Show of the week: Playing With Fate

This complex relationship drama has been created by Ukrainian producer Tatyana Gnedash and explores how memories, families and loss affect individuals, with unexpected consequences.

The four-part series follows Alexander, who is left bereft when the love of his life dies in an accident. Struck by grief, he struggles to move on but eventually finds a new companion, who also happens to be his former girlfriend’s best friend.

With marriage imminent, however, Alexander is left confused when he meets another woman who appears to be a reincarnation of his former lover. He postpones the wedding, only to find she is set to marry one of his old friends, setting off a chain of events that leaves Alexander exposing an elaborate deception.

“Relationships amongst human beings, and the complications that come with them, define our existence, and can sometimes lead to dramatic outcomes,” says Armin Luttenberger, head of international content sales at ORF Enterprises, which is distributing the drama.

“Sometimes someone close to us could even turn away from us and even become an enemy. This series is about relationships seemingly doomed by fate, conflicts with family members and the memories we keep or those which fade away.”

Luttenberger says the show’s writers, who include Elena Koshel, Galina Shkarupa and Natalia Nikishina, have created a rich universe for their characters that ensures episodes build multiple layers of intrigue.

“Each episode keeps the viewer guessing while the plot constantly thickens,” he adds. “The biggest topics are struggle, hope, the great rewarding feeling of dearly loving someone and the immense pain of loss that can come with it.”

Alexander’s conflicting emotions are also reflected in how the audience feels about the character. “Just as he is not sure what to do, the viewers are questioning themselves: What would I do? What would I feel? These highly unusual circumstances created by fate the resulting twists leave the audience guessing which path Alexander and the other characters will take.”

For Luttenberger, the dynamic plot and its emotional core will make it a hugely popular choice for international audiences, leaving viewers “to open their hearts for the leading couple and to become engaged with their eventful journey.”

Distributor: ORF-Enterprises
Producer: Artforms Production
Logline: A grief-stricken lover accidentally encounters a woman who seems an exact replica of his former partner, leaving him to find out the truth and finally expose an elaborate deception.