3%

The dubbed version is awful, always watch with subtitles, much better. Story development is excellent, the characters are deep and refreshingly multi dimensional. Can't wait for season 3.

There's plenty to recommend this low-budget, futuristic Portuguese- Brazilian 8-episode SciFi teleseries. It has a gripping plot, the characters have plenty of magnetism and the situation of poverty versus privilege will ring true with many.

It's about a futuristic, real-life competition designed to choose the optimum 3% of new adults, who deem their skills sufficient to "pass" a truly grueling selection process. Successful candidates are rewarded with a life in a man-made paradise "Offshore", whereas the rest are doomed to continue living "Inland" - a huge poverty-stricken, environmentally degraded favela. There's plenty of sub-plot, social current and Machiavellian wickedness to keep viewers on the edge of their seats till the last episode. Despite the DIY feel of the close sets there are fortunately enough locations to relieve viewers of claustrophobia, that hampers many other cheap SciFi productions. I think this one (thanks to a good English dubbed version) will catch on with a wider TV audience than the normal Portuguese, homespun audience.

Cinematically and visually stunning, a political, hunger games-esque storyline with believable acting and I thought very interesting, life-like characters. The script is intelligent, the characters are strong, and the interaction is elegant in it's simplicity and natural air.

Excellent directing and cinematography here, a lot of subtle commentary in say a picture or shot (a thousand words). I believe it is the same cinematographer of City of God and the resemblance is there.

This won't have you walking away with too much feel-good or inspirational qualities. This does not much inspire you with it's beauty to be a better person, or help you in your struggles at an honest life, but it is a beautiful work of art that is gripping, entertaining, and has much fodder in the subtleties, particularly the social dynamics and the display of humanity in each of the varied characters. It is an exploration of psychology, social experiment, morality, and what humans are made of. It might make us ask along the way what we are made of.. but that is the extent of its ability to inspire.

If you believe we are heading into a 1984 era, you might welcome the realism in this work. Otherwise, it is a nice futuristic escape and exploration into what that might be like, while at the same time appreciating the human capacity in us all.

What do we know about Brazil? Beautiful country. Gisele Bündchen. TV shows with less than 2,500 episodes are considered mini-series. Oh, and Embraer. And it's actually spelled Brasil.

This show delivers on all fronts. From the first minute you are thrown into an endless kaleidoscope of hotties of both genders who look GORGEOUS in their slum-rugs, obviously designed by someone with only a first name. (Did you know that Kenzo's last name is Takada?) I bet even the dirt smeared on them was imported from some exotic place. A cross between steam punk and Victoria's Secret. The looking-good box ticked BIGLY. The production design team has done an amazing job. Total success - the show looks A-mazing! The set decorations, the costumes, make-up, accessories - CHEF'S KISS!!!! Well done!

The plot is interesting enough to keep the intrigue going. Something very social and very progressive. And, eventually, very Embraer-esgue-ly high-tech. As in all Brazilian telenovellas, it is both incredibly naive, borderline primitive, and even more incredibly twisted. Artificial selection process, some rebels group, power struggle on both sides, hatred, betrayal, and love polygons of all shapes.

The plot develops nicely and gradually. Secrets are revealed in their own time, but you are not left scratching your head for too long on any mystery. Every once in a while the writers drop back to their roots, and you get a strong dose of telenovella in the form of an out-of-character tantrum or a sudden burst of guilt/shame/fear/joy/all-of-the-above. But they quickly course-correct and off we go again.

All-in-all, it looks both very familiar and surprisingly fresh. If you liked City of God and Sandpit Generals, you will like the long form Brazilian cinematography.

You don't review a show based on one episode. Most first episodes (of any series) are the pilot, and they don't tell much about the history, plot, acting quality. I'm not trying to defend it because I'm Brazilian, I just don't think some people are fair on their judgement (one user in particular even said he only watched the first episode, and gave it ONE star). Please guys, don't do that, reviews like that are not useful at all. I can't remember me watching a first episode of any show and thinking "wow, the best show ever".

To be honest, I didn't like the two first episodes, but I gave the show a chance and it proved me wrong. It really gets entertaining as you watch. The actors and plot are great and the history is quite original (besides some elements from other shows). I watched the full season in 3 days or less.

Just give it a shot, but please watch more than one episode.