The creators of 1899 said that the "European angle" was very important. They wanted to create the show as a "counterpoint to Brexit and nationalism", but ironically, it is this element that is the weakest part of the show and demonstrated the opposite of what they intended.
All the characters speak in a variety of different languages and they cannot understand each other. This means the opportunities for dialogue or interaction are very limited.
Despite this, the characters regularly talk AT each other, without being understood. These characters from different countries speaking different languages somehow pair off, despite never sharing a single understood word between each other, and having nothing in common, they somehow make baffling decisions because the plot requires it.
This would not happen in real life; indeed, birds of a feather flock together, and everywhere multiculturalism has been tried it has failed, with people of similar backgrounds and cultures and who speak the same language grouping together wherever they are, and hostilities occuring where there are differences. It's human nature, but in 1899 they try to present the opposite - an and unnecessary Tower of Babel situation that doesn't work.
I speak multiple languages myself and have no problem watching shows with subtitles. The problem is that this isn't realistic. It's not how people behave and it doesn't work.
Having people speak multiple languages can work, but it would have to be part of the plot, i.e. How they communicate, and the difficulties of this. In 1899 they they all talk in their own languages, and the person they're talking to stares at them uncomprehending and then replies in their own language.
It's really rather absurd, to see a woman from China speaking Cantonese to a Polish man, or a man speaking Danish to a Spanish man, with no words ever understood between them, but they just keep doing it. Why? What's the motivation to keep talking without being understood, and why wouldn't they instead talk to those who do speak their language. It's frustrating to watch. 1899 could have been so much better without this language issue.
1899 also has the usual modern politics injected into it. The aforementioned Danish and Spanish men somehow, despite being unable to converse, use their perfect gaydar to discover each other and strike up a relationship - in the year 1899, and despite being different classes. The Christians are cruel, insane, and hear voices. A French noblewoman cannot wait to get out of her dress and put on men's trousers and act tough. A tiny flimsy Chinese girl shovels coal... for no reason. A Frenchwoman wants a black men instead of her husband. None of these things matter to the plot, in fact they are distracting. They are there just because this TV show was made in 2022.
I suppose none of it matters really, it's all fake, but it ruins immersion. Character motivations are sorely lacking. It's difficult to suspend disbelief when characters behave continually out of character and make seemingly random decisions. The pacing is also rather slow, which could have given the show a chance to build the characters more, but this is the one thing it refuses to do, so the pacing is wasted.
As 1899 is a show that intentionally keeps us in the dark about everything that's happening and barely anyone is capable of discussing it, it leaves the viewer bewildered, watching long scenes of characters talking at each other in different languages, and then apparently making decisions using mind reading or a deus ex machina from the writers: they do things in order to put them in the situation the writers want, rather than because it makes any sense.
It's not until episode 6 or 7 that the viewer gets some real plot. Until then, an occasional tidbit of intrigue is peppered into each episode, typically at the end, to keep you watching. It's very reminiscent of Lost in that respect, but without the brilliant characters, dialogue or writing. Ninety percent of every episode is pointless. I found myself not caring what happens to any of the characters, I just wanted to know what the strange thing that happened for 1 minute at the end of the previous episode was, and that's the only reason I continued watching.
What was told in 8 episodes could have been told in 4. To anyone who does last until episode 7 and 8, they are greeted to some twists that are worth the wait. I very much enjoyed these weirder elements that make you question reality.
The sets, costumes and acting are all fantastic in 1899, and the CGI is outstandingly good. I found myself often questioning whether a scene was filmed on location, or in a green screen, and the fact I could not was quite an apposite thing to notice.
I wish I could have liked 1899 more. I really admire what they tried to do, but the very thing the creators said was important was the weakest element that makes it frustrating to watch. For me it knocks the show down from an 8 to a 6.5 out of 10.
This review is based on the first season. I would certainty watch more, just for the plot that occurs in the final two episodes and the intriguing ending.
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