Must-see for when you finish Unorthodox

A bit of a rhetorical question, whether you liked Unorthodox. Because everyone I've spoken to was enthusiastic about it, and understandably so. What a great series. And very impressive. I'm also a big fan of the actress Shira Haas, who played Esty. She is only 24 (although I thought she looked much younger in the series) and I hope to see her in many more films and series. Unorthodox also made a deep impression because it showed a world I was completely unfamiliar with.

If that applies to you too, I have a nice tip for you today. And, a big plus, a tip that you can really use for a while. The series Shtisel (I'm still practicing the pronunciation) is on Netflix. Two seasons. TWO seasons yes, you read that right. Twelve episodes per season of about three quarters of an hour each. So that's uh... A lot of Netflix time. Math was never my best subject.

But anyway, why you want to see this series? I'll tell you. Shtisel takes place in Jerusalem, with the Shtisel family. This family is strictly religious. The father of the family is the Rabbi, there is no internet (WHUT) and they all have to adhere to the rules of their Haredi Judaism, also known as ultra-Orthodox Judaism. Also known as the rules, norms, and values that Esty fled from.

Now, Shtisel has been on Netflix for a while. The first season dates back to 2013, but it came to Netflix in 2018. The second season followed later. As we speak, they are working on a third season, which is stalled due to the coronavirus. A bit of an underdog that rides on the fame of Unorthodox, but that's perfectly fine.

There isn't a real replacement for Esty, no one is leaving for Berlin or another city, but they aren't really happy either. Arranged marriages, forbidden loves, that kind of thing all throw a bit of soot into the ultra-Orthodox life of the Shtisel family. Oh yes, in case you hadn't noticed: it is indeed a drama series with quite a bit of drama. But absolutely binge-worthy, on that scale it scores a solid 7.5. Maybe even an 8, once I've finished the first season. So let's watch.