Subteran

Not bad actually. Psycho girl was really good. The acting I mean. Same with Ana Ularu, apart from a couple of scenes she was believable. Oase is good too. I don't know any of these actors apart from Ana Ularu, Adriana Trandafir, Florin Piersic and Velea. The gang of gangsters was relatively believable. I liked seeing the sights from Bucharest. The grand tasteless mansions surrounded by concrete and empty land. Very Romanian sadly. Dirty money and no class. So they got that right. Some of the actors were flat in some of the scenes. Surprisingly, Adriana Trandafir was one of them. The writers kept me entertained, I actually binged this, which is rare for me to do. I really appreciated the short miniseries format and I truly hope they do not continue it. Although they left it a little muddled, so I guess they want to leave it open somewhat just for that. Again, it wouldn't work without psycho girl, she pretty much drives at least half the show.

Would not have watched it if it weren't a Romanian series, it's the first one I am watching, the others have had a pretty bad reputation.

I thought the songs on the soundtrack fit the mood. I'm sure Romanians will grumble about the manele and trap. I would too, but it fits. It really does. I don't like it but this is the reality of these people.

Look, I wasn't expecting another Umbre, especially given this production's budget. However, I have an issue with what this mini-series tries-and fails-to be: a representation of Romania's underground (SUBTERAN) landscape.

In short, the show feels more like a theatrical play than an authentic portrayal of Romanian street life, or Romanian every-day life for that matter.

The writing is weak, but what truly puts me off is the delivery of the lines. Florin Piersic Jr. And Cezar Grumazescu are far from convincing in their roles. Their dialogue is delivered with such perfect pronunciation that it feels like they've never heard anyone speak outside an academic setting.

The world-building remains largely untapped. Bucharest, the city where the story unfolds, barely impacts the narrative, aside from a few run-down houses scouted to create a superficial illusion of an Eastern European "ghetto." It couldn't be further from the truth.

Watch just one episode of Umbre, and the difference is clear: authenticity. From set design to language, pronunciation, and costume design, Umbre gets it right. Dressing Florin Piersic Jr. As a stereotypical Italian-wannabe-mobster doesn't make him a believable character.

Ironically, Alex Velea (a local Romanian trapper) delivers a more authentic performance in a minor role, simply by playing himself.

As far as crime series go this one checks all the boxes. Crime lord. Corruption everywhere. Not knowing who to trust. Undercover police. People getting caught up in the mess. Money. Drugs.

The mix is....... fine enough if you don't overthink it. Yes, entire thing was clearly done on a budget. Yes, stuff is resolved via handwavium. Yes, acting can be a bit clunky at times.

It's not a particularly bad series if you are looking for non-English speaking shows, it's just not that great in the end.

It's worth a watch if you have time to kill and nothing better lined up but you'll likely forget it once it's done.

Subteran offers a straightforward and somewhat predictable plot, aiming for broad international appeal. However, this simplicity may leave some viewers wanting more depth. The Romanian cast, though well-known, often seems mismatched with the script, which might have been translated from English, resulting in unnatural dialogue. This detracts from the overall authenticity, especially when characters speak in ways that don't fit their roles. While the intent to attract international platforms like Netflix is clear, the execution falls a bit short, making it feel somewhat overrated. Nonetheless, it's a step towards increasing Romanian visibility in global media.

Disappointing and Misplaced, Judging by the premise and the genre, I thought this show had potential. However, right from the first episode, it becomes clear what kind of series this really is. It feels more like a telenovela than the drama-packed crime triller you'd expect from Netflix. Honestly, I hope this doesn't become a trend for the platform. Throughout the entire watch, you get the impression that this series belongs on a lesser-known local TV channel - one of those shows that's there just to fill airtime. It leans heavily toward drama, and while the dramatic elements are very present, they overshadow everything else. I ended up fast-forwarding through parts of it, and to be honest, I wasn't impressed. Definitely not worth the hype or the platform it's on.