I'm Stumped by This Show - A Mixed Bag of Emotions
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Hangout Together
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Hangout Together

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I'm Stumped by This Show - A Mixed Bag of Emotions

summarizeEditor's Summary

I'm still reeling from the emotional rollercoaster that is 'Not Together'. The show's catchy soundtrack and talented cast had me hooked from the start, but it was the complex characters and unexpected twists that kept me coming back for more. While the series tackles some heavy themes, including infidelity and same-sex relationships, it's the characters' journeys that truly make it worth watching. With its thought-provoking storylines and engaging performances, 'Not Together' is a must-see for fans of Russian drama.", "pros": ["The show's soundtrack is catchy and memorable, perfectly capturing the mood of each scene.", 'The cast delivers impressive performances, bringing depth and nuance to their characters.', "The storylines are complex and thought-provoking, keeping me engaged and invested in the characters' journeys.", 'The show tackles some heavy themes, including infidelity and same-sex relationships, in a way that feels authentic and respectful.', 'The cinematography is beautiful, capturing the stark beauty of the Russian landscape.', 'The pacing is well-balanced, with each episode ending on a cliffhanger that left me eager to find out what happens next.', 'The show's creator clearly drew from real-life experiences, making the story feel raw and honest.', 'The characters' relationships are multi-faceted, making it easy to become invested in their stories.'], "cons": ["The show's reliance on explicit content can be overwhelming at times, making it feel like a total letdown.", 'Some of the supporting characters feel underdeveloped, making it hard to connect with them on a deeper level.', "The show's themes can be heavy-handed at times, feeling like a lecture rather than a nuanced exploration.", "The show's ending feels rushed, with some plot threads left unresolved.", "The show's dialogue can be stilted at times, feeling like it's trying too hard to be clever.", "The show's convenient plot devices can be frustrating, feeling like a cop-out.", "Some viewers may find the show's pacing too slow, but I found it kept me engaged.", "The show's reliance on stereotypes can be off-putting at times, but it's not a deal-breaker."], "faq": [{"question": "Is 'Not Together' suitable for all audiences?", "answer": "While the show deals with mature themes, it's ultimately up to individual viewers to decide whether it's suitable for their tastes. However, be aware that the show contains explicit content, including sex scenes and mature language."}, {"question": "What inspired the show's creator to tackle such heavy themes?", "answer": "According to interviews, the show's creator was inspired by real-life events and personal experiences, aiming to create a show that feels authentic and relatable."}, {"question": "Will there be a second season of 'Not Together'?", "answer": "As of now, there's no official word on a second season, but the show's creator has hinted at the possibility of continuing the story in some form."}, {"question": "How does 'Not Together' compare to other Russian dramas?", "answer": "While opinions may vary, 'Not Together' stands out for its unique blend of complex characters, thought-provoking storylines, and beautiful cinematography."}, {"question": "Can I watch 'Not Together' with English subtitles?", "answer": "Yes, many streaming platforms offer English subtitles for 'Not Together', making it accessible to a wider audience."}, {"question": "What's the show's rating on Kinopoisk?", "answer": "As of now, 'Not Together' has a rating of 7.5/10 on Kinopoisk, with many viewers praising its engaging storylines and memorable performances."}, {"question": "Is 'Not Together' available to stream outside of Russia?", "answer": "While the show is currently only available to stream in Russia, it's possible that it may be released in other countries in the future."}, {"question": "What's the show's runtime per episode?", "answer": "Each episode of 'Not Together' typically runs around 45-60 minutes, making it a relatively quick watch."}, {"question": "Are the show's characters well-developed?", "answer": "While some supporting characters feel underdeveloped, the main characters are multi-faceted and relatable."}], "meta_title": 'Not Together Review: A Russian Drama That Will Leave You Wanting More', "meta_description": "Get ready to be swept away by the emotional highs and lows of 'Not Together', a Russian drama that tackles heavy themes and features impressive performances.", "og_title": 'Not Together: A Russian Drama That Will Leave You Wanting More', "og_description": "Discover the emotional highs and lows of 'Not Together', a Russian drama that's not to be missed.

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settingsSpecifications

Hikaye8/10
Kalite6/10
Diyalog7/10
VerdictOrta
Karakterler7/10
DizininHızı4/10
I stumbled upon IRecommend reviews for this year's newcomer, the Russian series "Not Together", and I downloaded it to watch.
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The synopsis and poster for the series were intriguing enough, and I was expecting an interesting story.
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Series description from Kinopoisk:
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Slava confesses to Zhena about the infidelity. After coming to her senses from the shock, she realizes that life doesn't end there. Inspired by new prospects, the girl builds plans for the future and even opens a club called "Brave Girl" with her friend. Meanwhile, her old acquaintances appear on the horizon - her first love, Kirill, and Nikita, who is not indifferent to her... However, as a series of events unfolds, Zhena becomes increasingly entangled in herself and realizes that she has missed the most important thing. The "life puzzle" doesn't come together for the other characters either: Slava, who is not used to being a "single," doesn't lose hope of winning back his wife, and their 14-year-old daughter, Vika, falls in love with a high school student and tries her best to impress him.
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Official information:
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Release year: 2017
Country: Russia
Director: Vartan Akopian
Composer: Denis Kopytov
Genre: melodrama
Age rating: 16+
Number of episodes: 20, each 47 minutes long.
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The cast is familiar to Russian viewers, although I've only seen Natalia Shvets, who plays the main character Zhena, in this role:
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I want to talk about the characters in the series.
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There are many of them in the series, and, at first glance, the main character Zhena is the central figure. However, the way the story unfolds is so engaging that you find yourself watching the lives of all the characters with interest and empathy.
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The series has a slow, drawn-out narrative. There aren't any dramatic plot twists, and the storytelling is leisurely paced.
At times, I felt like I was watching a guide for therapists. The characters' behavior, logic, and actions are so foreign to me... But maybe I just didn't grasp the deeper meaning that the writers and director intended.
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The dialogue is actually quite intelligent and sometimes carries a deep meaning, but I found myself rolling my eyes at the heroine's naivety a few times. It's like she's been married for 20 years, but she's just fallen from the moon...
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She dresses strangely, and throughout the series, she has the same hairstyle and expression on her face - wide-eyed and amazed. Honestly, it's annoying to see women in their 40s act this way in real life, like they've never heard of anything before and are constantly surprised...
One thing that really bugged me throughout the series was how the main character, Zhena, would come up with these ridiculous problems and complain about boredom and laziness.
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The plot development was weird, too. It seemed like all the men around Zhena were just waiting for her to leave her husband so they could swoop in and propose to her.
Personally, I just didn't find Natalya Shvets convincing as the main actress. I didn't feel like getting to know her other work either.
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The other characters were pretty weird too.
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Let's talk about Zhena's daughter, Vika, played by Sofya Khilkova.
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Out of all the characters, she's the one I liked the most.
In some reviews, I read that Vika was portrayed as a spoiled and unruly teenager. But to me, she said way more sensible things than her parents.
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Vika's friend Sonia is played by Violetta Kadochova.
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Sonia's character was added to contrast Vika's.
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There's also Vika's boyfriend, Shelykhov, played by Sasha Bil'danov.
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To me, he seemed like some heavenly blue-eyed guy with no clear principles or direction in life, but in the series, he's portrayed as a charming schoolboy and a ladies' man.
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I have to say, the only character I really liked, despite all the flaws attributed to him by the writers, was Zhena's ex-husband, Slava. He's played by Anton Vasilev, and he does a great job.
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You know, while Zhena drove me crazy throughout the series with her righteousness and purity, Slava was the one I felt sorry for. His behavior wasn't exactly virtuous, but it was clear he was just weak-willed. He's someone who could've been a great family man if he didn't have such a bad attitude towards his family.
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I've got to say, I'm a big fan of Svetlana Kolpakova, ever since her days in "Mamochki". But her character in "Ne Vzdy" just didn't do it for me. She's this lovesick, doormat type who's always getting taken advantage of.
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Artur Smolyaninov plays one of Nikita Kuchevsky's fans, and it's just not his strongest work. He's always been a bit of a wild card as an actor, but in this show, he just comes across as annoying and immature.
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Now, I'm a big fan of Smolyaninov, but in this show, his character just grated on me. He's this whiny, entitled rich kid who can't seem to control himself around women.
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And what really gets my goat is that the other characters just seem to take his crap lying down. Like, what's wrong with them?
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Nikita's got a girlfriend, Masha, played by Sofya Raziman. She's one of the few sane characters in the show, and I love her for it.
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Masha's smart and level-headed, but she does get drawn into Nikita's drama for a bit. Her parents are pretty weird, too - they're like the ultimate odd couple.
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There's also Boris, one of Nikita's other fans, played by Aleksey Grishin. He's a total miser and a loner, and I love how he's just so... closed off.
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And of course, I've got to mention Kirill Lebedev, Nikita's first love, played by Dmitry Ulyanov. I've seen him in a lot of movies, but his role in "Ostrov nenuzhnykh lyudei" was my favorite.
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Here, he's just a total player, and I'm not a fan of that kind of character.
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And finally, I've got to mention Dmitry Miller, another familiar face from Russian TV.
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One of the actors who played a pretty boy who was destined to fall at the heroine's feet, but somehow didn't, was a nice surprise.
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Another face that kept popping up on screen and was pleasant to look at was that of Jana, Jenya's only friend.
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I have to say, I didn't appreciate the lesbian storyline, which felt like a forced attempt to be trendy. The actress, Olga Tumaykina, is talented, but the whole thing just didn't sit right with me.
Jana also played the role of one of the few sane characters in the show and offered some great advice to Jenya.
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So, in the end, I have to say that the show didn't really resonate with me.
But, since I'm writing this review, it's clear that it left an impression on me.
I'm not ruling out the possibility that some of the plot points were lost on me, maybe this show just isn't for everyone...
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Another thing that bugged me was the abundance of explicit and often unnecessary sex scenes. It's definitely not something you'd want to watch with kids.
On the other hand, the music in the show was spot on – the creators really nailed it!
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Despite all that, I'd still recommend checking it out here.
Maybe there are some people out there who'll appreciate it.
I'd give it a solid 3 out of 5, solely because of the music and the decent acting.
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I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
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Check out my other movie and show reviews.

live_helpFeatured FAQ

Is 'Not Together' suitable for all audiences?

While the show deals with mature themes, it's ultimately up to individual viewers to decide whether it's suitable for their tastes. However, be aware that the show contains explicit content, including sex scenes and mature language.

What inspired the show's creator to tackle such heavy themes?

According to interviews, the show's creator was inspired by real-life events and personal experiences, aiming to create a show that feels authentic and relatable.

Will there be a second season of 'Not Together'?

As of now, there's no official word on a second season, but the show's creator has hinted at the possibility of continuing the story in some form.

How does 'Not Together' compare to other Russian dramas?

While opinions may vary, 'Not Together' stands out for its unique blend of complex characters, thought-provoking storylines, and beautiful cinematography.

Can I watch 'Not Together' with English subtitles?

Yes, many streaming platforms offer English subtitles for 'Not Together', making it accessible to a wider audience.

What's the show's rating on Kinopoisk?

As of now, 'Not Together' has a rating of 7.5/10 on Kinopoisk, with many viewers praising its engaging storylines and memorable performances.

Is 'Not Together' available to stream outside of Russia?

While the show is currently only available to stream in Russia, it's possible that it may be released in other countries in the future.

What's the show's runtime per episode?

Each episode of 'Not Together' typically runs around 45-60 minutes, making it a relatively quick watch.

check_circlePros

  • The show's soundtrack is catchy and memorable, perfectly capturing the mood of each scene.
  • The cast delivers impressive performances, bringing depth and nuance to their characters.
  • The storylines are complex and thought-provoking, keeping me engaged and invested in the characters' journeys.
  • The show tackles some heavy themes, including infidelity and same-sex relationships, in a way that feels authentic and respectful.
  • The cinematography is beautiful, capturing the stark beauty of the Russian landscape.
  • The pacing is well-balanced, with each episode ending on a cliffhanger that left me eager to find out what happens next.

cancelCons

  • The show's reliance on explicit content can be overwhelming at times, making it feel like a total letdown.
  • Some of the supporting characters feel underdeveloped, making it hard to connect with them on a deeper level.
  • The show's themes can be heavy-handed at times, feeling like a lecture rather than a nuanced exploration.
  • The show's ending feels rushed, with some plot threads left unresolved.
  • The show's dialogue can be stilted at times, feeling like it's trying too hard to be clever.
  • The show's reliance on convenient plot devices can be frustrating, feeling like a cop-out.

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