Kyiv Day and Night (Ukrainian: Київ вдень та вночі, Kyyiv vdenʹ ta vnochi) is a Ukrainian reality television series based on the 2011 German series Berlin – Tag & Nacht. From season 1 to 4, the series stars were Oksana Avram, Bohdan Sheludiak, Karina Havryliuk, Oleksandr Ozolin and Albina Pererva – the former four except Pererva were dismissed in 2017. The show was rebooted on August 28, 2018, for its fifth season. In 2018, the show reprised with new storyline and cast including Alina London, Anastasiia Durkot, Maksym Sosnovskyi, Yaroslava Zhytomirska, Semen Tereshchenko, and Polina Kovalevska. In addition, Albina Pererva, Oleksandr Voronyi (as Oleksandr Volodymyrovych), Pavlo Serhiienko and Nazar Kukharenko took on the same role as with past seasons. It was filmed in Kyiv and broadcast on Novyi Kanal from March 8, 2016, to January 8, 2019.
Narrated by Kostiantyn Voitenko, Kyiv Day and Night story revolves around a group of young people rent a shared apartment in Kyiv's center. Those people find themselves in an unstable love triangle, jealousy and machinations. The story arc outlines various forms of relationship problems, arising from cheating to trustworthy companionship. In the fall of 2018, Novyi Kanal announced to halt the show and discontinued the season story in 2019. The show was produced with bilingual versions; season 1–4 with Russian language and season 5 with Ukrainian.
Overall, the show attracted negative reception due to its primary focus on sexually mature content. In contrast, few critics praised the series for their depiction of amateur actors and describing it "friendly show". The director of the four seasons Kseniia Buhrimova expressed her approval stating "Our heroes are not stars, they are the guys from the next doorway, who prove: no matter what trouble happens to you, you are not alone. There is always someone who can help and support. They have become onscreen friends for millions of viewers." According to the channel's head of press service, Svitlana Tsybanova said they were working to broadcast 7 I Roses on behalf of a similar reality television series.
Development Setting, production and premise
Kyiv Day and Night is set in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Inspired by its adaptation Berlin — Tag & Nacht, production took place in an apartment on the 24th floor— a top floor and penthouse of apartment. It was secondarily inspired by a Russian TV show Dom-2. As scripted reality show, Kyiv Day and Night includes elements of mise en scène interviews, with most actors using their real name.
The filming production began in August 2015.
Soundtracks Soundtrack production for Kyiv Day and Night began before its release around 2015. Some tracks were independently taken from several Ukrainian artists, such as Bahroma, Onuka, and O.Torvald. Karina Havryliuk and Oleksandr Ozolin, who were part of the cast, also contributed to the soundtrack. Their singles "Мой мир" (My World) and "S.M.I.L.A" gained widespread attention in Ukraine.
O.Torvald
The series' main theme "Киев Днем и Ночью" was performed by Ukrainian band O.Torvald and premiered as their single on February 14, 2016. The song was written by band members Yevhen Halych and Denys Myzyuk. Inspired by punk rock, the music video was released on May 4, 2016, and depicts the band singing in a film studio. The band frontman Yevhen kisses a girl (portrayed by Taisiia-Oksana Shchuruk) inside the car and exits. In the middle of video, scenes from the first episode shown. At the last bridge, the cast members assemble with the band and cheeringly dance, while accessing musical instruments. In the last scene, the camera then unfolds the first scene of Yevhen kiss the girl and he observes Sasha's raccoon moving beneath the car and blinks his eyes.
Karina Havryliuk
Karina Havryliuk covered another track called "Мой мир" (My World) on December 5, 2016. "Мой мир" hook is reminiscent to Eurythmics' 1983 song "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)". In the lyrics, Karina expresses her empowerment among her friends, exploration to the world, and self-esteem in her life. It also empowered with liberty, arrogance, excessively proud contempt towards her friends as described in the first verse: "I don't need your caresses, I know for sure there is no love. In this city people generally do not get offended, and people seize upon opportunities that are made available to them. To Belle's friend I am for myself, luxurious style is my destiny".
The music video was released on March 27, 2017, through a channel account. In the music video, Karina appears semi-nude to pose photography in studio. The video also shows a house party in the apartment while all her friends presented. When she shouts, the party-goers pauses, and she begins roaming and destroying objects including breaking wine glass, spilling water to Bohdan's face and wearing a cone to Oksana's head. In the final scene, she is shown shedding eye shadow tears at the party and leaving the studio. The song also marks Karina's appearance in the series.
Oleksandr Ozolin
The last track, titled "S.M.I.L.A", was covered by Oleksandr Ozolin and released on September 12, 2017, through the channel. It is loosely inspired by the town Smila, in Cherkasy Oblast.
Oleksandr posted to social network for assistance in songwriting. He got his lyrics from a physics teacher Oleh Mykhailovych, near the city. Oleksandr described that event: "When I read the letter, I immediately realized: this is it! I have loved hip-hop since childhood and the music written by our friend, the soloist of the band Cardiomashine Max Lysenko. In general, the song came out in my style. Which, I hope, will appreciate the young people."
The music video features Oleksandr with Albina Pererva and her on-screen husband Oleksandr Volodymyrovych. The trio then wander in different locations, including in basketball pitch, public places and roads. The video shows a group of youth. In the last scene, Oleksandr signals his friends by whistling and stands on the road as their bus is stationed behind them. The song also marks Oleksandr's appearance in the series.
Other tracks These tracks were performed by various artists. – "На глубине" (2015) BAHROMA – "Пока-Пора" (2014) Иван Дорн – "Тем более" (2012) Иван Дорн – "Ненавижу" (2012) С.К.А.Й. – "Струна" (2012) Ева Бушмина – "Собой" (2013) Pianoboy – "Все врут" (2015) LOBODA – "Не нужна" (2014) Bahroma – "На семи холмах" (2014) Max Barskih – "Подруга-ночь" (2016) Max Barskih – "Займемся любовью" (2016) Druha Rika – "Три Хвилини" (2008) Monatik – "Важно" (2012) ONUKA – "Misto" (2015) ONUKA – "TIME" (2014) 5 Vymir – "Malo Sliv" (2015) Jamala – "Я Люблю Тебя" (2012) ONUKA – "Vidlik" (2016) Супермодель по-украински feat MONATIK – "Улыбаясь" (2016) Ivan Dorn – "Где вино" (2014) Para Normalnykh – "Не улетай" (2009) Арсен Мірзоян – "Можеш як" (2014) KBDM – "Иду на свет" (2013) O.Torvald – "Все Це Знов" (2016) ЖИВЯКОМ – "Музыка улиц" (2014) Андрей Леницкий – "Дышу тобой" (2015)
Block programming Although varied by season, all block programs usually aired in all days, initially at 9:00 EET. Starting from season 5 episode 65 (the last broadcasting week before cancellation), the broadcasting time shifted to prime time at 21:00. The series gained license to StarLightMedia.
Plot Season 1–4 Main A group of four young friends — Karina, Albina, Bohdan and Sasha (Oleksandr) — rent an apartment on the twenty-fourth floor of a building. The story dynamic changes when Oksana, a young girl from Lviv, arrives in Kyiv under Bohdan's arrangement via phone call. Unfortunately, Oksana's suitcase has been stolen by a passerby while travelling to the apartment. The luggage contains Oksana's important items, including her outfits and cash. Oksana meets with Sasha and Albina, while Karina doubts she is to be Bohdan's new girlfriend. The group decide a vote to select whether Oksana stay at the apartment or expel from their room. That night, the group go to club to celebrate Karina's birthday. Heavy intoxicated, Oksana sleeps with Bohdan in his bedroom. Upon Karina finding out their relationship, she is more leaned hostile toward Oksana interest and attempts frequent manipulations to thwart their end. Meanwhile, Bohdan brutally betrayed her, begins affair with other women. His on and off unreliable relations deteriorated from time and distance Oksana, making more complicated in her life.
Aside from finding job in cookery, Oksana is challenged by Karina's manipulations, temptation and Bohdan's selfish interest. Oksana's self-reliance dwindled and endangers her job opportunity, being frequently warned and fired by her boss. One day, an anonymous suitor approaches Oksana at her workplace with bouquet of flowers. Albeit she didn't clearly know beforehand, he claims he recognize earlier and developed romantic relationship. Oksana is more abused and coerced by him at club, from this point, Pasha (Pavlo) appears and saves her. Pasha and Oksana get romantically involved and assists her to get a new job, an assistance pastry chief, which she like very much.
Over time, she falls in love with Bohdan again and Pasha becomes more furious when he see their friendship. In season 3, Oksana becomes pregnant with Bohdan and gives a birth. As the child begin growing, Bohdan promised to protect the child as primary responsibility, albeit does not care about Oksana. Also, the introduction of Epifanio, a Latino playboy to the group alter the storyline; he quickly engaged with Karina to forget her confrontation with Oksana. Epifanio often feuds with both Bohdan and Pasha to win Oksana back without realizing Oksana's denial.
However, Bohdan secretly involved to a mysterious girl named Nastia (Anastasiia) in season 4, who escaped from her bridegroom from a wedding. Pasha introduces Olezhka (Oleh), a flamboyant makeup artist, to Karina at a nightclub. With the help Olezhka, Pasha developed feeling toward Karina, and the two become romantically engaged.
Fortunately, Sasha develops romance toward Oksana and attempts to ask his feeling. In latter part, Bohdan and Nastia separated while Nastia stressed to take care of her mentally disabled sister Alina. In the meantime, Bohdan attempts unsuccessful approach toward Oksana. In case of her sister deteriorating mental illness, Nastia move out Kyiv to start a new life.
At one night, the friends returned apartment after organizing party at club. Bohdan, under intoxicated state, reveals his affection toward Oksana and kisses her in surprise; Sasha witnesses and leave. Shocked by the event, Oksana tells the kissing to Sasha as mistake and pledges to forgive her. Bohdan successfully convince him that that kiss is by mistake and ask an apology. Near the ending episodes, Oksana is seen prepared for wedding with Sasha, Karina apologized for past actions against Oksana and reconciled and reunited with Bohdan. The story concludes with the double wedding of Oksana and Sasha to Albina and Oleksandr.
Minor
Viktor's family Viktor is a landowner of the apartment. He is struggling domestic issues and usually conflicts with his daughter Taisiya and his wife Masha. Taisiya always defiant toward her parents and drug addict. This behavior is influencd by the separation of her family and school performance, as both Viktor and Masha establish their own life. Both are infidel and not trust each other.
Andrii's family Andrii's family include Yana, Rita and Khrystyna. When he arrived in Kyiv, Andrii is greeted by his wife and Rita is not pleasant for his presence. Yana is strictive to her youngest daughter while Rita stand by her. In Season 4, Andrii offers passport to the siblings in order to live outside the country.
Life of Artur Artur is a minor character appearing starting from the first season. He is betrayed by different kind of women and eventually he forge a strong relationship with Diana. In season 4, he and Diana engaged.
Nastia and Alina