Kibic - Season 1

Kibic is a gripping Polish action drama made by Lukasz Palkowski.Kibic is about a young man named Kuba (Grzegorz Palkowski) whose father Michal (Karol Pocheć) has just been released from prison and has not been able to see him for about six years. The whole family celebrates Kuba's seventeenth birthday in the local tavern and the thread is picked up again together with Michal. Not much later he takes his eldest son Kuba back to the stadium where he is reunited with his old football club. It soon becomes clear that this club, led by the charismatic Zyga (Wojciech Zieliński), is actually a very fanatical and violent organization. Kuba's naive enthusiasm is noticed by Zyga and he is immediately invited to become more involved within the club. But he is soon dragged into a spiral of shady business from which he finds it increasingly difficult to escape.

Kibic is a down to earth action drama that sets the tone from the first episode on the ins and outs of hooliganism in and around football. The documentary-like look makes it all the more credible. So don't expect 'Hollywoodian' scenes but a somewhat grimmer image of a boy who gradually loses himself in a world of extortion, drugs and violence.

The series not only shows the consequences for Kuba, but also for his loved ones who desperately try to find a way out of Kuba's increasingly hopeless situation. It is definitely not a rosy story, and that is exactly why I found it a very interesting trip. Kibic looks very 'grey'. The setting is a rather run-down Polish neighbourhood where there is little prosperity. But this also makes it understandable why hooliganism is rampant in such neighbourhoods.

The acting performances are all fine. From the father who tries to stay on the right path after years in prison to the girlfriend Blanka (Mila Jankowska) who wants to start a clean slate despite her dubious past with Kuba. Marta Zmuda Trzebiatowska is also very convincing as Kuba's mother who tries to keep her family together at all costs.

So don't expect 'Hollywoodian' scenes, but a somewhat grimmer image of a boy who gradually loses himself in a world of extortion, drugs and violence

The lead actor himself also gives an impressive performance as a naive youth who very gradually evolves into a vengeful criminal. I found the ending surprisingly good. As said, it is absolutely not a fairy tale, but a very raw look at the consequences of a violent environment on an individual and the people around you.

As a reviewer I always have to be honest, even though that goes against what most people have said about this series. I notice that this series is not received so well or moderately. I find it a very interesting series. There was nothing that really bothered me in terms of narrative structure. The construction of this story is logical, realistic and none of the characters were too out of place for me.

If we have to give a negative point, it might be that the story has some slow moments here and there. But as described above, this is also more the style of the story. If you like somewhat rougher down to earth action dramas, then you are in the right place with this one, otherwise I think this will not become your favorite series.

To conclude, I found it a very interesting trip despite the very dark tone. It makes you think about the consequences of a world of hooliganism and violence. This combined with an entertaining plot, interesting characters and a rising tension arc towards the end, I give this a solid 7.