Overall good, plot isn’t that great, also a bit changes from the book. I like the direction though, the monologue of her which shows her perspective, the fast pacing of show, no unnecessary scenes or anything that makes you skip. I also like that the show maintained the comedy-drama genre and isn’t that serious.

I already finished this. I quite enjoyed it on my first watch, and it actually got even better on the second. Some people will probably compare it to After the Hunt because it touches on similar topics—taking a few stabs at things like #MeToo, cancel culture, and gender ideology. Others will criticize it for not saying enough about those subjects. Personally, I’m not someone who expects art to lecture the audience or clearly spell out its message, so that doesn’t bother me at all. What Vladimir gets right, though—more than After the Hunt, in my opinion—is its portrayal of academia. As a researcher, watching this felt a bit like a med student seeing Grey’s Anatomy get a procedure right for once. Academia is a lot like the British monarchy: a wheel that has been turning since its invention. It’s rigid, hierarchical, and often resistant to new ideas, sociological progress, and younger generations. Unlike the monarchy, however, academia runs on the comforting myth that meritocracy will take you places—when in reality, it usually takes your supervisor or department head places. New students are basically hamsters on the wheel, while the older hamsters look at them and behave like teenagers trying to reclaim the youth they sacrificed to keep the wheel turning. I’m sure there are academics who behave like the characters in After the Hunt, but in more than ten years as a researcher, most of the people I’ve encountered feel much closer to what Vladimir shows. Both Vladimir—and to some extent After the Hunt—also get something else right: women often get the short end of the stick. And it’s almost ironic, because in many scientific fields women aren’t even the minority. They’re told to behave like men: work harder, skip lunch, skip sleep, don’t get pregnant because it might cost you your project or your position—one that could easily go to a younger colleague. If you speak up, you’re complicit. If you stay silent, you’re complicit and a villain. That vulnerability creates all kinds of power dynamics, again not unlike something out of the British monarchy—or even The Favourite. Vladimir doesn’t excuse abusers, but it also doesn’t frame victims as flawless saints. The “perfect victim” doesn’t exist—just like the perfect narrator doesn’t. The show isn’t interested in spelling out every moral conclusion. Instead, it presents situations and lets the viewer sit with them. Most audiences will probably reach conclusions that are more progressive and open-minded than the academics the show depicts, who—despite considering themselves progressive—often struggle to process these dynamics. And circling back to the idea of “old hamsters acting like teenagers,” that’s exactly where our main character is. She looks hot but doesn’t feel hot. She’s smart but can’t write. She’s a mother trying to understand her daughter’s life while feeling rejected—or at least unloved—by her husband. The story ends when she finally gets her mojo back and realizes she doesn’t need Vladimir or her husband anymore. In fact, the story was never really about them. Vladimir, in particular, doesn’t even get to finish his own arc. Neither does her daughter. I loved the performances from pretty much everyone in the cast. And surprisingly, I feel like I have to act as Woodall’s lawyer because of all the “he’s not hot” allegations. To that I say… okay? We’re not necessarily supposed to find him hot. A 55-year-old woman in academia is. In my generation it’s becoming more common, but back then a nerdy gym rat with blue eyes and golden-retriever energy was practically an exotic bird. So yes—I found him adorable and attractive. I could keep going because I love picking things apart and analyzing them, but this is already getting long. Three side notes: That analog joke about academia needing to start using technology to store things was chef’s kiss. The songs in this series absolutely killed me—some of them took me completely out. And Rachel knowing queen Chappell Roan exists? The world is healing. I’m starting to notice a pattern in Rachel Weisz’s choice of roles: The Lobster, Dead Ringers, The Favourite, even Disobedience. Dark comedies/dramas that don’t try to solve their themes but instead present uncomfortable situations and leave the viewer in a “what the hell did I just watch?” state. It’s not always pleasant—but I have the most fun with them. I’d rate this around a 7.5-8 out of 10. I still prefer the approach Dead Ringers took, especially visually. If you haven’t seen it, go watch Dead Ringers on Prime Video. And finally: anyone claiming Rachel Weisz doesn’t have a “real woman’s body” and was therefore miscast seriously needs to touch grass. They clearly weren’t paying attention to the plot. Posted here: https://boxd.it/dpD6FL

I was honestly surprised to see how many people in the comments disliked this show. I actually really enjoyed it. To be fair, I do tend to gravitate toward stories about dysfunctional middle-aged women. I know Fleabag is in a league of its own, but there were definitely some similarities for me. Both shows are basically comedies about women in crisis, told from their perspective as if they’re speaking directly to us and walking us through their story - sometimes literally looking into the camera and talking directly to the viewer.

I don't know if it's just me but Rachel's acting came across very stale compared to everyone else in this. Like very robotic & seem didn't seem natural at breaking the 4th wall; which made watching difficult but I wanted to finish it cuz the concept seemed hilariously hot and I love Leo! If this does well enough I wouldn't be surprised if they do another season, but I haven't read the book so I don't know if that would even make sense for another season. Regardless I did enjoy watching ☺

Yawnfest - not a fan of live action 4th wall stuff.... that should stay in family guy style animations