User Reviews

After watching all 12 episodes, I am still puzzled about main question: Why this series is called Odysseus in the first place at all? I really give my best to love this series because I so much love Homers work. I enjoy translating into Serbian and English Franco Rossi "L, Odissea", I enjoy watching Franco Piavoli "Nostos", I liked Konchalovsky "Odyssey", and even found sympathy for Camerini "Ulysses". They all were at least "Homeric". But this series from very first second plays on totally different level. First we are supposedly thrown in time of Trojan war, but instead late bronze age, we are in very first title introduced at iron age-8th century BC (sic). Then plot follows situation on Ithaca prior to Odysseus arrival on a manner that nothing of it is described in Homer. When Odysseus finally arrives there is not a hint of a man we found in Odyssey. No wits, no wisdom, no patience, no cleverness and above everything-no love. Only one selfish deluded paranoid lunatic who until last episode running amok killing everyone he suspect for treason. Homer gives his best to show a man who give up everything to reunite with his wife and son or basically, to return home. Notorious is Homers episode when he rejects immortality offered by Calypso on everlasting paradise island of Ogygya. But alas, this is also pervertly turn upside down in this series. Here, Odysseus start to persecute Penelope on behalf of false statement as soon as he enters bed chamber. After that, he suspect his own son is plotting against him and eventually plans preemptive strike on Telemachus. What we see is wretched family and large circle of people where everybody loves wrong person. There use to be, now lost, epic called "Telemachy" which deals with Odysseus and his family from the point where Homers Odyssey stops, till his death. Only basic plot is known today and even that offers brilliant opportunity for director to at least show that part of Greek myths for very first time. But no, even here we see again totally independent approach where Odysseus collide with Menelaus (although in Homer he is one of his best friends), Homer as some douche teenage goes around blinded in stupidly executed battle and you almost can hear him screaming: where is my eyesight dude? And Telemachus is some sort of confused student who get pis*ed (literally) and eventually ascent on throne just to proclaim Trojan slave girl for a queen (even when his mother is still alive and well). There is already some 5 days after I watched last episode, and honestly, I am giving my best to forget everything in this series. I hardly believe that I'll watch it ever again in my life. But I believe I will never stop to question very first question I have made: why have they called this series an "Odysseus", when they would do a favor to cinematography if they have just use some neutral names.

Imagine an adaptation/sequel of Hamlet where the prince of Denmark survives and wages war against Fortinbras with the help of Elves, Smurfs and the Easter Bunny. That's the level of respect this despicable TV series displays towards the Odyssey.

See, I'm not a purist. Homer's classic has been reinterpreted so many times, it would be pointless to complain about a minor change here and there. This is however the absolute nadir, a cliché-ridden, completely alien mess which turns a mesmerizing epic into an atrocious soap opera (Odysseus does what? Menelaus does what? Who is this Trojan girl? What...?!). As I stared at the screen, I couldn't have been more incredulous if Beowulf had shown up riding a purple tiger.

Direction and production values are about as good as the script deserves. Slow-motion is used to hilarious effects; also funny is how they keep cutting from their talky scenes in ugly sets to majestic shots of the roaring sea.

Acting is unspeakable. Leading the cast are Alessio Boni, who gets to murder another classic after War and Peace and always looks and sounds like he is trying too hard (he has this husky yet querulous voice straight out of a perfume commercial), plus former Bond girl Caterina Murino, also terrible. Everyone is flat-out awful, with over-the-top mannerisms full of frowning and sneering which would be hilarious if they weren't just plain sad.

This is what happens when hacks tamper with a masterpiece. What's next? Uwe Boll's Faust?

2/10