Jan Sakht

The Iranian series Jan Sakht is a leftover from last year for me! That is, I started this series last year and managed to catch up with the aired episodes during Ramadan. I first heard about it on Ehsan Mansouri's page, and that's where I decided to watch it.

Like many other Iranian films and series, this one had an exciting and promising start, but it quickly declined-right from the early episodes-proving that we shouldn't expect a truly good show from it.

At some point, even though I kept watching, I didn't like it anymore. I was just following it to avoid leaving an open case in my mind. The biggest reason I didn't enjoy Jan Sakht was its repetitive, predictable, and sinusoidal pattern in every episode.

The entire series followed this cycle:

A good thing would happen to solve Farzad's problem everyone would celebrate.

The next episode, everything would fall apart.

The third episode would split into two halves-the first half being sadness over their failure, and the second half setting up the next "good thing" to happen.

Overall, I didn't like Jan Sakht because if you watched the first episode and then skipped to the 15th, you wouldn't miss anything. I give this series 4.5/10 and suggest you don't bother watching it.

After the first two episodes of the series "Jan Sakht" were broadcast, critics expressed different opinions. While listing some positive aspects of the series, critics also criticized the series. For example, one critic wrote about the series "Jan Sakht": "In general, the first episode had a good rhythm and there was no exaggeration. It was also successful in a series of atmospheres such as the desert tour and the bus. Although the music and singing in the desert did not turn out right, and it is natural that due to limitations, the reality cannot be shown as it is, but a half-hearted and inaccurate presentation is also an insult to the audience." He also mentioned the good ending of the first episode, although he ultimately concluded that it is very unlikely that the series will have the traction and capacity to be broadcast in a 19-episode format. Mashreq News website also considered the series as a weak work that promotes violence and wrote about it: "The characters of the series "Jan Sakht" do not resemble the models of Dariush, Lion Skin, and Outlaw, and in terms of their appearance, they have become completely modern, but in terms of the development of social violence, they are at least not inferior to previous examples."

Cinema 120 website also pointed out the weaknesses of the series and wrote about it: "The signs indicate the continuation of violence in "Jan Sakht", which is worthy of praise if it is in line with the criticism of this growing social phenomenon and, along with entertainment, provides some lessons and a warning. Otherwise, its name will be placed next to products that merely use the shell of naked violence for instant excitement and ignore the main function."

Jan Sakht had the potential to be a gripping social drama, with its intriguing setup of friends unraveling old conflicts during a desert tour. However, this 19-episode series collapses under the weight of its own ambitions, delivering a frustratingly uneven experience that squanders its talented cast and initial promise. The writing is the series' Achilles' heel. The narrative starts with a spark, hinting at complex interpersonal dynamics, but quickly devolves into melodramatic clichés and convoluted subplots. The pacing is erratic-some episodes drag with repetitive arguments, while others rush through pivotal moments, leaving emotional beats underdeveloped. The script struggles to balance its ensemble, and characters like Elham, played by Arzoo Tajik, feel underutilized despite Tajik's earnest efforts to bring depth to a thinly written role. The cast, including heavyweights like Farhad Aslani and Mehrdad Sedighian, does what it can with the material. Tajik, as the young Elham, shows flashes of potential, but her character is sidelined by inconsistent writing that prioritizes shock value over coherence. The ensemble's chemistry, which could have been the series' heart, feels forced, with conflicts that often come across as contrived rather than organic. Production-wise, Jan Sakht has moments of visual flair, particularly in its desert sequences, but the prison scenes (filmed in Rajai Shahr Prison) feel claustrophobic in a way that detracts rather than enhances. The editing is choppy, and the soundtrack leans heavily on generic dramatic cues that fail to elevate the tension. For a series touted as a major Filmnet release, the overall execution feels surprisingly lackluster. The series tries to tackle themes of loyalty and betrayal but ends up mired in soap-opera tropes, losing the grounded social commentary it initially promised. By the finale, Jan Sakht feels like a missed opportunity, unable to match the "thrilling start" some critics praised early on. Fans of Iranian drama may find fleeting moments to enjoy, but this is a slog that tests patience more than it rewards.

Rating: 1/10.