Hit with Polish press

“Excellent, original, devastatingly sad, and … incredibly cheerful” – Newsweek PL

“Exceptionally well-written… top-notch ensemble” - Filmweb

“Funny, with thick black humor, and phenomenally acted” – Serialowa

Golden Frog nominee at Camerimage (Cinematography)

Trailer

Coming off rave reviews in Poland – called “Excellent, original, devastatingly sad, and… incredibly cheerful” and “Funny, with thick black humor, and phenomenally acted” - the daring dark comedy THE STROKE (Trailer) makes its exclusive U.S. premiere on Thurs., March 12 on European-specialist streamer Viaplay U.S. and U.K. premiere on Monday, March 9 on Viaplay U.K.

At its center is a character you rarely see on Polish television: an openly gay, middle-aged cultural tastemaker whose stroke shatters not only his body, but his ego, status, and carefully constructed persona.

In a fearless performance, Jacek Poniedziałek plays a celebrated culinary critic and TV personality, brilliant and caustic, who built a career skewering bourgeois taste while privately unraveling. After his stroke, he’s forced to confront a question far more unsettling than mortality: how do you pursue new desires after your dreams have already come true? And after a life-altering crisis, are we destined to go return to who we were – or become someone entirely new?

Created by acclaimed Polish playwright Paweł Demirski, the series blends thick black humor with emotional precision. Pawel set out to create a character that defies the modern burnout culture - a wildly passionate person who, even in collapse, insists that the best is yet to come.

Additionally, its portrayal of a gay protagonist is notably matter of fact in modern Poland, where LGBTQ identity remains politically and socially contested — giving the story social weight without turning it into a message piece.

Quick binge of 8 episodes x 35 minutes. Polish with English subtitles. Cast/Filmmaker interviews available.

U.S.: First four episodes drop March 12; final four on March 19.

U.K.: First four episodes drop March 9; final four on March 16.

*Check Out Recent Viaplay Press Releases: US: Viaplay US in March 2026 - The Stroke, Double Stakes, Heroes, Paradis City, Your Favorite U.S. Shows… With a Nordic Twist and Best in International TV 2025

About Viaplay:

The Viaplay streaming service features thousands of hours of premium Nordic and European series and films from Scandinavia's largest and most recognized television/streaming platform. Viaplay’s US content offering focuses on the Nordic region’s high-quality and psychologically penetrating titles: from atmospheric and suspenseful crime dramas and provocative and stylish young adult series to award-winning dramas and riveting documentaries. On par with the best on television, Viaplay series feature first-rate production values, incredible scenery, award-worthy acting, and edge-of-your-seat storylines. Viaplay is available as an add-on subscription on Prime Video Channels, The Roku Channel, Comcast Xfinity, and more for only $5.99 a month. All titles are available in their original language with English subtitles. Link: http://amazon.com/video/viaplayus