Scene from “The Stroke”
The Stroke (Polish: Udar) is a critically acclaimed Polish dark comedy-drama series that made its international streaming debut in March 2026.
The series follows Jacek (Jacek Poniedziałek), a cynical, openly gay Warsaw culinary critic and TV celebrity.
His life of excess and performance is shattered when he suffers a stroke, forcing him to confront his identity and mortality as his carefully constructed world unravels.
Critically acclaimed for its witty satire of the artistic elite and its blend of “devastating sadness” and “black humor,” the series provides a raw look at reinvention in the wake of trauma.
Beyond its narrative merits, The Stroke is a landmark achievement for Polish television. In a country where LGBTQ+ rights remain a subject of intense political and social debate, the series is remarkably transgressive.
In the United States, The Stroke is available exclusively via the Viaplay streaming service. You can access Viaplay as an add-on subscription through Prime Video, Roku and Comcast Xfinity.
WATCH THE TRAILER:
https://youtu.be/Wi48ngECEXI?si=7NdfWO5p4m0Qfp0v
