Famke Janssen’s return to the small screen with Amsterdam Empire was eagerly anticipated, especially with her role as Betty, a high-maintenance ex-wife determined to ruin her cheating husband’s legal cannabis empire. The premise—Betty’s quest for revenge after decades of betrayal—seemed to promise a compelling drama full of intrigue and high-stakes battles.
However, despite the talented team behind the show, including the creative minds responsible for Undercover and Ferry, Amsterdam Empire never lives up to its potential. What should have been a gripping power struggle and crime thriller quickly turns into a confusing, tonally inconsistent mess. In this review, we dive into what went wrong and explore why Amsterdam Empire is ultimately a regrettable misfire.
Key Features of Amsterdam Empire
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Main Cast | Famke Janssen (Betty), Jacob Derwig (Jack), Elise Schaap (Marjolain) |
| Genre | Crime Drama, Thriller |
| Number of Episodes | 7 |
| Creators | Nico Moolenaar, Piet Matthys, Bart Uytdenhouwen |
| Premise | A vengeful ex-wife seeks revenge against her cheating husband, a cannabis mogul with a thriving empire. |
| Tone | A mix of melodrama and crime thriller, neither executed effectively. |
The Identity Crisis: Soap Opera vs. Crime Thriller
One of the primary issues with Amsterdam Empire is its confused identity. The show tries to blend a soap-opera style melodrama involving a bitter power struggle between Betty and Jack with the tension of a crime thriller revolving around Jack’s cannabis empire. Unfortunately, the series fails to fully commit to either genre, leaving both storylines feeling underdeveloped.
As Betty embarks on her mission to destroy Jack, the show oscillates between portraying her as a vengeful yet sympathetic character and leaning heavily into exaggerated emotional outbursts. Famke Janssen’s performance, while enthusiastic, is ultimately limited by the lack of depth in Betty’s character. Similarly, Jack’s struggles to maintain control over his empire, though intriguing, are overshadowed by his portrayal as a deeply flawed, pathetic figure rather than a compelling antihero.
The emotional power struggle between the couple becomes repetitive and predictable, with no clear evolution in their relationship or personal growth. What could have been a gripping and nuanced narrative ends up feeling like a soap opera trapped in a crime drama, never fully delivering on either front.
“Although the show sets up an intriguing premise, its failure to pick a consistent tone leaves the audience detached from the drama. The characters feel like caricatures instead of fully realized figures, undermining the potential for emotional engagement.” — Sarah Bell, TV Critic.
Famke Janssen’s Performance: Over-the-Top Yet Underwhelming
Famke Janssen is known for her strong performances in films and TV, so her portrayal of Betty had high expectations. Unfortunately, while Janssen gives her all in playing the vengeful ex-wife, she is undermined by the series’ weak writing.
Betty starts off as a character who could evoke sympathy—she’s been betrayed repeatedly by her husband and seeks justice. However, as the series progresses, Betty’s motivations become less about empowerment and more about petty revenge. Rather than being a strategic mastermind, Betty’s actions often feel more like emotional outbursts, as if she is lashing out like a teenager rather than a grown woman seeking retribution.
Despite Janssen’s charisma and effort, the character of Betty feels more like a tired trope of the “scorned wife,” and her schemes often target the easiest marks imaginable, which diminishes the impact of her revenge. The over-the-top nature of her antics undermines any sense of believability, and ultimately, the character fails to deliver the emotional depth needed to make her compelling.
Weak World-Building and Missed Crime Drama Potential
Amsterdam Empire is set against the backdrop of a thriving cannabis empire, but it fails to explore the world of Jack’s business in any meaningful way. Instead of delving into the complexities of running a legal cannabis empire, the series focuses more on Betty’s personal vendetta. This lack of world-building leaves the show feeling shallow and disconnected from its potential.
The show introduces numerous characters in Jack’s inner circle, but they never get enough time to develop into anything more than one-note figures. The plot touches on Jack’s associates and their lives, but these side stories are quickly dropped or underdeveloped. For a series that could have explored the dynamics of the cannabis industry and its moral implications, Amsterdam Empire wastes the opportunity by focusing too much on the personal drama between Jack and Betty.
Furthermore, the show lacks engaging action scenes, which is a significant drawback for a crime thriller. A chase scene in the first episode is laughable in its execution, and the few moments of potential action fail to create any real tension or excitement. The lack of dynamic pacing and the absence of high-stakes moments make it hard for the viewer to stay invested in the story.
Supporting Cast: Underused and Uninspired
While the main characters are underdeveloped, the supporting cast doesn’t fare much better. Characters like Marjolain (Elise Schaap), the new romantic partner of Jack, and Katya (Jade Olieberg), Jack’s daughter, are introduced but are given little depth. Marjolain, in particular, feels more like a plot device than a fully realized character. Her role in the story is shallow, and her relationship with Jack never feels consequential.
Katya, who could have added emotional weight to the conflict, is similarly underused. The lack of development for supporting characters makes the show feel unbalanced, with too much focus on the central conflict between Jack and Betty and too little exploration of the world they inhabit.
Verdict: A Regrettable Misfire
Despite a strong performance from Famke Janssen and an intriguing premise, Amsterdam Empire ultimately falters due to weak writing, inconsistent tone, and underdeveloped characters. The series tries to balance soapy melodrama with a crime thriller, but fails to fully execute either genre. Betty’s revenge plot, instead of feeling like a satisfying power struggle, turns into an exaggerated, unconvincing series of schemes.
The lack of meaningful world-building and character development, combined with the underwhelming pacing and action, makes Amsterdam Empire a forgettable experience. What could have been a thrilling drama about family, betrayal, and revenge instead becomes a clichéd and lackluster affair. Despite a game Famke Janssen, Amsterdam Empire fails to deliver on its promise.
Watch Amsterdam Empire if You Liked:
- Family Business
- The Gentlemen
FAQs
Unfortunately, Amsterdam Empire struggles with weak writing, one-note characters, and a muddled tone. While Famke Janssen’s performance is fun, the show never fully delivers.
The series follows Betty, a vengeful ex-wife of a cannabis mogul, who seeks to destroy his empire after discovering his infidelities.
Yes, but the show mixes crime thriller elements with melodrama, making it less exciting and dynamic than a true crime drama.
Betty, Janssen’s character, seeks revenge on her ex-husband, but her actions are portrayed as exaggerated and over-the-top rather than calculated.
