Idz przodem, bracie

There was a lot of promise here. The set up is plausible. The execution was not. The writers required too much suspension of belief to pull this off. Its a shame because most of it wasn't required. They couldn't help but go "Hollywood".

The main protaganists were ok. The acting was there. The on location filming and musical scoring were on point. Another good point was breaking the episodes down into one hour episodes. You are able to digest a lot because of good pacing.

There are some background side stories that are sprinkled in but not enough to bog the main story down. Overall its a good series if you can get past the implausible moments and is well worth a watch.

Knowing nothing, I just picked it out of Netflix library and gave it a go. Initial reaction was fairly pleasant surprise, the show is about ex-SWAT neck deep in debts trying to wiggle out of the problems via becoming a criminal.

As German and Eastern block shows often go, it has non-heroic way of going about violence, violence just happens, suddenly, unexpectedly, without pathos or epic music and is done incredibly well. As for drama, this is where show lacked quite a lot, most of it is about social brotherhood of two main characters, but it's either hit or miss.

There's also deeper story about internal struggles of local (Russian?) mafia lieutenants, and that's delivered rather poorly. You'll get some sense of understanding of who's-who only by last episode, if at all. Rest of the time, it's a mix of bearded men, black SUV's and fingers full of oversized signet rings.

So, in conclusion, "Idz przodem, bracie" is a violent mix of Ozark/Breaking Bad and The Punisher. It never gets over "it's a tv show"-wall, but is thrilling nevertheless. Definitely as - or more watchable than your typical B-action movie.

If you crave for some good action and a bit exotic setting, give it a go.

I tried it without any expectations and surprisingly it drew me in right from the start and turned out to be a great crime story with dynamic and gripping action from an area of Europe that we know so little about, especially the criminal world or the police forces dealing with the most difficult cases. The action scenes are realised in such a way that you could watch it for hours. I must admit that I rarely watch 1-2 episodes a day, but I watched this one at the weekend and I can't remember the last time I did. It's nice that the authors didn't stretch it to more episodes, maybe the atmosphere would have sat down, the 6 we got I watched on the verge of biting my nails. I will not write anything about the quality of the actors, because they were spot on, every one of them. I had a great time with it, I can't wait for the second season and I hope it will be just as exciting and we won't have to wait too long. For me a solid 10/10, more of this kind of manly cinema please.

"Go Ahead Brother" (2024) delivers a pulse-pounding cinematic experience that sets a high bar for action films. The fight scenes are breathtaking, blending intricate choreography with raw intensity, each punch and kick perfectly framed to maximize impact. The camera work is masterful, with dynamic angles and seamless tracking shots that pull you directly into the action. The editing complements this perfectly, maintaining a relentless pace without ever feeling chaotic. The cast shines, delivering performances that balance emotional depth with physical prowess. While the script doesn't reinvent the genre, it offers solid storytelling and enough character development to keep you invested. Overall, it's a must-watch for action enthusiasts, combining technical brilliance with thrilling spectacle.

This is the best thing I've watched for years -

The acting, direction, writing , music and pace are all spot on.. There's not a wasted moment and the action scenes are awesome and utterly gripping

But what I really loved (and only the best series do this) is that iit takes you to places, in your mind, that you don't expect to be taken to - it jall ust kind of creeps up on you and without truly knowing why., you know that you are watching something special.

While part of me hopes that there will be a second series, the other part of me is saying, leave it alone, don't ruin things, it's brillant as it is.