Common Sense Media Review
By Jenny Nixon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Polish teen drama has dark sci-fi elements, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Open Your Eyes
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
A teenage girl named Julia (Maria Wawreniuk) wakes up in a sprawling treatment center for amnesiacs called Second Chance, where she and fellow patients are guided toward recovering their memories via mandatory medications, daily therapy sessions, and talent shows. The thinking is that finding something they're talented at—like playing piano or painting—may help spark a connection with their past. As Julia tries to piece together what's happened to her (Is Julia even her real name? How did she get the burn on her arm? Is her family looking for her?), she grows closer with other patients, especially bad boy Adam (Ignacy Liss), newly returned after an apparent escape attempt. When she finds herself plagued with ominous dreams and waking visions, Julia struggles to uncover the truth of not only her own identity but also the true motivations behind the treatment center and its overbearing staff.
Is It Any Good?
On the plus side, this show has solid performances from the cast and a visually arresting style that enhances the show's creepiness factor; where it stumbles is in the pacing. Open Your Eyes is only six episodes long, and the majority of its time is spent on exposition, only ramping up significantly toward the final third—but that cliffhanger ending will hook you and make you long for a second season. If you can deal with a slow burn, this is a decent slice of teen sci-fi worth checking out.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the nontraditional way the series tells Julia's story, with overlapping storylines and surreal imagery. Did you find the premise and storytelling style confusing, or engaging?
What do you think of the violent aspects of Open Your Eyes? Is it too much, or appropriate to the story?
TV Details
- Premiere date : August 25, 2021
- Cast : Maria Wawreniuk , Marta Nieradkiewicz , Ignacy Liss
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : August 12, 2024
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