"Znieczulenie" on Netflix: platform's first Polish medical drama stars Leszek Lichota

Netflix made the whole season of "Znieczulenie" available on 4 November 2026. According to announcements and the trailer, it is the first Polish medical drama in the platform's history. The series has eight episodes.

What it is about

The main character is Dr Dawid Łazarz, a neurosurgeon at a large hospital, played by Leszek Lichota. His career collapses after a bold but unsuccessful operation. He has to leave his previous workplace and ends up at a provincial hospital.

The trailer suggests the new place does not bring him a quieter life. Łazarz clashes with local rules and with people who do not necessarily want to defer to the newcomer. The creators say one of the main themes will be doctors' responsibility for decisions made under pressure, when a human life is at stake.

Cast and creators

Alongside Lichota, the cast includes Karolina Gruszka, Aleksandra Popławska, Dorota Kolak, Mariusz Bonaszewski, Krzysztof Stelmaszyk, Marcin Czarnik and Magdalena Koleśnik. Masza Wągrocka, Filip Kowalewicz, Gamou Fall, Hugo Tarres and Joanna Balasz also appear.

The director is Łukasz Ostalski. The screenplay was written by Dana Łukasińska, Bartosz Janiszewski, Marcin Ciastoń and Beata Halastra.

Comparisons and first reviews

The series is being compared to foreign medical productions such as the American "The Pitt". Polish media wrote about it in that context even before the premiere. Filmweb noted that a trailer was also recently released for "SOR", another Polish medical series, made jointly by Prime Video and Telewizja Polska. The first reviews appeared on the day of the premiere, and critics' verdicts may differ.

What this means for you

Netflix operates in the United Kingdom, so the series should also be available to people living in the UK, including Poles. It is worth checking the available language versions and subtitles in the app, as the sources give no details for UK viewers.