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.

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

I hope Racheli stays in Akiva's life.

[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

[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.

[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?

[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!

[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!