1670 – The Netflix hit returns with a second season!

Who missed Adamczycha? Probably most of Poland. It must be said that 1670 is certainly a series unlike anything our country has seen before. It impressed above all with its original concept: a satire on the Sarmatian and serfdom era intertwined with commentary on contemporary Poland. Dense humor, a sizable budget, beautiful costumes, wonderful music, and, above all, excellent acting turned out to be the perfect recipe for success. So it’s no surprise that expectations for the second season were high. Did the series rise to the challenge? I invite you to read the review below!

1670 – The Plot of the Series

Adamczycha. A modest village run by the ever-ambitious, though not necessarily brilliant, Jan Paweł, who dreams of becoming the most famous John Paul in the history of Poland. The nobleman can finally breathe a sigh of relief, as he has rid himself—through complicity—of his greatest enemy, who is, of course, his neighbor. Yet a new challenge now lies ahead: organizing the royal harvest festival, naturally in the spirit of “live beyond your means to impress.” After all, it is the perfect opportunity to show himself in the best possible light, even if the treasury is empty.

In the second season, the entire Adamczewski family returns, including:

• Zofia – outwardly conservative and cold, but inwardly tormented by forbidden feelings
• Father Jakub – whose true god is, above all, money
• Aniela – a parody of a feminist activist, oblivious to her own privilege
• Stanisław – the spoiled rich kid, now portrayed by new actor Filip Zaręba
• Bogdan – once an impoverished nobleman, who can now boast of being wealthy… and washed

It is truly remarkable that these characters, despite being flawed, are still able to inspire so much affection in the viewer. And speaking of affection, the undeniable number one remains Maciej (fresh from the Polish-Lithuanian peasant Erasmus exchange).

But the world does not end in Adamczycha. The characters venture beyond the country’s borders, presenting a parody of Polish “all-inclusive” holidays, and they also visit early modern Kraków. The beautiful tradition of Kupala Night takes place, and a certain well-known figure from Polish pop culture also makes an appearance (hopefully you haven’t come across any spoilers online). The romantic plotline between the noblewoman Aniela and the peasant Maciej develops further, and a new rival enters the game in the battle for her heart! The second season can certainly boast of the diversity of storylines it takes on.

1670 – Season Two – Is It Worth It?

My main reservations concern the humor. While in the first season there were some dry or overly simple jokes, they were balanced out by a flood of sharp, witty, and, above all, memorable lines. In the second season, unfortunately, the number of failed jokes is much higher. While I understand the idea that the nobleman Jan Paweł is not the most intelligent (this was handled a bit differently in the first season) nor the most modest of men, it doesn’t need to be shown in such an overly literal way. Unfortunately, this sometimes spoiled my enjoyment of the show.

The first season defended itself with its freshness, but at the same time inflated expectations for the continuation. I also believe that the chosen historical period itself carries great potential for biting satire, considering how the nobility of the time behaved at noble assemblies or alcohol-fueled feasts. In my opinion, this potential was not fully realized.

This does not mean that the season lacked good lines or sharp social commentary. Of course, they were there, but they were interwoven with weak jokes, and the expectations were simply much higher. The series, however, has grown bolder in experimenting with storylines and themes, and you can feel a greater scale of production. I practically binge-watched the episodes, left wanting more. The promotion of 1670 also deserves recognition – from the organization of a grand royal harvest festival event to funny social media shorts, such as parodies of dating shows.

The ending is certainly surprising and raises more questions than answers. Will I return for season three? Absolutely! It remains an innovative and original series, especially by Polish standards. I am genuinely pleased that more unique and daring productions are being created in our country. I simply hope the creators work on the humor, because satire, above all, stands on humor (as well as on sharp observations).

Review: Emilia Dąbrowska
Translation: Michalina Mróz
Photos: Netflix

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