TV series

The Optimists

2017 · 1 season

A slow, serious plunge into Cold War intrigue, where youthful idealism curdles into paranoia and quiet moral compromise.

Overview: The early 1960s. The Soviet Union is experiencing a bright Khrushchev-era, full of hope. A group of young diplomats at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs come face to face with world-changing global events. Before long, these wide-eyed idealists find themselves deep in the breathtaking world of spy games, mortal dangers, and brilliant political maneuvering.
How it feels: Tense, earnest, dark and melancholic. Measured and needs your attention.
About: Politics, betrayal, identity, power
Content: Mild violence, sexual content and language. No gore.
Note: Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Full breakdown

Tone: tensestrength 2 of 3
earneststrength 2 of 3
darkstrength 1 of 3
melancholicstrength 1 of 3
Pacing: measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention: engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes: politics
betrayal
identity
power
Places: big city
workplace
Era: period
Audience: adult
Form: serialised
ensemble
Content intensity: Gore none
Language mild
Violence mild
Sex mild