Ruxx

This is a very confusing series from Romania. There is little context as to who the characters are, as from the very start of episode 1, the viewer is dropped into a story that seems to have already been in progress. While the story, and context may unfold in later episodes, the first episode was not compelling enough to sustain interest.

Romanian productions typically look like an x-ray of a specific, often exagerated trait of old-world Romanian society, one where young urbanites are either misrepresented or completely absent.

Ruxx finally feels relevant & relatable to us. It's inch-close to our reality and the first show I'd recommend for anyone looking to move or visit, wondering how it's like.

That's how we dress. Those are the places we hang out at. Those are our problems and that's how we handle them.

And low and behold, it's not that different from other places in the world. Turn on Spanish subtitles and you will relate as well.

Finally, a Romanian TV show that's not about a Romanian cliche, but about globally relevant people who just happen to live in Romania.

Full disclosure: I cam to to this series because of Alec Secareanu, the actor that plays Andrei in the series. I have followed him since God's Own Country and was excited to see his work in this format.

As a longtime avid consumer of films, a former theatre student, and a member of the LGBTQIA community, I am so in love with this series.

Firstly, a suggestion to viewers: opt for subtitles. I do NOT know what is up with the dubbing industry or who decided what voiceover actor goes with what character but, lord, just read the dialogue. The pitch of the voiceover actors are NOTHING like that of the actual cast and it is really jarring to me.

That said, I am very impressed with the way this series has chosen to tackle controversial and commonplace subjects alike. The script and the skillful work by the actors craft these issues without a sign of preachiness or excess. Whether it is the caregiving of a parent, relationship dynamics, or the very real problems of misogyny, bigotry and prejudice, or self discovery, each is handled with the honesty and worth it deserves. The plot unfolds like origami, intricate and surprising, each fold a new revelation.

The work is also succinct, in many ways. Things are not overexplained; histories are not exhaustively hashed out. The writer trusts the viewer to make those connections focusing on the larger storylines that move the plot forward.

To write this series, to include the subject matter in what is still a very conservative country, is, if not great work, BRAVE work.

Judge for yourselves.

I can't see the mechanism through which HBO decides to waste their money on such weak, amateurish scripts. Is this the best România could come up with? A confusing plot with volatile characters missing every mark of professional script writing.

How HBO takes such poor decisions for Romania? Why HBO doesn't organize script writing competitions?

So, where to start?

1. Bad acting! Almost every actor is like they are reading their lines from a book, basically no acting skills, apart from 2-3 actors who get the job done.

2. The lines! OMG they are so terrible. Most of the time, the lines are cringey AF. A lot of cursing is not necessary and placed horribly into the dialogs, THIS IS NOT HOW ROMANINS SPEAK. It makes it seem so unnatural, forced, tras de par in plm

3. The plot! Lame, everything is so lame.

This review is from a Romanian perspective. I've seen a lot of Romanian movies, this is by far the worst, truly terrible. At this point i am only watching it to see how low can it get.