I got sucked into this show almost immediately. It does not have any glamorous special effects by the standards of the American Television. In my opinion, lack of any effects makes this show work. The gray, sad reality of the people who live or work in a Russian jail is portrayed in these TV series. Though the script is not of the award winning material, the dialogues get very philosophical at times, hinting at the life of post Soviet Russia in general. The stories are consistently interesting and keep the viewer on the edge. The theme of forgiveness runs a lot throughout the story, and, mostly... from the ones you would expect it the least- the criminals.
Brutal prison cops who beat up their wives and throw them in with the criminals, innocent American caught in a corrupt system of Russian underground scams, deputies making illegal money on the side, intrigues, honest detectives,layers and layers of secrets brewing inside the jail mixed with occasional humor, and even the priest trying to protect people's souls, make these series very interesting.
A great attention should be paid to Lousia Mosents, an actress who plays Svetlana Kolesnikova, an attractive mid-age woman who is something similar to a Sheriff. Mosents steals the series by her solid acting abilities and the complex character she develops.
In Zona, the traces of the psychological games the "cops" and the "robbers" play with each other and within their own circles are similar to a game of chess, only without a board. There are the kings and the bishops and simple pawns. And everybody in the story knows the rules. The questions is, does everybody follow them?
In general, Zona TV series is a great ride if you are in a mood for some adrenaline rush and have an interest in knowing how jails are run in some countries. Believe me, you will not regret watching ZONA!
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