Being Greek, I have come across most productions by Cristopher Papakaliatis and never really cared for any of them. He has some sort of nationwide infamy for overly dramatic scenes, portraying himself as the hot guy every woman falls for in nanoseconds, as well as for a particular romantic obsession with milfs. Thus, I was actually biased and didn't expect anything which can keep me for more than a couple episodes. However, Maestro features a great cast and is actually a very mature and interesting work which, in the end, manages to entertain.
Maestro is undoubtedly the best Greek production in recent years, but that bar is very very low. The real question is: Does this really need to be on Netflix? Can it compete with other similar series? Can it be of any interest to wider audiences outside Greece? I believe that the answer to all these is a resounding yes. It's set in a beautiful island and it manages to capture the atmosphere of a closed society (during the pandemic) where everyone knows everyone and hypocrisy rules supreme. The plot progresses quite smoothly, while a little bit of mystery and some darker moments keep you wanting for more. The development of the characters and the accompanying storytelling has been done quite well; some performances are astounding. It also does a very good job at showing some deeply ingrained societal problems and injustices, without simpilistic "good vs bad" or "us vs them" takes. Even the worst characters are displayed as a creation of society and the series constantly tries to remind us that we all have a role to play in shaping it. The portrayed issues definitely concern wider audiences to a lesser or greater degree.
Of course, it also has many flaws. The dialogues feel a bit "canned" at times or maybe too theatrical (or perhaps like "Amelie" set in a Greek island?). Some scenes actually feel very unrealistic (I have been to many parties, have not seen even one resembling those in the show) and I find the main romantic story quite unconvincing. Thankfully, the show does not rely too much on it and is actually more concerned of telling the side stories of the island's inhabitants from their own perspectives. Altough I definitely like that the series is socially sensitive, it can feel a bit overloading at times and it's as if though the depicted issues could better fit in 2-3 distinct series. By mixing them together in a single mini-series, you are bound to just scratch the surface and can't really take a moment to celebrate any good outcomes. It also has several boomer moments (WE WEREN'T IN FRONT OF A SCREEN ALL THE TIME GOOGLING STUFF) while it could have done a greater job depicting younger generations and their problems.
Overall, I believe it's a great series which manages to stand out, mainly due to its atmosphere. It's quite entertaining and you 'll want to watch what happens next as the plot is not as predictable as it seems at first. Of course, like many other series, some episodes are a bit boring, while others are absolutely great (e.g. Episode 6). I never believed that the first Greek production on Netflix would actually be *that* good. Let alone that I would write a review about it. It's not the best thing around, but it does have its moments and it's definitely more suitable for binge-watching than most stuff on Netflix. You won't regret it.
Maestro is undoubtedly the best Greek production in recent years, but that bar is very very low. The real question is: Does this really need to be on Netflix? Can it compete with other similar series? Can it be of any interest to wider audiences outside Greece? I believe that the answer to all these is a resounding yes. It's set in a beautiful island and it manages to capture the atmosphere of a closed society (during the pandemic) where everyone knows everyone and hypocrisy rules supreme. The plot progresses quite smoothly, while a little bit of mystery and some darker moments keep you wanting for more. The development of the characters and the accompanying storytelling has been done quite well; some performances are astounding. It also does a very good job at showing some deeply ingrained societal problems and injustices, without simpilistic "good vs bad" or "us vs them" takes. Even the worst characters are displayed as a creation of society and the series constantly tries to remind us that we all have a role to play in shaping it. The portrayed issues definitely concern wider audiences to a lesser or greater degree.
Of course, it also has many flaws. The dialogues feel a bit "canned" at times or maybe too theatrical (or perhaps like "Amelie" set in a Greek island?). Some scenes actually feel very unrealistic (I have been to many parties, have not seen even one resembling those in the show) and I find the main romantic story quite unconvincing. Thankfully, the show does not rely too much on it and is actually more concerned of telling the side stories of the island's inhabitants from their own perspectives. Altough I definitely like that the series is socially sensitive, it can feel a bit overloading at times and it's as if though the depicted issues could better fit in 2-3 distinct series. By mixing them together in a single mini-series, you are bound to just scratch the surface and can't really take a moment to celebrate any good outcomes. It also has several boomer moments (WE WEREN'T IN FRONT OF A SCREEN ALL THE TIME GOOGLING STUFF) while it could have done a greater job depicting younger generations and their problems.
Overall, I believe it's a great series which manages to stand out, mainly due to its atmosphere. It's quite entertaining and you 'll want to watch what happens next as the plot is not as predictable as it seems at first. Of course, like many other series, some episodes are a bit boring, while others are absolutely great (e.g. Episode 6). I never believed that the first Greek production on Netflix would actually be *that* good. Let alone that I would write a review about it. It's not the best thing around, but it does have its moments and it's definitely more suitable for binge-watching than most stuff on Netflix. You won't regret it.