Sjene proslosti

It's a cheesy telenovela, and for what it is, it's entertaining. True, the pacing is often weird and dragged on, the writing is sometimes questionable and not totally credible because characters appear idiotic at times which is how they get easily manipulated by the "master manipulator". Other than that, the main cast is incredible at working with the material and breathing life into the characters. The main women are all super interesting in different ways and it's apparent that the actresses had fun and love in portraying them. The male mains are well-done too, specifically Simun Novak. The acting choices for this character are great, and the actor has a great attention to detail in making the character whole. There is considerable character development as time goes on - characters like Marta and Ana and Mato have changed a lot, and it's almost jarring to see them in earlier episodes for comparison! It's not a masterpiece by any means, but it's not trying to be, lol. Like I said, it's a cheesy telenovela, with great main cast and surprisingly interesting characters. If one is willing to overlook the obvious glaring issues, one might find themselves entertained and hooked.

Ana's death ruined the whole show. Killing off one of the titular characters in the series. Really? The show is still good by itsself but her death really made it boring for a while. Some characters like Blanka are unbearable to watch, not because they're villians, it's because of the cringy way the act throughout every single episode. Paula is the #1 reason on why the show is still good because she's the only one who brings comedy into it while the rest of the characters are like wooden puppets. Killing Eduard, another main character also brought alot of shock factor into the series but his death got resolved in 2 episodes and no funeral? Funny. Overall, not so bad.

Terrible and cringe in all aspects (story, plot, screenwriting, execution...). Has more slowmotion time then Matrix trilogy, I dont really see te purpose to use this technique so much. Cheap story with uncovincing plot and terrible conversations. No chemistry between lead actors. Lacking charisma in lead men roles. Jelena as lead antagonist is the most convincing, but still not good enough. Tried to make characters not only as black and white but faild in doing so. Lot of stuff is unecessary, could have been done better. This way the show is tottaly annoying. Classic bad end product for "croatian tv show factory."

Watching Sjene proslosti on RTL Croatia is a test of patience, endurance, and your ability to refrain from hurling your remote at the screen. This series, billed as a suspenseful drama, stumbles at every turn, offering none of the intrigue or emotional depth one would expect from its genre.

First, the writing. Where do I even begin? The plot is a tangled mess of clichés and nonsensical twists, leaving viewers confused rather than intrigued. Characters seem to exist solely to deliver wooden dialogue and make decisions so absurd that they shatter any suspension of disbelief. It's as if the writers threw together every soap opera trope in existence and hoped for the best. Spoiler: they didn't get it.

The acting does little to salvage the situation. Most performances oscillate between over-the-top melodrama and a baffling lack of emotion. At times, it feels like the cast themselves have lost interest in what's happening-a sentiment the audience will share by episode two.

Production-wise, the show doesn't fare much better. The cinematography is uninspired, relying heavily on dim lighting to create a "mysterious" atmosphere, but instead making it hard to see what's going on. The editing is choppy, and the music choices are so heavy-handed that they distract from rather than enhance the scenes.

And don't even get me started on pacing. Episodes drag endlessly, with too much time wasted on irrelevant subplots and filler scenes that go nowhere. By the time something remotely interesting happens, you've already checked out mentally. The show has aired over 60 episodes and somehow nothing has happened yet.. I feel bad for everyone involved in producing this mess..

This series is a truly pathetic attempt to replicate the global success of Elite. It's shocking how far they've fallen, desperately trying to recycle a popular concept without bringing any originality or fresh ideas to the table. From the acting, which feels forced and wooden, to the poorly written script that lacks depth or complexity, everything about this series feels cheap and uninspired. The only redeeming quality is the breathtaking beauty of the Croatian actresses, who manage to captivate with their appearance. However, even their charm isn't enough to save this series or make it worth watching. Stunning looks alone can't carry the weight of a poorly executed production, and unfortunately, this show proves that.