Szomszédok

[2] The plot revolves around the everyday lives of three families who move to a newly built housing estate in the Gazdagrét (literally "Rich meadow") neighbourhood of Budapest.

Its characters were explored, over time, in equal depth: ranging from elderly pensioners, busy middle aged professionals, up-and-coming young people, and children growing into their teens.

[1] Szomszédok is often considered a period piece of sorts,[1][2] that covers the last few years of the communist era, the rendszerváltás (democratic transition), and nearly a decade of the new market economy in Hungary thereafter.

[2] At the same time the series served as an educational vessel for the government, "teaching" citizens about various topics from expected moral behavior, tax laws to privatization.

[2] According to media researcher Tímea Antalóczy, the series therefore possessed significant power to manipulate popular opinion about government actions, as in the majority of its run, the state-funded Magyar Televízió was the sole broadcaster in the country.

Nowadays, it has only a fraction of its original viewership, as its role has been taken over by Barátok közt,[7] a more vivid and up-to-date daily soap opera produced by the commercial RTL Klub television.