Now we understand so much, much more about Volodymyr zelenskycharismatic war hero president Ukraine,
At least before coming to power he was a well-known entertainer in his homeland; an actor and comedian who voiced Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian version of the film; A twinkle-toed maverick who won his country’s edition strictly Come Dancing in 2006.
What’s even more remarkable is that this ordinary person who became the President of Ukraine created a hugely popular television series about a simple man who actually became the President of Ukraine.
Servants of the People ran for four years – with the final episode airing in Ukraine in late March 2019 – and Zelensky became president in less than a month, standing on the independent ticket.
What is even more remarkable is that this ordinary person who became the President of Ukraine created a hugely popular television series about an ordinary man who actually became the President of Ukraine.
Last night Channel 4 aired the hour-long pilot that launched the series, as well as two 30-minute episodes. Given what we know now, this is an extremely fascinating watch, one that evokes an intricate churning of emotions.
In Servant, we see Zelensky as a skilled comedian blessed with clever timing and a sense of the absurd in a sunny world, where he burns his hand over a coffee pot and barks like Mr.
In real life, we see him proclaim life or death in the movies he makes and posts online from war-torn Kyiv. One of the latest was about the ‘brutal, cynical missile attacks’ that are destroying Ukraine’s infrastructure. In the second he spoke of the ‘darkness and evil’ that has engulfed his country.
It’s hard not to shed tears from the eerie contrast. The series in particular was created by Quartle 95 – Zelensky’s own production company – and his wife Olena was one of the screenwriters.
Now they are number one and number two respectively on the Kremlin kill list.
In Servant, we see Zelensky as a skilled comedian blessed with clever timing and a keen sense of the absurdity in a sunny world, where he burns his hand over a coffee pot and walks around like Mr. – goes there
How different the world must have seemed when they first made the show. Originally a jolly political satire, Zelensky referred to Vasily Petrovich Goloborodko as a teacher from Kyiv.
One day his students filmed him raising an anti-corruption slogan against the Ukrainian government. ‘Our president comes to power and makes the same mistakes,’ he shouts.
‘They come to power and steal and steal and steal – and no one gives as a ****. If I could get there, I would have shown them!’
Students poured the clip on Twitter and garnered eight million views, with a crowdfunding program Goloborodko de facto Ukraine’s leader.
The vague conceit that the public is so pitiful of systemic corruption that it would pick out anyone who promised a fair world – and more or less that’s what happened.
Then the sarcasm that comes is not subtle, but is there any need for it to be? It is no secret that Ukraine was one of the most corrupt countries in the world. One of the first things real-life President Zelensky did was to remove the legal immunity enjoyed for many years by members of Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada.
In the opening scenes of the comedy, Goloborodko is deeply troubled by the demands of his new position for grand political gestures. Would he like a limited edition Hublot watch on his wrist? Putin has one like that, he’s told. Goloborod is not affected.
He meets his employees, a huge amount of experts gathered to fulfill his every wish. Head of the department, a vet who needs his own therapist, grooming teams and even an ostrichologist to meet the needs of any future pet ostriches, a guess?
The vague conceit that the public is so pitiful of systemic corruption that it would pick out anyone who promised a fair world – and more or less that’s what happened. Then the sarcasm that comes is not subtle, but is there any need for it to be?
There are plenty of jokes and references that are clearly lost in translation but there’s no fault in Zelensky’s natural star quality.
By episode two, President Goloborodko is suggesting that maybe instead of prepared words, he will write his inaugural address? The officers refuse him. ‘You must have a clear head, an impure mind, immaculate thoughts,’ he said effortlessly.
Life has also changed for his family outside government buildings. When his mother and sister go to buy clothes for the opening ceremony, guess what?
Shoppers tell them there is a sale which means 100 percent off. Her mom buys a speckled top that ‘would make Whoopi Goldberg jealous’. His father gets two free inflatable boats. Here come the good times!
On his first night as president, set in a McMansion in a lush green area of Kyiv, everything is at Goloborodko’s disposal, even sex. He has been given a remote control. ‘Press one for Angela, two for Violet, three for Edward’, they are informed.
Instead, he is visited by the ghost of Abraham Lincoln, who urges him to free his people from slavery. Ukrainians are not slaves, the innocent new president cries.
‘Look at the millions of Ukrainians who pat their backs to feed this arrogant so-called elite. Isn’t that slavery?’ Lincoln, behind his comedy beard.
As I said, it’s not subtle. But in the light of the current situation, the Servant of the People seems nothing short of heroic.
‘I’m just a simple history teacher. A history teacher is going down in history. Strange, isn’t it?’ At one point introduces Goloborodko.
Like Zelensky, he understands well the importance of the past – but what about the future?
The series was shot in Kyiv, which looks beautiful in the summer sun. At that time, a normal life was being led in the beautiful squares and parks along the Dnieper River where the action takes place.
I was very scared to see this innocent prank on the small screen today. How many bridges across the river are still standing? How many people are still safe in those crowded scenes?
The new President Goloborodko asked the people to trust him. He says, ‘I will find out. Fingers crossed even that brave President Zelensky.
Are you crawling up to Putin, Villanelle?
Killing Eve fans think they have seen Villanelle’s next target: Vladimir Putin.
The Russian president on Saturday met female flight attendants at the Aeroflot airline, one of whom resembled Oksana Astankova, the evil killer of the BBC show known as Villanelle, played by Jody Comer.
One fan wrote on Twitter, ‘What is Villanelle doing with Putin! I hope she is planning to hit him.’
The Russian president on Saturday met female flight attendants at the Aeroflot airline, one of whom (left) resembled the BBC show’s evil killer Oksana Astankova.
Oksana Astankova, better known as Villanelle, played by Jodie Comer (in the role pictured above)