Una vida regalada (Aranyelet)

10/10 in the Hungarian league, 8/10 in international level.

I have to admit i have seen only season one, but i do not see it as the depiction of the "Hungarian Reality" as so many reviewer does. But rather as an enormously good satire of the Hungarian swindlers who had their gold age in the turmoil of the 90's, they kind of got addicted to their routines, and they fail to realise, that the world in which they flourished shrinks to be a petty one. Like commit a life endangering, prison worthy crime for 1M Huf? (3000 Euro) In 2015? Serious?? Or parking the car everywhere, with a disability certificate, and it all serves as a status symbol? (For any possible reader from outside the postcom region: it is a status symbol, as it shows you managed to pay off the medical staff) Hillarious. So originally East European, so sourly funny. Why still 8 instead of 10? Because it resonates too well with the "you cannot make it in the right way" postcommunist worldview. And it is rather harmfull, here in Hungary. It is not realistic, and i even dont think, the series is about it. But it still conveys this message for almost all.

I'm Hungarian, and I'm the guy who just isn't interested in Hungarian movies/series at all in general. I started watching it because my mother insisted it's good, and let me tell you, it's extremely good. It's captivating from the first 5 minutes. I have a flatmate who also doesnt like Hungarian stuff, but he came in the room while I started it, and he also watched a whole episode! It's just full of action, full of drama, full of twists. The acting is really good. The emotions come through. I enjoyed EVERY minute of it, there is no filler content, it's a ride all the way. I can seriously recommend it to anyone who likes action/drama. This is literally the first review I do ever I think, because it's just so damn good. I'm shocked how good it is. From the first to the last minute, no boring part, just straight to the point. Maximum satisfaction in 1 hour. This is the epitome of good series, oh my god. Just watch the first 5 minutes, I will put my hand in the fire if you are able to stop. I'm just shocked that I only heard about this not so long ago, and I'm extremely critical about Hungarian shows, but this just blows my mind how good it is.

Edit: Watched season 2 as well. It just gets even better. There were multiple really tense situations. If you live in Hungary you can relate to those well, so it hit home with me. The acting is just brilliant, they got some extremely authentic criminal figures. So again, I'm really hard to impress, but this series just wins the cake.

Storyline is quite good, it gots sense, acting of the majority is good... It's quite slow as well, too much time wasted on dull dialogs, while the final of the seriers is AMAZING! overall 9/10 But also. .. Mira acts indecisive in the beginning ,so irritating, then she becomes a star! Atila is quite soft on acting, then wakes up, Mark was quite harsh, then he explodes in emotions, nobody expected that, i am sure. GOOD GAME WELL PLAYED HBO AND CAST!

This show is the best hungarian show ever. And I think currently one of the best shows in Europe. Why?

Because this series is brave to show the hungarian reality. Which is a brave move. It reveals all of the crimes, life-hacks,lies, nonchalance that happens every day, down the streets, and up in the luxury apartments.

It shows what is the life feels like in East-central-Europe. You live rightfully and poor or you do live with cheating, lying and perhaps, you get rich. Or you can go to a foreign country, and the people of the country exploit you. The truth seems like that way.

The morality is so strong point in the show. Attila, the father, who gives up his criminal career (like an anti-Walter White), but his past and his environment always pull him back. Janka, the mother, who never wants to give up her luxury lifestyle. She wants her lifestyle, want her family's livelihood, doesn't matter what it takes. Márkó, the son, wants money and money so he join to his godfather's gang and taste the darkness of the crime and power. Mira, the daughter after she finds out his father's crime she starts drink and party hard and escape from her family. A family will tear apart.

The series makes it with style, with tension. Great performances, spectacular cinematography (too much drone shot in the pilot, maybe).

So professional, if I were an American I wouldn't believe it's not an US's HBO product. So professional, so European, so hungarian.

I cannot wait till the second season arrives.

Probably the best Hungarian series I ever watched. Thanks for the creators who dare dream big after Terapia.

The visuals are great, most of the pictures are colorful but still clear. They recorded on several locations with different tones so every time you can lost a little bit searching smaller things from your own experiences.

The story sometimes slow but it is never boring. Characters are unique and the worst actor is at least good, Renato Olasz is great, Zoltán Seress is amazing.

I am looking forward the next seasons hopefully they can keep this high quality for a long time. This is the first time I can recommend a home show without doubt. I think it can even be compared with any good American dramas. 10/10