Despiértate

I'm looking forward to season 2 (with fingers crossed). This is a great show: constantly wrong-footing you; always making you want to know more, to discover what is going on. Is it some virtual reality hell? Is it a dream, or maybe it's aliens experimenting on drugged-up abductees? It's aimed at a young adult audience but heck, if only some adult shows were this grown-up!

As this Polish series opens a teenaged girl wakes up in the 'Second Chance' institution for amnesiacs. A message informs her of some details such as the fact that she has been their four days, her parents died in an accident and that she knows that she is named after her aunt but doesn't remember her name, at least initially. When her door unlocks the leaves her room and starts meeting the other people there. Most of the other young people there have been there much longer than her. As her treatment proceeds she starts having strange hallucinations of a red haired girl and hears somebody calling the name 'Karolina'... there is nobody there by that name. She, along with another patient decide to escape... things only get more mysterious.

I rather enjoyed this series which, as things stand, is a single six part series. The ending certainly suggests more might be planned. The main setting creates a nice creepy atmosphere; the sense of unease is increased as things we think we know are questioned. The cast is solid, most obviously Maria Wawreniuk, who plays our protagonist and is rarely off screen. It is confusing at times; but in a good way as assumptions are proved wrong. While this isn't a special effects heavy series, those that there are, are pretty good. Overall an intriguing little series; I hope we get a second season.

These comments are based on watching the series in Polish with English subtitles.

Since I got Netflix I prefer to search to watch everything but Hollywood as I find other countries make quite awesome series and movies, even better than Hollywood. So, I gave our sister Slavic country chance few times, and of course, when I read the info about these series, I couldn't miss it and I wasn't disappointed. Binged it two days and expecting season 2, as soon as possible, please!

Atmosphere in series is very mystic, dream-like, and there is something oddly nostalgic about it. It has a lot of story lines and visions but they all connect in the end, and none of it is there just "for effect", it all has a purpose. Characters are really good, acting is on point, and I love the twist at the end of season 1. I don't agree with review that wrote it was "predictable", you could never see it coming, but it slowly creeps up on you near the ending. Quite well, I am impressed!

This show is so much better than the typical Netflix series you see out there today. This series shows its potential and uses it to the max!

The only thing that bothered me from the beginning of the first episode all the way up to the half mark of the second one is the pace at which the plot proceeded (therefore, if you thought this show is boring after the first episode ended, you should reconsider your decision and give it another try, because it just gets better and better as the the plot in the series goes on). It was a little too slow, and therefore it didn't live up to my standards. BUT, now we are heading to the positive arguments of why this show is an absolute masterpiece.

The first thing is how well all the characters played their roles. There is a great balance between them all; everyone has their own purpose. We clearly have a protagonist and an antagonist in this show, all the other characters are just a bonus to make it all feel as authentic as it is.

Furthermore, the plot starts off quite discreet and rather quiet, but as the story builds up it triggers the pace to pick up, too. With this being said, the show offers you a tense build up and a climax which will have you stuck to your screen until the series finishes.

Moreover, the plot twists it offers are just beyond phenomenal! It left me astounded and open-mouthed several times. If that doesn't ring a bell and signalise how good it must be, I don't know what does.

The feeling this show triggers is also ineffable. You have this peculiar feeling that some characters are a little shallow, but in reality what would you expect after sustaining either a tolerable amnesia or even a severe one? Not a chance.

Last but not least, I love the setting of this series. It just gives you this vibe of nostalgia, maybe that's just because the clinic is located in the vicinity of a forest and a lake.

Summary: This show deserves a score of a solid 10/10. Can't wait for season 2!

I finish this serie in 1 Day and in Need to know how it ends give me another season.