The nationally colorful team behind Aranyélet did a wonderful job for all three seasons, creating a fun product that actually was made for international view, and that quality is apparent pretty well; it's huge, it has depths realised with a wonderful cast, exciting storyline crafted to maintain attention from A to Z. People in Hungary surely wanted this kind of quality that represents the good worksmanship of this country.
However, do not let people fool you. As many mistakenly states this series being "THE HUNGARIAN REALITY" they either nationally radicals and don't know other countries are also besides Hungary or just plain don't know what "reality" means. This series - although based on real, historical elements came after the change of regime in Europe and political reality up to date - it's still just a colorized story, that is down to earth and paints extra brushstrokes there where it needs a bit of a classic "make it exciting no matter what".
But as story goes right to the end of the SEASON 3, it is also apparent that it don't really wants to show a story that is 100% realistic. And here comes the folksy side of the production. Especially in the last season things will happen that brings mystical levels to the story, that which is the tool of expressing sorrow and judgment on the whole family prior the series. Making it not a realistic, but a bit of a folksy, fantasy-like thriller/drama.
Hungarians are also known for being clever reminding people all around the world about their existence, and this show is no different from that intention; stating home cuisines, pig slaughter, hungarian bands playing international music and also songs with homelanguage, and some of that quality which may be too cheesy for other nations. But, these are implemented in a way that it is pleasing and overall not making any harm to the whole masterfulness or the quality of this show.
The soundtrack is mostly alright, it has that globalized vibe we get from the west culture, but it is handled so generic in places, especially in SEASON 1; there are some tracks that holds the quality of a generic TV soap opera, like it was taken right from "Barátok Közt" or something. And I still don't get it who got that cookie-cutter idea to put Tankcsapda to the end of the season finales; it is out of place, nothing to do with the rythm of the series, just cringeworthy.
The cinematography holds up pretty well, it is really beautifull, especially I like the scenes set back in the 90's. Simply powerfull stuff.
Story, besides all that I have already stated above, is well crafted, it builds up perfectly till the end with every plot having its own evolution, and every question being - kinda - answered, with which we will feel mostly satisfied. It's only 3 seasons though, but fortunately this prompted the writers to make a well thoughtout story without any plotholes that would bug the viewers, so props to the whole team of Aranyélet, this was a really enjoyable run.
