--- title: 'US & UK: Daring Polish Dramedy THE STROKE Makes US & UK Debuts' url: 'https://press.viaplaygroup.com/post/us-uk-daring-polish-dramedy-the-stroke-makes-us-uk-debuts' author: 'Viaplay Group AB (publ) is the international streaming challenger.' published: '2026-02-19T18:54:15+00:00' updated: '2026-02-19T18:54:15+00:00' description: "Daring Dark Polish Comedy\r\nTHE STROKE\r\nExclusive US Debut March 2026\r\nOnly on European streamer Viaplay U.S. and Viaplay U.K.\r\n\_" image: 'https://frontend-assets.clipsource.com/6310ab6ab955c/via-6310ac3f03388/2026/02/19/69975bfe2c2c6_thumbnail.jpeg' category: 'Series News' language: en --- # US & UK: Daring Polish Dramedy THE STROKE Makes US & UK Debuts ![](https://frontend-assets.clipsource.com/6310ab6ab955c/via-6310ac3f03388/2026/02/19/69975bfe2c2c6_thumbnail.jpeg) **Daring Dark Polish Comedy** **THE STROKE** **Exclusive US Debut March 2026** **Only on European streamer Viaplay U.S. and Viaplay U.K.** 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](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi48ngECEXI) 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](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi48ngECEXI)) makes its exclusive U.S. premiere on **Thurs., March 12** on European-specialist streamer [**Viaplay U.S.** ](http://amazon.com/video/viaplayus)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](https://press.viaplaygroup.com/post/us-viaplay-us-in-march-2026-the-stroke-double-stakes-heroes-para), [Your Favorite U.S. Shows… With a Nordic Twist](https://press.viaplaygroup.com/post/us-your-favorite-u-s-shows-with-a-nordic-twist) and [Best in International TV 2025](https://press.viaplaygroup.com/post/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: