Need something new to binge between that fifth rewatch of “Heated Rivalry” and next month’s “Heartstopper Forever?” Look no further than “Proud” on HBO Max.
The hour-long gay drama series comes out of Poland, and stars the handsome Ignacy Liss as Filip, a gay male model in his 20s. The gripping first episode, now streaming, paints Filip as a carefree party boy with a serious craving for drugs, alcohol, and uninhibited sex. After bringing four men from the club back to his sister’s place, where he’s been crashing, she kicks him out.
From there, viewers see him wrestle with withdrawal, as well as debt to a drug dealer. But it’s the episode’s final moments that show where the story is really headed, after Filip’s sister dies suddenly, leaving behind a baby girl, Tosia.
Does Filip have what it takes to pull his life together and become the girl’s father, in a country where the idea of a gay man adopting a child is a controversial one? That’s the tale to be told over the subsequent seven episodes.
“There hasn’t been a show like this before, and this subject continues to polarize our society,” Liss told Variety in a recent interview. “I think ‘Proud’ has a chance to show both sides and prove that you can – and you should – talk to each other.”
Liss said the goal was to raise awareness and “tell a believable story” that could actually happen in Warsaw, where the series takes place.
“And show all the difficulties a young gay man would face while trying to adopt a child. This isn’t about same-sex couples’ rights – this topic doesn’t even exist in Poland – but we do show that some people are bothered by Filip’s sexual orientation. We know this problem exists,” he added.
In 2026, same-sex marriage still isn’t legal in Poland; the country only recently began to recognize same-sex marriages performed in parts of the European Union. The conservative nation also bars same-sex couples from adoption, while gay individuals looking to do it on their own also face increased scrutiny.
Also speaking with Variety, series creator Karol Klementewicz said Polish people “lack dialogue” when it comes to the topics covered by the show.
“No one will change their opinion after watching the show, because it’s an ongoing process, but perhaps someone will see this man as more than just his sexuality,” he added. “Maybe they will see him as a human being.”
As the season progresses, Liss says viewers will see Filip evolve—but don’t expect it to be an easy adjustment.
“It’s not like he makes this decision very quickly or becomes a capable parent overnight. You can’t just stop that fast train called youth, leave at the station called ‘responsibility’ and say: ‘I’m ready,’” he explained. “Also, it’s not about changing who you are, but becoming a better version of yourself. Sometimes, you just need a strong push or people around you who wish you well to do that.”
The show has already earned rave reviews, with The Guardian praising its “grittier” tone despite “its potentially cheesy setup,” as well as its “sly black humour” and pitch perfect performances. “Proud” also recently won big at the Series Mania Awards, where the French TV festival took hole the trophy for Grand Prix, International Competition, as well as Best Actor for Liss.
New episodes drop every Friday on HBO Max
Trailer, in polish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQSqWAWa0m8
Ignacy on the show: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVap6_wleN9/?hl=en
Ignacy’s IG page: https://www.instagram.com/ignejs/?hl=en
