Aniela Review: Directed by Jakub Piątek and Jakub Czekaj, and written by Paweł Demirski. This is a Polish drama series that consists of 8 episodes with a runtime of approximately 45 minutes each. Starring Małgorzata Kożuchowska in the main role, accompanied by Jacek Poniedziałek, Cezary Pazura, Gabriela Muskała, Filip Pławiak, and many others.
The story follows Aniela, a rich woman whose life is ruined in an evening following a highly publicised quarrel with her husband. He leaves her, and she loses nearly everything, including her child. But she does not give up and decides to fight back and réclame everything. Not with guns, but with zany schemes, loose judgments, and a commitment to justice. From penthouses to police stations to community centres, Poland series An!ela takes us on a rollercoaster of surprises as Aniela fights to reclaim her life.
Aniela Review
I went into watching the Aniela series expecting some heavy emotional drama about a woman getting her act together. And yeah, the show does start with heartbreak and chaos. But oh my god, it’s also hella funny. Not in a “ha ha humour” sort of way, but in a strange, messy, clumsy sort of way that sort of succeeds.
The tone gets out of balance here and there, but that’s the point— the world of Aniela is out of balance as well. Her choices are irresponsible, at times egotistical, and I didn’t particularly like her at first. She makes you squirm at how clueless she is to life. But by the latter part of the series, I found myself laughing with her, rather than at her. Her over-reactions, as melodramatic as they are, appear to be the way all of us react when life is hitting us from all sides.
I wouldn’t necessarily describe her as a likeable character at the start, but by the end, she is a character that you can find yourself rooting for. One of the things I completely loved about Netflix’s An!ela is its cast of supporting characters. Aniela is the star, but the supporting cast is so much more than that. They bring so much colour and feeling to the show. There are angsty teenagers, mistaken neighbours, and even a small-time thief with a secretly sentimental soul. These people are more than just scenery along the way — they are what make up her path.
My favourite on the show was the teens, they grew up and became developed characters, together with Aniela. I did believe their relationship with her. But I was disappointed that a few characters, like Armani, weren’t given enough screen time or character background. They were such great characters, but the show only used them to further Aniela’s plot.
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And finally, the best of all — Aniela herself. Although she begins annoying, clueless, and even rude at times, the wonder of the show is seeing her slowly become better. I appreciated how she held off from attempting to have her turn out perfect at the end. She’s still being melodramatic and sloppy, but also now kind, sensitive, and harder to boot.
When she eventually starts to relate to others not for power or money but for real emotion — that’s when the show really sparkles. Her transformation from being a privileged socialite to one who hears and cares for people is achieved lightly but sentimentally. It is not a complete turnaround, but it is justified.
Even the soundtrack was good— it’s energetic and helps a lot with the atmosphere. Whether it’s the depressing scenes or the raunchy disasters, the soundtrack gets the emotions without overstaying its welcome.
As with all TV shows, however, An!ela on Netflix is not flawless. The shows felt too long. Some of the gags fall flat, and some of the storylines feel slightly contrived. There were moments when I just had absolutely no idea what the writers were trying to do — it was too little and too much all at once.
But despite the chaos, there’s a sort of appeal to a show that will not be tidy. It’s not attempting to be a tidy redemption storyline. Rather, it shows the real, cringeworthy, stumbling effort to get your life together again when everything is in shambles.
Netflix An!ela Review: Summing Up
In the end, I’d say the series is not for everyone — and perhaps that’s why I adored it. If you’re looking for a low-key, tear-inducing drama, you’ll be disappointed. But if you’re prepared for a crazy, messy rollercoaster of laughter, unusual friendships, and surprise twists, the Aniela series will be a ride worth it. It’s quirky, insolent, at times maddening, but also poignant in its own right.
Polish series An!ela is now streaming on Netflix.
