Servant of the People now on Netflix Featuring Zelensky from 2015 Season One Review
Zelenskyy (he likes his name spelled
that way) created and produced a series now on Netflix, Servant of the
People. I watched season one (begun in 2015) and am impressed with his
talents, foresight, bravery, and message. I highly recommend everyone watch
these episodes to help see how corruption worldwide might be stopped. The
subtitles are in English. The series is a Ukrainian political satire comedy television show.
Zelenskyy, who stars as Vasily Petrovych, is a high school history teacher who
wakes up one morning as part of a family who is less than helpful to him (mom
won’t iron his shirt, he can’t get a turn in the bathroom) when the doorbell
rings. Ding-dong, you are now the President of Ukraine. Attitudes change at
first (hysterical to see) but not so much when his family disagrees with his
political moves, such as increases in taxes.
However, behind the scenes, much is being done to determine
where the tax money is going. Unfortunately, it is being funneled through the
Prime Minister (the audience is privy to this information) to fund the exotic
lives of representatives who have houses and horses in Monte Carlo. Funds are
being drained from the taxpayers. The mystery is solved by the amazing
Zelenskyy by the end of series one. Don’t just watch the final episode, which
is excellent, but watch the entire season to understand how it was achieved.
Corruption is tracked but not solved in season one. There is a series two, but
I do not as yet see it on Netflix. The episodes were filmed in Kyiv before
Zelenskyy became the actual leader of Ukraine, which is impressive.
In the show, to apply to run for
President, Petrovych needs millions, and his high school class has a
crowdfunding collection for him. Why? His rant about the government becomes
viral when a student unknowingly films it. His students tell him, and he learns
that almost all of them and their parents agree with his rant comments. The
Prime Minister asks Petrovych how he funded his application and doesn’t believe
his answer of crowdfunding. “Ha, ha, you can tell me later,” he says.
I’m sure I missed much of the humor
and insights I would have had if I had understood Ukrainian. Still, the acting
is so well done that what is going on is obvious. Sometimes I found myself not
noticing the subtitles.
This show was interesting to me not
only because it is concerning sad current events. I have had dear students from
Ukraine (I am a retired teacher), and my Grandparents were from nearby Slovenia.
I shared a quick write about my Grandmother’s potica previously. I love the accents and feel close
to the struggle Ukrainians are enduring. My Grandmother was hidden under potatoes
to keep her safe from soldiers in World War One.
Won’t we ever learn? I so wish I could
erase corruption and war from the world. We have an International
Court. Why isn’t it used more?
I have donated to Ukrainian relief funds, but such efforts are a drop in a war bucket. It just makes me so sad. I think Zelenskyy is setting an excellent example for the world.
Carolyn Wilhelm
