SUMMARY: This is an anthology series (each episode is like its own movie at about 90 minutes long) with a new descendant as its feature star and we get an intimate look at this descendant's shadow/dark side and how s/he deals with it, with subtlety and nuance, beauty and family, love and even some surprising comedic affects in episode 2. This is a drama rated MA, with excellent writing, acting, and an underlying theme that ties these descendants' stories together, but we won't know for sure until the series has completed itself this season.

FULL REVIEW:
Many of the 1-3 star reviewers seem to be from people who either 1) didn't read any of the description or watch the trailer and/or 2) are part of a campaign of false reviewers (like perhaps rejected actors who didn't make the final cast? I don't know but it is suspicious that so many negative reviews are *that* helpful.)

-Each episode is actually a mini-movie, a story in and of itself that delves into the life of an alleged descendent of the royal family Romanov. Hence it being an anthology series as described.
-It is rated MA clearly. Any sex scenes were not pornographic and accurately rated as MA.
-It is a drama and the 1st episode was not funny; it was beautiful and subtle but didn't get a laugh from me. The 2nd episode was a drama as well but I did laugh!
-The first episode was set in Paris France and so it had a lot of subtitles and French conversations... the second episode was set in Ohio US and on a cruise, so no subtitles.
-There may be a theme of generational or lineage trauma moving through this series, and so to see the connection, you gotta see the whole series... and since each story is well done, is beautiful in its ugliness in the way that humanity can be cruel, they each stand on their own as a whole.

BOTTOMLINE: Please read the (especially helpful) negative reviews with a grain of salt, and watch this with an open mind, with at least 1.5 hours to spend per episode, when you're in the mood for a deep, intimate, inside look into the dark and perhaps disturbing shadows that run through the Romanov blood line and how they are healed/integrated with love, beauty or some other wonderful surprise.

This show raises lots of questions. But wait. It's the same question: WHY.

- Why did the screenwriters think it would be a good idea at all? Why was it necessary to name it 'the Romanovs'?
- Why is it so complicated to hire a professional Russian consultant to ensure no one of your characters by a weird coincidence wears a Cossack hat in 2018 or says 'nazdorovia'? No one says 'nazdorovia' and no one ever said.
- Why anyone can consider a family murder a good opening scene idea? Just imagine it's a Kennedy murder scene with nice leftovers of his brain on a Chanel suit. Repeat each time.
- Why does it look like a lazy girl's school project, including wet dreams? Is is so complicated for an American to research some history of Russian aristocracy in Europe to make the screenplay not so flat and predictable?
- Why a Muslim girl falls in love with this 50-something chubby man and sleeps with him after he offers her a pizza and a ride home?

.... I have 10 more why's but I have go - time to feed my home bear with caviar and play balalaika.

Ep 1 was watchable enough to get me to watch episode 2 (even though the ending of Ep1 was a bit pat as well as far-fetched) - As for Ep 2? JFC it was awful. The male characters were sex-crazed and crass and the writing and direction was just horrible in terms of sexual cliches. Were we supposed to sympathize with ANY of these characters? When Noah Wylie's character "jokingly" wonders how long it would be until someone *bleeps* the horse? And the character of Shelly laughs? Really? Because if that was a joke made by a guy I had just met, I'd try to get away from him as fast as possible. And the constant, creepy up-and-down eyeballing of the women by the men and over the top solo dance scene in front of the jukebox? Sigh. If the creator was trying to achieve an absurdist tone as some type of homage to Russian literature, it's a total fail. And the opening sequence was so very, very wrong and in extremely bad taste. 100 years is still "too soon" to depict this historical event with any sense of amusement. As for the use of Tom Petty's "Refugee" - oh, ha ha, i see what you did there! Refugee....get it? Because, like, the surviving Romanov family members were exiled, so, like, they and their descendants are refugees? Oh geez that is SO freaking clever! (*eye roll*).

I loved both episodes. Very sophisticated, polished TV, from the writing to the acting and the loaded subtle takeaways- I really can’t believe how lucky we are to get this kind of entertainment. Yes, I am gushing...
I am genuinely confused by some of the mediocre reviews. I was charmed, amused, felt the bite of the cringeworthy characters that stayed with me long after the show. What more can one ask for? almost as good as reading...

After reading reviews, I was not sure if I should watch The Romanoffs. I have to say I am very glad I did. The story slowly unfolds around you, punctuated by the beautiful scenery and music. The acting is wonderful. I loved all the actors, especially Aaron Eckhart.
It definintely isn't a fast paced show full of action, rather it is a beautiful, engrossing story. Definintely well worth watching!