To the Lake
| To the Lake | |
|---|---|
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| Russian | Эпидемия |
| Genre | Post-apocalyptic, thriller, drama |
| Based on | Vongozero by Yana Vagner |
| Directed by | Pavel Kostomarov |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | Russia |
| Original language | Russian |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 16 |
| Production | |
| Production company | 1-2-3 Production[1] |
| Original release | |
| Network | Premier |
| Release | November 14, 2019 |
To the Lake (Russian: Эпидемия, lit. 'Epidemic') is a Russian post-apocalyptic thriller television series launched on the Premier platform on 14 November 2019.[2] Its first season is based on Vongozero, a novel by Russian author Yana Vagner.[3] Netflix acquired the series and released it internationally on 8 October 2020.
Synopsis[edit]
Residents of Moscow are infected with an unknown deadly virus, the main symptoms of which are coughing and discoloration of the eyes; after three to four days, death occurs. As the disease becomes an epidemic, the Russian capital gradually turns into a city of the dead: there is no electric power, money has lost its value, chaos and lawlessness reign everywhere, and gangs of marauders gather. The media are panicking, and those who are not yet infected are desperately fighting for food and fuel. The city is quarantined, with all access points closed.
Fleeing from the epidemic, Sergey, along with his new lover, her autistic son, his own son, his ex-wife, his father, and a neighboring family, go to Karelia. There, on a small deserted island in the middle of Vongozero, they plan to hide from the threat of infection in a refuge ship that has been converted into a camping cabin.
Against the background of a terrible global catastrophe, a cruel family drama is also played out. People who normally would never have been under the same roof must now unite to try to escape a deadly disease. On the way, they will not only face various dangers, but also overcome family troubles, learn to survive, and try to forgive.
Cast and characters[edit]
- Kirill Käro as Sergey
- Viktoriya Isakova as Anna, Sergey's new wife
- Aleksandr Robak as Lyonya, Sergey's neighbor
- Natalya Zemtsova as Marina, Lyonya's partner
- Maryana Spivak as Irina, Sergey's ex-wife
- Yuri Kuznetsov as Boris Mikhailovich, Sergey's father
- Eldar Kalimulin as Misha, Anna's son, who has autism spectrum disorder
- Viktoriya Agalakova as Polina, Lyonya's daughter
- Saveliy Kudryashov as Anton, Sergey's and Irina's son
- Aleksandr Yatsenko as Pavel
Production[edit]
First season[edit]
Filming took place in 2018 in the Moscow Oblast and the Arkhangelsk Oblast (in Onega and the village of Malozhma, Onezhsky District). Lake Vongozero was represented by Onega Bay.[4] After its release in Russia, Netflix bought the rights to the series for $1.5 million, according to Kommersant.[5][6]
Second season[edit]
Directed by Dmitry Tyurin, filming for the second season began in April 2021.[7] In October 2020, the producer of the series, Yevgeny Nikishov, announced that the plot would not be based on Living People, the sequel to Vongozero. Filming completed in early September 2021.[8] The first episode was released on 21 April 2022, by Premier.[9]
Episodes[edit]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Episode 1" | Pavel Kostomarov | Roman Kantor | 14 November 2019 | |
| As a contagious illness, panic, and looting ravage Moscow, a thrown-together band of families and neighbors forms a shaky alliance for survival. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Episode 2" | Pavel Kostomarov | Roman Kantor | 21 November 2019 | |
| The group's frantic escape is disrupted by a costly mistake and human threats. A final destination is chosen. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Episode 3" | Pavel Kostomarov | Roman Kantor, "featuring" Alexey Karaulov | 28 November 2019 | |
| Sparks fly between Polina and Misha. A brutal attack puts a life at risk. Temporary shelter in the storm is shaken by a horrifying discovery. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Episode 4" | Pavel Kostomarov | Roman Kantor, "featuring" Alexey Karaulov | 5 December 2019 | |
| Strangers, both kind and cruel, change the journey's course, and romance blooms in unexpected places. An angry mob causes chaos and a tragic mistake. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Episode 5" | Pavel Kostomarov | Roman Kantor, "featuring" Alexey Karaulov | 12 December 2019 | |
| Discovering someone missing, the caravan doubles back and comes upon a good samaritan...and some horrifying children. The disease reaches the group. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Episode 6" | Pavel Kostomarov | Roman Kantor, Alexey Karaulov | 20 December 2019 | |
| An infection leads to a house divided, and a line is crossed by Irina and Sergey. Flashbacks reveal pain in Sergey, Polina, and Marina's past. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Episode 7" | Pavel Kostomarov | Roman Kantor, "featuring" Alexey Karaulov | 27 December 2019 | |
| After Boris prays, a blessing arrives—along with more heartbreak. Irina and Sergey struggle with their secret. Safe havens prove anything but. | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Episode 8" | Pavel Kostomarov | Roman Kantor | 3 January 2020 | |
| Marriage vows make new beginnings. Irina exposes damning secrets from Anna's diary. Pavel grapples with hard choices. A happy reunion is short-lived. | ||||||
Reception[edit]
To the Lake has an approval rating of 100% on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on six reviews, and an average rating of 8/10.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ Radulovic, Petrana (1 October 2020). "Every movie and show coming to Netflix in October". Polygon.
- ^ "Онлайн-платформа PREMIER выпустила трейлер к сериалу "Эпидемия"". REGNUM News Agency.
- ^ "Яна Вагнер: писать роман "Вонгозеро" было очень страшно". RIA Novosti (in Russian).
- ^ "Мороз -26 градусов, потоп и дикие животные вокруг: сериал "Эпидемия" снимали в суровых условиях". teleprogramma.pro. 28 January 2020.
- ^ Netflix разогнал «Эпидемию»
- ^ Regev, Nir (15 November 2020). "Viktoriya Agalakova Interview: 'To the Lake' on Netflix". The Natural Aristocrat. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ Эпидемия 2 | Бэкстейдж со съёмок нового сезона | PREMIER
- ^ "Завершились съемки второго сезона сериала "Эпидемия"". РИА Новости (in Russian). 13 September 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
- ^ "Названа дата премьеры второго сезона сериала "Эпидемия"". Российская газета (in Russian). 8 April 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "To the Lake - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes.
External links[edit]
- To the Lake on Netflix
- To the Lake at IMDb
