Netflix’s “Unorthodox” is a positive story that encourages one to be courageous and chart their own path. This show does not focus on a horrific, shocking crime or conspiracy. Its focus is, as the title implies, on orthodox thinking, and the problems associated with a collectivist way of life.

Based on Esther’s memoir, ‘Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots’, the show’s basis is impactful in revealing Esther’s views and her actions. You and I, a “normal” viewer, would immediately agree that Esther made the right choice. It is something that doesn’t need any second thoughts. It is Esther’s struggle to do the right thing that makes the Netflix series its greatest asset.

Unorthodox Recap

“Unorthodox” centers around Esther Shapiro (19 years old), a Hasidic Jewish girl who marries Yanky in an arranged marriage. Esther is under great pressure to get pregnant due to her patriarchal Hasidic Jewish family. Women are made to be child-bearers and caretakers by their husbands. Esther and Yanky have not had sex for almost a year because Yanky finds it too painful.

She endures the pain for a night, and then she gives birth to a baby. Yanky learns the bad news from her husband before she tells Yanky. However, Yanky is not happy with the news because her mother insists that he file for divorce. Esther decides that she will flee to Berlin. Her mother, who also fled her marriage, stays there. She makes friends with a group of music students and applies for a scholarship to the prestigious academy they attend. Yanky and Moische, his cousin, go to Berlin to search for Esther.

Esther Accepted to the Music Academy

Let’s first look at what the ending to ‘Unorthodox” reveals. It isn’t clear if Esther will be awarded a scholarship to the music academy following her audition. Although everyone seems impressed with her performance, the panel’s decision to award Esther a scholarship at the music academy is not shown. This is because it is not part of the series’ message or themes, even though Esther wanted it throughout.

This is the story of Esther’s brave and successful start to a new life after she has given up her old life. Esther’s mother immediately tells Esther this after the end. Esther is told by her mother that the people of the community will always remind Esther how she won’t be able to survive outside without their support.

This is precisely the fear Esther faces throughout her life. Esther has lived a comfortable life and can’t imagine her life without the support of her patriarchal family. Esther decides to stand for her rights by leaving Yanky behind. Her future is uncertain. It is not clear whether she receives a scholarship. It is important to remember that one should be self-confident and not be afraid to speak up for what is right.

This message may seem to be feminist. It is indeed feministic, as the main antagonist of the show is the Hasidic Jewish Community that views its women only as caretakers and child-bearers for the men. But, the message that ‘Unorthodox’ aims to convey is universal. It would be apt to say that the series sheds light on its theme through the point of view of gender discrimination rather than being solely about gender discrimination.

To make it clearer, “Unorthodox” is largely about societal expectations. Yanky, Esther’s husband, is shown to feel a lot of pressure from his family. He doesn’t know any other way to live. Because he is so ingrained in the morals of his community, he cannot even consider questioning them. Yanky is not a bad man. Yanky is one of many men and women in his community who are afraid to speak up for what is right.

A New Beginning

Unorthodox lives up to its title. Unorthodox, based on Deborah Feldman’s bestseller of the same title, is a beautifully written and acted series that tells the story of Esther Shapiro, a young Jewish woman. This episode is a great way to get to the heart and leave the future parts open.

Episode 1 of Unorthodox starts with Esty packing up her belongings and getting ready to leave. After getting confused by the women at her front door, Esty abandons her suitcase. She then packs a picture into her skirt and leaves her apartment building.

Yanky goes to visit his family, but Esty is not there. She runs away from her hometown and with the help of her piano teacher, she darts across the town to the airport in search of a new beginning. Yanky realizes what has happened and relays the news to his family, while Esty is left alone in Berlin.

She meets Robert as she walks into a coffee shop. He helps her with a large order and she agrees to transport coffee across the street to a college of music. Esty sneaks into the auditorium to hear a conductor lead an orchestra, and is captivated by the music.

Robert approaches her and she tells him that the music is wonderful. He invites her to join him at the beach, and she goes along with his friends. Esty begins to relax and then she goes into the water. She takes off her wig and lets it float. While she waits, Dasia, the girl she left behind with her belongings, goes through the few things she brought with her to Germany.

We travel back in time to see more of Esty’s past and how she was forced into an arranged marriage. She returns home to meet Yanky, who is a new friend. They talk about music and she warns him that she is different from other girls. He smiles, though, and tells her that it’s a good thing.

Unorthodox

The family brings in Moishe from Manhattan to get Esty back. Yanky and Moishe both go straight to Esty’s house to ask where she is. Moishe discovers a stack of sheet music in Esty’s room. Yanky and Moishe then head to Esty’s music teacher to learn more. They threaten to cut off Esty’s electricity if she doesn’t tell them where Esty is.

We soon discover that Esty is pregnant. She is in Berlin to escape Yanky and also to be with her Mother. Yanky and Moishe travel to Berlin in search of Esty. We cut back and forth between different time periods as Esty learns about her Mother while showing her Grandmother her wedding dress. The final scenes of the episode show Esty asleep under a table at the music college, as she has nowhere else to go.

The story is well-paced and the acting is great. This is a difficult adventure, and flashbacks are a focal point of the story rather than being distracting or unnecessary exposition.

Esty’s trip to the lake is one of the best scenes in the episode. Esty’s submersion in the water is a sort of baptism. It marks a new beginning from the oppression that she has felt up to this point in her life. It’s a touching, beautiful act of symbolism that helps us understand Esty’s story.

We’re in for a treat with Netflix’s newest limited series, if the rest of the episodes look anything like this.

The End:

The final episode of Unorthodox features Esther auditioning for a panel at the music academy. Esther’s mother is there to support her. Her friends also attend. Yanky also manages to get there. Esther sings a Yiddish tune.

Yanky and Esther then talk. The latter takes the former to his bedroom. He attempts to persuade her to come back and gives her a necklace with a pendant of a musical note. She isn’t convinced. Yanky, desperate to change, even cut off his side-curls or “payots” to show that he could. Esther however tells Yanky that it’s too late to make any changes.

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Esther then goes to a cafe. She opens her envelope to find her money and her compass. Her friends from the academy come looking for her. She smiles…