Hello everyone!
I'm excited to share my thoughts on the new series 'Love Me Again' that just dropped on the online streaming platform WatchMe on January 1st.
THE BASICS:
Genre:Drama.
Director:Eugene Baranov.
Country of origin:Russia.
Number of episodes:16.
Runtime:About 50 minutes.
Age rating:12+.
Official description from KinoPoisk:In Lyuda Kupyriova's life, she has everything she could ever want: a loving husband, Pavel, a successful business, and loyal friends, Vlad Kozhukhov and his wife, Oksana. After the tragic loss of their child, the couple decides to adopt a boy named Fedya. When their son turns seven, Lyuda discovers she's pregnant again - she's expecting a girl. However, the arrival of their daughter causes tension in their relationship. Lyuda's mother-in-law, Raisa, openly dislikes the adopted boy. A random argument drastically changes the lives of the Kupyriovs: Fedya goes missing, and the couple finds themselves at the center of a crime story. Investigator Alexey is tasked with helping Lyuda find her son and regain her trust in love.
About the Show:The series starts in 2007. My friends Ludmila and Pavel Kupyrianov are expecting their first baby. Just before the birth, disaster strikes - burglars break into their home, attack Ludmila, and she loses the baby.
They decide to adopt a boy named Fedya. Everyone falls in love with the kid, except for Pavel's mom, who starts plotting to get rid of him. Meanwhile, Detective Alexey Beglov investigates the attack on Ludmila and tries to find the culprits behind the baby's death.
Main Characters:
Ludmila Kupyrianova (played by Marina Konyschina)
I was really drawn into the story of the main character, a pregnant woman in her late twenties who's married with a complicated relationship with her mother-in-law. She's strong and determined, having lost her parents at a young age, but still has her own dreams and aspirations.
Pavel (played by Jan Ilves)
Pavel, the husband, is a businessman who's clearly very much in love with his wife, but also has a complicated relationship with his mother. He's worried about his wife and wants to make her happy, but he's also caught in the middle of their family dynamics.
Vlad Kozhukhov (played by Alexander Davydov)
Vlad, a friend of the family and their business partner, is a more down-to-earth character who's struggling to make ends meet. He's excited about the upcoming arrival of his child and is deeply in love with his wife.
Oksana (actress Marina Domozhirova)
Oksana, Vlad's wife, is expecting a baby. She's not a fan of the Kupyriovs and is jealous of their financial stability. Oksana is well aware of her husband's business dealings and constantly nags him to start his own business and earn more money.
Raisa Maximova (actress Alena Yakovleva)
Raisa, Pavel's mom, is Vlad's mother-in-law. She makes no secret of the fact that she doesn't like her daughter-in-law and frequently complains about her to her friend, who she walks with during her Scandinavian walks. She's asked to live with her son and is now trying to get rid of her daughter-in-law from the house.
Aleksey Beglov (actor Pyotr Rykov)
I've been following the investigation into the attack on Ludmila, and I have to say, it's been a wild ride. The detective in charge is a no-nonsense kind of guy who's not afraid to get his hands dirty. He's also got a soft spot for Ludmila, which makes for some interesting dynamics.
MY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE SHOW:
Genre and Plot Dynamics I'd say the genre of this show is a classic female melodrama. It's a story about one family spanning almost 20 years, and while the idea isn't particularly original, it's not something you'd call overdone either. For me, melodramas fall into a few categories - there are the watchable ones, the modern ones, the ones with a bit of humor, and the ones that are just a mess of tears and suffering. This show falls into the third category - it's not overly depressing, but it's not exactly light-hearted either. It's a show that's just okay, but only if you're into the melodrama genre.
I've got to say, the storyline's there, but it's so dragged out and boring that it's a real chore to watch. The script's weak, with no hooks to grab viewers and keep them on the edge of their seats. There are way too many empty conversations and unnecessary scenes just to pad out the runtime. I'm not laughing, and there's no humor to speak of. The drama's there, but it's not exactly edge-of-your-seat stuff. The intrigue could be interesting, but the super slow and drawn-out storyline makes it lose steam really quickly.
There are plenty of characters, but only a couple of them really stand out. The character development's slow, but at least we know who's good and who's bad right off the bat. The storyline's pretty predictable, and the plot development's non-existent. The episodes are way too long, clocking in at 50 minutes each. Watching them feels like a real slog, and I found myself zoning out more often than not. If they were 30 minutes each, I think the show would be a lot more engaging, but it would still be the same story.
CastI wasn't blown away by the cast, but there are a few familiar faces. You've got Peter Rykov, Marina Domozhirova, and Alena Yakovleva. Acting-wise, it's on par with the rest of the series. Some scenes are decent, others feel slow, and a few are even over-the-top and insincere.
Alena Yakovleva's character is the typical evil mother-in-law, and while she's a negative character, I found myself feeling something for her. Oksana, on the other hand, is a standout in Marina Domozhirova's portrayal - she's the only character who actually shines. The rest of the cast is pretty meh, and honestly, I didn't like anyone in this episode. The cast and acting just didn't do it for me.
Visuals, locations, and operator workI've got to say, the visuals are pretty standard. Nothing particularly impressive or exciting. The picture is clear, bright, and of decent quality. No blur, no darkness, no grain.
There are plenty of locations, and they're all pretty different. You've got the heroes' homes and apartments, a hospital, a police station, cafes and restaurants, an orphanage, a psychologist's office, parks, squares, and city streets. The interior settings are pretty good, and they fit with the story's timeline – it starts in 2007. You won't see any modern cars on screen. The heroes are driving old cars, like a Lada, a Ford Focus, and an old Volkswagen.
One thing that really stood out to me was the wardrobe and the characters' styles in general. The skinny jeans, stilettos, and leather jackets all looked super cool. Especially Oksana - she looked like she was straight out of 2007. But I have to say, the main character's look in 2007 was a total miss for me - that ridiculous wig completely ruined her style. From episode 3 onwards, when the story jumps to 2014, the main character looks way more put together and even younger than she did with that awful wig.
VERDICT:
I'd only recommend this show to fans of the genre. Everyone else can safely skip it - you won't be missing out on anything. My rating? 3 stars.
Thanks for reading my review! I hope you found it interesting and helpful
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My reviews of other new releases this fall and winter:
Wish List
I've gotta say, Lyuba's story about how one girl with a disability managed to take control of her life in a housing complex really resonated with me.
And then there's the accountant who turned into a dog and became a loyal companion to his beloved in the series "Z" - it's just wild.
I also enjoyed the spy thriller about the Cold War rivalry between the US and USSR, "Sto".
The Tunnel was another standout for me.
And let's not forget the heroin addict who shared a bed with two guys for one night and now she's waiting for a twin, but has no idea who the father is - it's a real interesting situation.
I was also impressed by Kristina Asmus's return to the hospital, but this time she's not playing a nurse - she's actually building something.
And finally, there's the heartwarming story of how a daughter of a famous manga artist befriends a fox with Kirill Kyaro, Maxim Stoyanov, and Taisei Ka - it's a beautiful tale of friendship and growth.