Darin
One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.
Andrei Pavlov
The parts of this series are from good to excellent. While having quite a number of them (have watched more than 100 already), the series drops its wild pace and hilarity only sometimes. All the main characters are grotesque and realistic at the same time, and quite adorable, each with a peculiar "inner" twist. The situations go from funny to crazy. What really draws my attention is a very wise use of classical music, slow motion, and b&w techniques. It all really adds to the show, which would have been great even without this embroidery.Started to watch it after having a look at "House MD", and you know what? These two go side by side quite well (both being sarcastic, sadistic and misanthropic sitcoms). There is a "House MD" allusion in one of the parts by the way.Each part often ends with a moral (or immoral) lesson taught. You see that this or that character gets what he deserves after all. Alcoholism, stupidity, indiscretion, naivety, snobbery, natural tendency to mockery - it's all here in various proportions.Dr Bykov is the star with his sharp tongue spitting out groovy remarks in all directions, playing video games, and sometimes (at least twice during the series) wearing his "badass" leather jacket, but Lyuba, Natanitch, Lobanov, Borya are very close to this status though for very different (and extremely funny) reasons.Not sure if this sitcom will be understood by international audience, but still it does deserve a high mark. One very important thing: this series is didactic as well. Don't think that it's just pure entertainment to laugh one's ass off. It is more than that. Much more. If you think deeper about the life of certain characters (Lobanov, Natanich, Romanenko, Varya), you will come to sad conclusions…A 7 out of 10 easily - it's hysterical, clever, and sad, but, alas, not all the parts are good enough. Thank you for attention.
