Wasteland

It could be criticized for many things, but I consider the North Bohemian depression, the playfulness with gloomy visuals, and the unveiling of national character in the forgotten corner of the republic as a motto, because until now, no one had the courage to film it here like this. Hulík's undeniable inspiration from Nica Pizzolatta is not harmful; the obsession of one of the main characters, which undergoes a significant change halfway through, is equally believable, even though the pendulum of audience sympathy swings like a clock. The only thing that truly disappoints me is that Zachariáš did not direct the whole thing. Nellis' episodes lack true internal tension and are rather just very well-executed tasks, regardless of anything else. PS: The fifth episode, with its plot calmness and gloomy silence, is a perfect showcase of unique direction. (11/01/2017)

I have heard people call this the "series of the decade," to which I respond that it would mean dismissing the significance and quality of Wasteland because Czech series production has long been crappy. The last Czech series that received 5 stars from me was directed by Karel Smyczek in 1994, yes, I'm talking about There Were Five of Us. That series had the advantage of exceptionally high-quality literary translation by Karel Poláček, which is a cult classic of Czech literature. In fact, Wasteland entered a territory that no one in the Czech Republic has reached yet despite some unsuccessful attempts. It is the first series that fulfills the essence of the term quality TV. Wasteland is not only ambitious but also a very well-made affair, with a sense for the gradual building of atmosphere, for modeling believable characters with authentic dialogues, great acting performances, and top-notch camera work. It's a pleasure to watch how the director works with individual elements, builds tension, and shows that Czech television production does not have to be only a Central European imitation of Latin American soap operas. I will leave the review of the series until its end, as voices of insiders claim that the finale falls short of expectations, but the 6 episodes I've watched so far maintain reliable five-star quality, so I hope that the finale will not be such a painful disappointment that I would have to lower my rating. Report after the final 8th episode: I haven't noticed any significant decrease in quality. Many famous series end up simply rotting after the producer has squeezed them dry. Štěpán Hulík doesn't have to be ashamed of this finale. I stand by the fact that Wasteland is the highest-quality Czech series produced in the last 2 decades. It's not flawless - for example, I could criticize the aesthetic of shots or the motif of the disabled father of the family who is a regular visitor to local brothels, gives prostitutes large sums of money, and drives around in a luxury car. But the positives significantly outweigh the negatives. A five-star rating is appropriate in this case. Overall impression: 90%. (04/12/2016)

Finally, a quality Czech drama series. The filmmakers were clearly inspired by the Scandinavians. Luckily, they were only inspired and didn’t end up copying everything word for word like the Americans often do. The series reminded me of the first season of the original version of The Killing. The emphasis wasn't so much on police work, but more on relationships distorted by the omnipresent atmosphere of depression, despair, and fear. I especially enjoyed the performances of Zuzana Stivínová, Jaroslav Dušek, Leoš Noha and Jan Cina, who were absolutely convincing in their roles. I can't remember any other Czech series that drew me into the plot in such a way. What an atmosphere! (26/04/2017)