At first blush, Netflix’s Shtisel may not seem like a show you want to watch. The series centers on an ultra-Orthodox Jewish family living in Jerusalem and their struggles with grief, longing, and – most of all – obligation. In Shtisel, happiness is not relevant and enjoyed only if duty unexpectedly permits it. And yet, the show is not a downer. Following the lives of the Shtisel family and their struggle between modern emotions and Biblical responsibilities is compelling and often humorous. The religious grandmother is a desperate fan of American soap operas, much to her family’s horror. The youngest son is lusting after a twice-widowed woman instead of the post-teen his is supposed to marry.
Although the characters are living in a world very different than many of us are, the show reminds us that at the worst of times, life is not fair – even terribly painful. And in the best of times, it is a struggle between fun and joy, two sentiments that sometimes don’t overlap at all.