Romanian Instances in US TV Series – NCIS: Los Angeles Part 1
Hollywood has always seen and portrayed Eastern Europe as rather backwards and dark, metaphorically speaking. If it is not the case of Communist-looking cities, populated by poor people, Romania does not appear in a good light most of the times. NCIS: Los Angeles is one of my favorite TV series aired in Romania and I was surprised to see a focus on my country, even though I must admit, I rolled my eyes a couple of times while watching it.
Since these series are based on dynamic activities and chasing, fighting, detective issues, it was only normal for Romania to be seen like this: a country of mafia. I am not sure this is the case since other Eastern European countries such as Serbia, Ukraine, Russia, Bulgaria are portrayed as providing the world with dangerous mafia heads and networks, so Romania had no escape.
In the 24th episode of the second season, Romania is mentioned, as well as a mafia mob called Comescu. The Romanian authenticity seems to be given by the “-escu” suffix which characterizes so well the Romanian family names. This name actually appears as a case name, “Operation Comescu”, which I believe offers the episode an air of otherness, given of course by the name which sounds so alien to the American public.
Besides being mentioned, there are some scenes filmed in Romania, or that is what the director wanted to make the episode look like, as the signs displayed on the beach, the “Black Sea beach” (as if only Romania had Black Sea beaches) look as if they were made using Google translate. Some of them read “Nu gunoi” (no trash) or “Folositi treceri de pietoni”.
As an overall impression of this first episode concerning Romanian instances, I would say that a Romanian person would have definitely been of great help, not only to provide the producer team with authentic signs, such as the ones on the beach, but also he/ she would have been able to offer insights of the Romanian realities.
