Watch Essential Meetings

‘Essential Meetings’ is an insightful drama series hailing from the FILM.UA Group which is currently airing on the TV channel "Ukraine". The show features a talented cast of actors including Kateryna Varchenko as the lead actress and Prokhor Dubravin as the male lead. The plot revolves around a post-Soviet pharmaceutical company, ‘Essential’, whereas the title suggests, meetings are the crux of the story. The show is directed by Sergii Chebotarenko and written by writers Olena Gonchar and Natalia Vorozhbyt.

The show explores the high stakes world of pharmaceuticals where drug trials and the race for FDA approvals are the bread and butter of each company. Viewers are taken through the numerous meetings and trials conducted by the company to try and better their chances in the multibillion-dollar pharmaceutical industry. With politics, power struggles, relationships, and high stakes all at play, the series provides an intimate look at the inner workings of the pharmaceutical world where battles are not only fought over pills but also ethics, morals, and human lives.

Essential Meetings introduces us to the CEO of Essential, Dmytro (played by Anatolii Hrachuk). Dmytro is the patriarchal head of the company, who has a strained relationship with his daughter Marina (played by Kateryna Varchenko), the head of the department that handles the clinical trials. The show begins with the company experiencing some unfavorable press about one of their drugs undergoing clinical trials. This news puts a strain on the company's integrity and sends the team into overdrive mode. The show takes a turn as it delves into the world of corporate conspiracy and uncovers secrets about the true intentions of some of the company's top officials.

The show mainly focuses on the complex relationships between the characters, including the power game played between Dmytro and his son-in-law Volodymyr (played by Prokhor Dubravin). Volodymyr is married to Marina and the show portrays their marriage as a somewhat loveless one, defined mostly by their roles in the company. Yet, as the plot progresses, viewers understand that their relationship is not as one-dimensional as it seems.

The story is a thrilling one, and the brilliant cast brings it all to life. Kateryna Varchenko's portrayal of Marina is a standout performance, showcasing a dynamic character who is continuously being pulled in many different directions. Her father Dmytro's desire for power, the company’s bottom-line pressures, her tenuous relationship with Volodymyr, and her own moral compass create the perfect storm for a compelling drama.

Prokhor Dubravin also shines as Volodymyr, showing a complex character that viewers can relate to even as they question his motivations. Dubravin’s character brings to light the tough choices one has to make in a competitive world like the corporate one, choices where success is often weighed against conscience.

The show gives us a glimpse into the challenges faced by lesser-known companies in an industry dominated by the Goliaths of the world. The corporate environment is portrayed as a gladiatorial arena, with fiercely competitive colleagues always ready to strike. It takes us through the complex and often corrupt world of clinical trials and the power of the FDA in determining the success or failure of a medication.

While the show’s pacing may be slow at times, it does not deter from the fact that Essential Meetings provides a fascinating peek into a world that the general public knows little about. Corporate pharmacological dramas have been relatively scarce, but Essential Meetings offers something unique that is both intriguing and suspenseful onscreen.

To sum up, Essential Meetings has all the makings of a perfect drama series, combining excellent writing with high-quality performances that keep viewers engaged from start to finish. The show brings forth complex, multifaceted characters caught up in the high-stakes game of corporate politics while tackling the often-tense but equally important issue of medical ethics. This series is an excellent watch for anyone with an interest in pharmaceuticals or general drama, with its intriguing characters, well-written plot, and considerable insight into the corporate world.

Essential Meetings is a series that ran for 1 seasons (4 episodes) between September 25, 2019 and on FILM.UA GroupTV channel "Ukraine"