My review is based on just the first episode of this series which I felt totally immersed in from the very start. Do not follow others opinions, not even myself. But surely don't take that review (from the guy who found it unbearable") too serius. Series has a great photography and dinamism. I found it quite entertaining and beautiful. Also very much Orwelian, and there are a few hints to the work too, not only from the title but also in some scenes. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Strong good sides:

• scenography and pictures. Nicely done. Fictional communistic Poland in 2003 looks great. Grey and gloomy remains of old times with monumental new sceneties, that look like from the Blade Runner. I like that.

Bad sides:

• plot - some storylines are... dispensable, just making unnecessary mess,
• dialogues - full of pathos, not natural, idiotic sometimes. It is visible that even actors have problems with playing that, and some of then sound like a speech synthetiser,
• bonds between particular characters is not understandable. It is not sketched properly, so it is hard to 'feel' them, and immerse in the world.

Still, it is really interesting and one of the best Netflix production this year. I hope for more in the next season.

I've been a fan of Polish Cinema for over 50 years. 1983 reminds me of the black and white movies from the 60's and 70's. Very tightly directed and it's great to see so many talented young Polish actors and actresses. Special shout out for Agnieszka Zulewska who plays Maja, Katejan's mother. It's heartbreaking to see her try to survive. Robert Wieckiewicz is one of my favorite Polish Actors. Great choice for this role. I hope there's another season and I hope to see more Polish Productions on Netflix. Poland has a rich history in cinema and there is so much talent.

Tl;dr: This might be one of the best depictions of Orwellian nature of corrupted government. The story paints the interesting picture of communism, nationalism and rebellion in their dark, deeply flawed natures. If that sounds like it might interest you, give it a try.

I loved: Excellent acting in main roles as well as their character development as the story progressed. Scenic design was awesome, lots of right angles and concrete and glass, typical of commie Europe. The story takes bunch of left turns along the way, develops on multiple fronts and keeps you guessing. Have anyone told me this was based on Tom Clancy's novel - I would have believed it.

I disliked: Plot is organically developing in discovery and further complicated by two timelines (83/03) which makes it hard to follow. Dialogues seem to lose something in translation at times, which isn't uncommon in foreign cinematography but makes me wonder who did Netflix target by this show.

Very good acting and uncanny atmosphere. It may not be big-budget, but the mix of contemporary architectural details and somber exteriors will seduce you if you like this type of subdued, yet, misteriously absorbing political thriller. Never mind the dialogue, which I don't find necessary to enjoy the plot.

First of all I must say, that I'm polish, and I was born at the time of comunism, and remember all this 80's here. For those who standing that dialogues are bad - I was watching whole series in polish with an english subtitles, and must say, that translation into english is terrible, and sometimes yuo can lost a point what the actors really say. There are many other things which can be understood only for polish. Anyway as a serial which is set in paralel history is really great. Nice story. Worth to see.

A dystopian thriller set in Poland ... and in Polish. Ok! Well the Berlin Wall hasn't fallen ... the Cold War continues... but enough of the story.

This is a fine and stylish if grim thriller. Worth a look for the acting of the principals alone.

Netflix has done well here!

After watching the 1st season, I really hope Netflix will commit to a 2nd season! This is a great show!

Very interesting plot. A bit different, but very engaging. I'm looking forward to the second series.

I haven't seen much Polish cinema... I've watched Polanski's American films and then some he made as an expatriate in France. And I admired Kieslowski's films though again I saw mostly his French films and parts of the Decalogue.

So, it was a treat to watch this mini journey through Warsaw and a little of the Polish countryside reimagined as a parallel universe.

The shots of the architecture, landscapes, and cityscapes are beautiful. I agree that if you watch it on a low resolution tablet or laptop that it might look too dark, but if you watch it on a big screen you will find the cinematography to be stunning. It reminded me a little of Kieslowski, the way the dp would make even driving through a tunnel or walking through a train station an aesthetically pleasing experience.

This isn't an easy series to watch, and I would mostly recommend it to art house fans more than mainstream tv watchers who just want to relax and enjoy a 24 style thriller. It flashes back and forth through time... none of the actors are known to an American audience so it's very difficult to keep track.

However, if you stick with the show, I think it pays off for the most part and has some interesting thoughts on bleak, brutal, and subjective nature of history. In a way, it reminded me of Memento... if you consider the protagonist a country rather than a person.

This TV series draws heavily from American and Italian neo-noir. Don't expect to ever fully understand what's going on or what exactly motivates people, because 1983 crafts a grey and complicated universe where people are deeply unsure of themselves. We only scratch this surface of this in season 1, and I really hope a second series is picked up!

I have watched 4 episodes and so far I find it a good grim show. It's dark, disturbing and unpredictable. Worth giving a shot at least;)

The story is set in alternative universe where Iron curtain did not fall. Without explaining plot, the story shows a conspiracy within the government that used mass attacks in 1983 to reshape the country's political and civic destiny.

The story has many personal elements. The plot is pretty complex and you never know who is on what side and why. I def had some questions or some things were unanswered, so hopefully series 2 will come, but so far, it was very refreshing.

Dubbing wasn't great; subtitles were horrible. Otherwise, it's was very good overall.

"1983" is a look to the alternate timeline of the world's most recent history - it answers a question - What if the Iron Curtain was still in place? To get to this point Joshua Long created a world in which a terrorist attack in Poland, in 1983 had united a Polish Nation, taking away the "Solidarity" movement - the first domino of the Fall of Communism.

There is much to say about this production - from the captivating world to it's chaotic and often redundant storylines. The acting leaves a somewhat lot to be desired - besides few roles (a small role of Sandra Korzeniak as a custodian of the Villa or Zofia Wichlacz as a daughter of a government minister) the acting is a bit stiff and dialogues seem unnatural (but it may be just a problem of the Polish version).

However, all the problems mentioned above didn't spoil the entertainment of experiencing the alternative history of '1983'. Overall it's a solid political fiction with, a nice noir vibe to it. Worth a watch.

This is a confounding series, sometimes puzzling, other times enthralling, but with tight pacing that makes the show rarely boring. I will admit to being lost at different times - the going and forth between modern times with the 80's can get one confused about where you're at. But you learn to just go with the flow. Most of the credit goes to Robert Wieckiewicz, whose tough exterior and tougher interior are wonderfully conveyed and keep you watching him. It's an extraordinary performance. The rest of the cast is top notch, too. There are also nice touches in the dialog, some unexpected twists and turns, and moment or two of levity to keep you off balance before the next grungy bit of ultraviolence gets your heart beating again. Of special note is the obvious tip of the hat to Blade Runner, especially in the rainy, neon-lit Asian alley way with bike riders where the lead character is interrupted from eating his noodles while two cops stand on either side of him. Sound familiar? Yeah, I loved it and I like this series quite a bit. It's inscrutable at times, silly at others but always fascinating.

I watched the first episonde with English audio and gave up after 10 minutes. However, once switching to Polish audio and English subtitles, I was hooked. No, I don't speak Polish. But, listening in the native languge let the actors shine.

Ok, the plot is not perfect. And, there are goofs/mistakes (who hangs an American flag hanging down with the stars on the left?)... but, this is really fun stuff. I love hearing Vietnamese speak Polish and Russian (and vice-versa). The dystopian future set in a "thriving" Poland of 2003 is really interesting. And, the acting is really good.

For those willing to listen in foreign language and read subtitles, this is a great series. Well done Netflix for producing this and I look forward to more foreign-location based content.

Definitely one of the more adventurous series you will find. Set in a dystopian Poland in 2003/1983, the sets, cinematography, plot concepts and details are exceptional. At times I questioned myself whether it was actually real.

Really great plot twists and subplots. That said, the dual timeline and multitude of characters and plot complexity makes for difficult viewing. Especially with the added distraction of subtitles.

All told, way better than your average Hollywood fodder.

I don't think it's fair of me to judge this without a season 2, because of how much the writers/director seem to put mystery-above-all. We still don't know what the "sides" or factions are by the end of the show. There's a cold war still going on, but at the same time some Orwellian system continues although it hints that Poland is somehow free of USSR Orwellian control yet still behind Iron Curtain? Makes little sense. The story is very disjointed and doesn't flow.

Too many backstories, flashbacks, character mini-dramas. It's like we're trying to follow the lives of 10-20 people and they're all so selfish and only care about themselves and won't explain anything about what they're doing. Again, mystery above all.

The TV show and its plot has ridiculously high potential! The setting, the amount of factions is very high, but it's not clear who's side is on who's. This could mean they could make an incredible 2nd season, but in the 1st season we just have no idea what's happening most of the time...

The potential is there, the cinematography is there, the costumes are great, the "wise quotes" are good.

However, it constantly leaves the audience confused. The funny part is this TV series seems more like the history of Russia after 1999 (apartment complex false-flag attack that Putin did on his own Russian citizens)...

I recommend this show. I happened upon it by chance but from the start it is a compelling presentation and moves very quickly. I especially appreciate the theme as told from the perspective of the Polish who were not a free people in the not too distant past. Give it a try!

The series is not about history. It is only a bit close in 80s. You shouldnt look for things you know about Poland. It is not Poland you know, it is other dimension, like Man from a High Castle is not about Germany nor Japan. the production is good, very dark and amusing.Good work.

Grabbed my attention from the start. Yes it's English dubbed but the story is intriguing. The plot has me hooked and can't wait to watch more.

It is just a thriller and political fiction. I watched all 8 episodes and rather enjoyed it. The plot is much too complicated, unclear to the very end in some parts, but in some parts it's quite atractive. The best part are actors and incredible vision of non existent Poland. Lights, buildings, city panoramas, interior designs - all is just a pleasure to watch. Some scenes dated before 1983 are very, very real, as I remeber them from that time. The vision of the country with its Asian quarters seems borrowed from US but again design, costumes, filming make them all really worth seeing. And yes I VERY MUCH AGREE with v-thea - it is very Orwelian. The book is one those shown at the beginning in an illegal print hole and I suppose it is not without the reason. I truly recommend watching it. Give it a chance, just let it take you for some kind of a special ride.

1983 is a brilliant dystopian political drama. It portrays several groups of patriotic Poles during the Cold War with varied ideals and methods to do good to their country and to their fellow citizens (who couldn't care less frankly). The story or the full picture unfolds piece by piece and you need to be patient. Story lines gets pretty complicated as time gets by and not all questions are resolved at season 1's completion, including the role of US and the Polish church for example.

The show blends traces of some actual opposition movements or counter-cultural movements in Eastern Europe with a clear grasp of digital-totalitarian society emerging today, say in China in a very organic way. What is even more outstanding is the cleared eyed look to the motives and limitations and dilemmas faced by various actors in the struggles.

Many simultaneous storylines of different subjects at different spaces and times makes it a bit confusing. Slow paced at the beginning with many conspiracy storyline openings, turns to speed up on second half episodes when all pieces fall in their places and action begins. If you like drama and crime suits you

This show is not historical in nature obviously. It also us very literary in nature. Thd dialog is vastly more important than action or effects. I'm kind of sure a lot of people will not enjoy it, as it takes thinking and is not just thoughtless action.