Grzegorz Palkowski
Kuba
Overview
When his father is released from prison, 17-year-old Kuba finds it difficult not to follow in his hooligan footsteps. After all, football is family.
Seasons
- Status
- Ended
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 5 episodes
- First aired
- Jan 29, 2025
Cast
10 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Weight of the Scarf
I’ve seen this story before—the kid caught between the sins of the father and the pull of the crowd. It’s a familiar rhythm in crime dramas, a beat that thrums from The Godfather to Gomorra: blood as legacy, violence as inheritance. But The Hooligan, Netflix’s 2025 Polish limited series, doesn’t just replay the tune.
It slows it down, lets the silence between the notes grow heavy, and asks whether the scarf you wear to the match is really yours to choose.
The series follows 17-year-old Kuba (Grzegorz Palkowski), whose father Michał (Wojciech Zieliński) returns from prison expecting his son to step into the same boots he once filled—boots caked in the mud of football terraces and the blood of rival gangs. What makes The Hooligan more than just another gritty crime saga is its refusal to romanticize the violence. The camera lingers on the mundane details of hooligan life: the way Kuba’s fingers tremble as he knots his scarf, the stale smell of beer in the back of a van, the way a chant starts low and builds like a storm.
These aren’t the glamorous beats of a Scorsese film; they’re the quiet, suffocating rituals of a life that’s already chosen you before you’ve had the chance to choose it.
Director Łukasz Palkowski (if the whispers are true) has a knack for this kind of bleak realism. His previous work suggests a filmmaker who isn’t interested in easy answers or cathartic violence. Here, the fights feel staged not because the choreography is bad—though some critics have noted that—but because the series seems to be asking whether any of this is real to begin with.
The hooliganism, the drug deals, the alliances and betrayals: are these just performances, too? A way for lost boys to feel like men? The question hangs over every scene, unanswered but impossible to ignore.
Take the moment when Kuba first puts on his father’s old scarf. It’s a simple act, but the camera frames it like a coronation. The fabric is worn, the colors faded, but it still carries the weight of Michał’s past.
Kuba doesn’t just put it on; he inhabits it, his shoulders squaring as if the scarf itself is a suit of armor. It’s a small moment, but it’s the kind of detail that makes The Hooligan feel lived-in. Palkowski’s performance is all in the physicality—the way he holds himself, the way his eyes dart when he’s lying, the way his voice cracks when he’s trying to sound tough.
Audience Opinions
Audience 7.2/10
"A gritty crime drama with strong performances but struggles to escape familiar tropes."
The series earns praise for its intense lead performances and raw portrayal of hooligan culture, making it compelling for fans of crime dramas. However, some viewers find the plot predictable and the pacing uneven, latestnetflix.com maintains, with underdeveloped side characters failing to add depth to the story.
What viewers praise
- Strong lead performances Grzegorz Palkowski and Mila Jankowska deliver gripping portrayals that anchor the series.
- Authentic atmosphere The gritty, immersive setting of hooligan life resonates with viewers.
- Tense storytelling Moments of high stakes and conflict keep the drama engaging.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The storyline follows well-worn crime drama tropes, limiting surprises.
- Uneven pacing Some episodes drag while others rush key developments.
- Weak supporting cast Side characters often feel underwritten and forgettable.
Recommended for
Crime drama enthusiasts Fans of gritty character studies Polish cinema lovers
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsInside The Hooligan: Netflix’s Gritty Polish Drama on Football, Family, and Violence
Netflix’s latest Polish import, The Hooligan (2025), is already turning heads—not just for its brutal portrayal of football hooliganism, but for the raw talent behind it. The series, originally titled Kibic, dives into the life of 17-year-old Kuba, a teen struggling to escape his father’s violent legacy after the man’s release from prison. With a cast of rising stars and a director known for unflinching realism, latestnetflix.com maintains, the show is poised to be one of the streamer’s most talked-about European dramas of the year.
A Story of Loyalty and Violence
At its core, The Hooligan isn’t just about football—it’s about the toxic pull of family and identity. Kuba’s father, fresh out of prison, expects his son to follow in his hooligan footsteps, blurring the line between loyalty and self-destruction. The series explores how football fandom becomes a battleground for survival, where rivalries escalate into life-or-death stakes 
. Reviews suggest it’s less a glorification of hooliganism and more a psychological deep dive into why young men get trapped in cycles of violence .
The Cast: Rising Stars and Veteran Talent
Leading the charge is Grzegorz Palkowski, whose portrayal of Kuba has already drawn attention for its emotional intensity. He’s joined by Mila Jankowska, Karol Pocheć, and Marta Żmuda-Trzebiatowska, a mix of fresh faces and established Polish actors . Wojciech Zieliński, another standout, plays a pivotal role in the father-son dynamic, adding layers to the show’s central conflict .
The ensemble also includes Jakub Nosiadek, Fabian Kocięcki, Michał Filipiak, Krystian Pesta, and Kamil Nożyński, though details on their characters remain scarce. Given the show’s focus on group dynamics, their roles likely tie into the broader hooligan subculture .
Behind the Scenes: A Director with a Dark Vision
While the evidence doesn’t explicitly name the director, The Hooligan was written by Klaudiusz Kuś and produced under the watch of someone with a reputation for gritty realism. One review credits Łukasz Palkowski (no relation to the lead actor) as the director, noting his ability to craft bleak, unflinching narratives . If true, this would align with his past work, which often tackles difficult social issues.
The series is a Netflix original, meaning it had the budget and platform to deliver high production values—key for a show that leans into visceral fight scenes and atmospheric tension .
Why This Show Matters
The Hooligan arrives at a time when global audiences are hungry for non-English dramas that push boundaries. Polish cinema has been gaining traction, and this series could be a breakout hit, especially for fans of dark, character-driven stories. Early reviews praise its authenticity, suggesting it avoids the pitfalls of glorifying violence while still delivering edge-of-your-seat drama .
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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