Go Ahead, Brother

I was really attracted by this amazing social thriller, giving so much importance on characters, even supporting ones. Not too easy to follow, to summarize, but really well made, pulled by convincing performances. It so poignant, gripping, violent in the same time. Only the last part of the last episode deceived me, deceived me so much that I prefer forgetting this TV show from Poland. It could have been darker, grittier, instead of this American like style. You know what I am talking about. I hope that the makers of this TV show will give us something more downbeat next time. I don't regret the time I spent on it. No, only the last fifteen minutes are junk.

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.

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.

"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.

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.