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.

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?

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.

We did not exceed the level of the films of the 90's immediately after the 'revolution' in Romania when after so many years of censorship we felt the need to use in excess: swearing, nudity and sex, all this without any cinematic relevance. We note that in 2022 WOKE also reached Romanian cinema, unfortunately ....

Even though the script can have an update, the story itself is a good story. In Romania the LGBT reaction is close to what's presented in the series. I liked the overall acting, but I can agree with some of the comments that the attitudes are somehow Americanised. Compared with other Romanian TV series, I like it.