Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsA Subtle, Beautiful Anthology Series Done Well
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2018
SUMMARY: This is an anthology series (each episode is like its own movie at about 90 minutes long) with a new descendant as its feature star and we get an intimate look at this descendant's shadow/dark side and how s/he deals with it, with subtlety and nuance, beauty and family, love and even some surprising comedic affects in episode 2. This is a drama rated MA, with excellent writing, acting, and an underlying theme that ties these descendants' stories together, but we won't know for sure until the series has completed itself this season.
FULL REVIEW:
Many of the 1-3 star reviewers seem to be from people who either 1) didn't read any of the description or watch the trailer and/or 2) are part of a campaign of false reviewers (like perhaps rejected actors who didn't make the final cast? I don't know but it is suspicious that so many negative reviews are *that* helpful.)
-Each episode is actually a mini-movie, a story in and of itself that delves into the life of an alleged descendent of the royal family Romanov. Hence it being an anthology series as described.
-It is rated MA clearly. Any sex scenes were not pornographic and accurately rated as MA.
-It is a drama and the 1st episode was not funny; it was beautiful and subtle but didn't get a laugh from me. The 2nd episode was a drama as well but I did laugh!
-The first episode was set in Paris France and so it had a lot of subtitles and French conversations... the second episode was set in Ohio US and on a cruise, so no subtitles.
-There may be a theme of generational or lineage trauma moving through this series, and so to see the connection, you gotta see the whole series... and since each story is well done, is beautiful in its ugliness in the way that humanity can be cruel, they each stand on their own as a whole.
BOTTOMLINE: Please read the (especially helpful) negative reviews with a grain of salt, and watch this with an open mind, with at least 1.5 hours to spend per episode, when you're in the mood for a deep, intimate, inside look into the dark and perhaps disturbing shadows that run through the Romanov blood line and how they are healed/integrated with love, beauty or some other wonderful surprise.
