Vlad

It is actually sad that people underate this show because they think is a copy of Ezel, when in fact is a franchise of the Turkish TV series. I think that 80% of the cast is incredibly good and the plotline constructed around was absolutely lit. Congrats PRO TV!

A different Romanian serie by all experiments from the early 2000 to present. Sure, many virtues, to the wise use of the old story of revenge in the tradition of Count of Monte cristo to the performances and script and locations and nuances. The basic good point - the care for details, ignored in past in so many situations. Well crafted can be the fair word for define it. Because it gives a large and complex story, interesting characters and precise perspectives about characters. So, a promising start in an important genre for large public, its science to educate the taste of public being, to, a not small virtue.

The first season. The idea is rich (how could it not be?), Alexandre Dumas' Count of Monte Cristo is a theme one can elaborate upon considerably. Sadly, they stretched it by length and by breadth and produced a porous fabric. It started well, then, sadly, slid into a telenovela. The plot here dashes, then trails. The acting is bad, almost all the (fairly) young actors act unnatural or stilted (excepting Diana Sar and Anghel Damian). Camera angles and shots are frequently toneless or drab. Points for effort, but needs more professionals and, definitely, another director.

After the second season. It is still a telenovela, but with more action, some humorous dialogues, less overacting, less maudlin scenes, less eye-piercing (*expletive) camera (rife in the first season), new characters, extended plot, and more of Anghel Damian's scripting, that take the second season to a higher (better) level. Still, the scenography is wanting from time to time. Episode 3 part II, the fight between Vlad and Leo looks simulated. Episode 4 part I, medical aid outfit just hanging there, anyone could use it. And more...

Points for episode 13 part I, great drama, great acting (see Tibi at Leo's bed). The show looks promising.

I'll come back with the third season assessment.

Never in my life had I thought that a Romanian TV series would be this good. The old movies are good yes, but this is really good. Extremely good shots, attention to the details, really great framing, good sound, really accurate flashbacks and of course a great plot. The use of a narrator voice gives it an extra feeling of belonging. The narrator Adrian/Vlad is getting in touch with us through his narration of the story so of course we side with him. It's like we are part of the story because he is telling it to us, and we listen and see, not just see. It's amazing.

Vlad is an even better Romanian production than what we're used to. It's obvious that talented people have contributed to this show and made it almost as good as the Hollywood movies that people love.

Compared to the Turkish show, the scenes are more dramatic and the actors made some incredible improvements to their characters which are evolving from one episode to another.