holes scattered throughout the runtime that either don’t make sense at all or are so brazenly obvious that they make you laugh. The series is uneven in tone and makes you question why we are hell-bent on focusing on so many different aspects at the same time and half-baking all of them.
Plus, I am tired of this trope of the scorned wife trying to take everything from her rich, crooked husband. The obviousness of the plot is almost silly, and the fact that they have not one, but two women fighting over this random man makes my blood boil.
Since there are so many characters surrounding Jack, you know that some (if not most) of them will lose out on getting enough time and attention, and that’s exactly what happens. Half of these people exist to help either Jack or Betty, and, other than that, their existence makes no sense. It all would’ve been a fun and forgettable watch had we not seen the same storyline being repeated on Netflix, but at this point, it feels extremely annoying and rage-inducing. The tropes are all over the place, and the series doesn’t even try to hide them.
That being said, I think it does a good job of showcasing the perils of greed and ambition and how, sometimes, some people can’t see beyond their own selfish needs. I think the relationship between Jack, Betty and Katya should’ve been explored more, but that was probably on the back burner since we needed to see as many meaningless twists and turns as possible. Anyway, the performances are fine, although most actors are given one-dimensional characters to portray. They do the most with what they are given.
Final Thoughts
Amsterdam Empire is… fine, if you have no expectations and are just here to see unnecessary twists and turns. I guess I was engaged at some points, but beyond that, the story is far too obvious and cliched to invoke any real thrills.
What are your thoughts on the Netflix crime thriller? Let us know in the comments below!
Also Read: Amsterdam Empire Ending Explained: Who Gets The Jackal After a Desperate Fight? Does Jack Die?