Shtisel seasons 1to 3. SPOILERS!!!!

[Andylion]

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

Now that I got that out of the way...

I just finished season 3, somehow managing to spread nine episodes over three days.

A pp on the other (non-spoiler) thread posted that there was too much happening, too quickly, I do agree, although I still loved this season.

I did a rewatch of the first two seasons just before this season became available. I remembered how much I loved the scenes with just Shulem and Akiva. Then I watched season 2 again and recalled how much I loved Shulem and Nuchem together. I think if there had been more episodes, (the first two season had 12 episodes each) we might have had more time for the two brothers. I also would have liked to have had the chance to see more of Racheli.

Random thoughts:
I didn't realize how funny Shulem was, or rather, how often he was funny, until my rewatch.
I spent far too much time comparing Yiddish to German. Do we have any Yiddish speakers here?
When life gives you lemonade, take it!
Damn evil people!
A lot of the women wore the same shade of pale pink in season 3. Is there some symbolism I missed?

Finally, what does Ruchama's stare into the camera mean, coming as it does, right after the dinner scene with all the departed loved ones? Say it ain't so.

[ScribblingPixie]

I just finished the last series, and thought that Ruchami was fine at the end. In the penultimate scene of the living and dead sharing dinner I was dreading seeing her appear but she didn't. She got her miracle, and I thought looked at the camera to invite us to share her joy. I hope I'm right!

[teezletangler]

Late to the party but I just finished S3. Mixed feelings! I felt that the ending to S2 was perfect and maybe they should have left it there, but when Netflix comes knocking, I suppose you answer.

I thought some of the storylines got a bit silly and the timeline was all over the place. Ruchami had a baby (how many months was she supposed to be at the end?) but baby Devorah didn't age at all? Hanina didn't notice for 5 months that his wife wasn't actually wearing a squishy cloth bump- did he not even embrace her in that time? Shulem is gung-ho about his son getting married to a woman who appears to be modern Orthodox? Nuchem went from suicidal to completely over the death of his only child in the blink of an eye? I could go on!

That said, I love these characters. Lippe is the very best. Love how he embodies the tensions between the Haredi and the secular worlds (doesn't hurt that he is incredibly easy on the eye too). The relationship between him and Giti is fascinating. I have a lot of respect for her but she drove me round the bend this season.

This was my least favourite romance of Akiva's, I didn't feel any chemistry between him and Racheli.

I wish we had seen a bit more of Zvi Aryeh and Tovi!

Shulem really levelled up this season with his desperate need for connection while simultaneously meddling and driving people away in an infuriating fashion! I love his quirks- the constant offers of drinks and cheesecake!

The ending with the deceased at the table was beautiful. Shtisel does these moments so well, and makes such good use of the theme music. I am not sure what Ruchami breaking the fourth wall was supposed to mean. There's a lot of debate online that it means she is dead (apparently other dead characters on the show have done it too?). Surely a season bookended by two dead, young mothers is a bit too much!

[mrwalkensir]

I think they knew Libbi was ill as she made that comment about how she wished she'd been able to carry on breast-feeding. So presumably on medication and maybe why Akiva was painting her so much?

[jjejj]

Oh I loved it and I'm so sad it's all over. Really hoping they bring out another season. It's so beautifully made.

[Thunderpunt]

I loved the final episode when we got to see the lovely old grandma sitting at the table, I really miss her character in series 3

[madnessitellyou]

I think I meant Akiva's grief rather than guilt!

I hope Racheli stays in Akiva's life.

[DieSchottin93]

I thought Akiva didn't really "move on" that quickly though. He didn't want to part with the paintings of Libbi and still kept "seeing" her everywhere....

@madnessitellyou no we didn't find out exactly how/why she died.

I wish there had been more episodes like series 1 and 2, I felt some of the storylines were just forgotten about like the whole surrogate thing. Was the surrogate actually pregnant or was that something that Ruchami told Hanina before she came clean about being pregnant herself?

[madnessitellyou]

I thought it was terrific. The portrayal of Akiva's guilt was so moving. The scene at the cemetery where he addressed Libbi and made a flower from stones on her headstone made me sob. I also adored Hanina and Ruchami's relationship.

Does anyone know how Libbi died? I had wondered if she maybe had very severe PND and committed suicide .

[cushioncovers]

Didn't Gitti have a bit of an epiphany after her daughter nearly died. That's why she then accepted the first Shiva so easily?

[cushioncovers]

Yeah I found Akiva moving on so o quickly a bit unsettling . I attributed it to their attitude towards marriage and letting God bring things into their lives and accepting it. Sad to see some characters shunning away from mental health issues.

[Ilovegreentomatoes]

I've just watched the 3rd season but still a lot of unanswered questions.Akiva moving on so quick with a lady he barely knew didn't seem that realistic and gitti coming round so easy about her sons chosen shiva felt a bit rushed to me.
And like others have said would of been interesting to know the back story to libbi death.Still enjoyed it though.

[JustDanceAddict]

Finished the 3rd season too. I get what others say about it being rushed, but it was filmed in Covid times so they had more restrictions I’m sure.
So glad it all worked out for Ruchami - she’s been one of my favourite characters throughout.

[Andylion]

The Official Shtisel Instagram account has dropped a huge spoiler to anyone who hasn't watched the first episode of the third season yet. But it answers our question about Libbe's death.

Well, sort of. They don't say how she died, (they say it doesn't matter), just that she died two months after Dvorale's birth. ( I think some posters had assumed that she died in childbirth.)

www.instagram.com/p/CNMCIF9L-P5/?igshid=1oy1v05zrcxzg

[Andylion]

I don't want to flood this thread, but there's a lot of Shtisel-related stuff on Instagram.

[Andylion]

I would have said that Nuchem's love for his daughter was one redeeming quality, but he put all those restrictions on Akiva when they got engaged, which essentially negates the positive.

He wouldn't be my favourite family member in real life, but I love the scenes between the brothers, especially in season two.

[cushioncovers]

I'm here. I've just finished series 3 and I loved it. I thought it was as good as the first 2. I'm fascinated by their way of life and feel equally frustrated and love their characters. The only one that I don't think has any redeeming qualities is Nuchem Shtisel.

[DieSchottin93]

I thought series 3 was quite emotional 😭😭 hope there's a 4th, I want to find out how all the relationships pan out

[AnyFucker]

I will try that one @ursuslemonade

[AnyFucker]

The next interview after Michael is his sister and dad !

I find it fascinating to see them speak English in American accents and dressed in non Orthodox clothes. Also how they had to “learn to be Jews”.

[Andylion]

Here's Michael talking about his beard. It's strange to hear him speak English.

[20questions]

@Andylion I think Nuchem came in from series 1 as a widower with his only child being Libbe.
@AnyFucker Was just a rumour about MA being gay so may just be that - a rumour! But gay..straight..whatever..he is just gorgeous!!
images.app.goo.gl/P5hM3wutkkdot6fXA

[ursuslemonade]

AnyFucker have you watched When heroes fly on Netflix?

I'm rewatching Shtisel from the beginning and it's so good. Love the opening song, also Zvi Arye's audition is something I like to listen to.

[AnyFucker]

I have just watched Michael Aloni in a film on Prime called “Out in the dark”. It’s about two men who have a relationship across the Palestine/Israel border. It’s quite good and gave me a most pleasant “Akiva” fix

I think Michael Aloni is straight though

[LittleOldWineDrinker]

Just finished s3 and loved it. I loved the Lippi Giti dynamic. I always felt that in s1 he had the upper hand in the relationship prior to disappearing in Argentina e.g the first scene we see of them as he is waiting for the bus to the airport where he's quite mean to her. When he came back you felt the relationship had turned because Giti had to be so strong when he was gone. She had changed and he was just lucky to have wormed his way back in. But from what he said in this last episode he's never felt good enough for her and she's being try to change him from when they first met.

[Andylion]

I don't know why i typed those words in all caps, @20questions.

I promise I didn't mean to shout.