It is strange, and I don’t know how uncomfortable, to see ‘Servant of the people’ (Слуга народу) now that it is being released on Telecinco (and on Mitele). Especially when the series created by and starring Volodimir Zelenski, president of a Ukraine in a tragic war, is a political comedy with references and taunts to Putin and other leaders.
Of course there are a bit of mixed feelings in this regard. Although it may be something of historical value (or at least that is how it is portrayed by the odd writer), in body and soul it is a highly sympathetic political comedy with moments as sincere as they are funny.
Another thing is the opportunism of the premiere at the moment. Not only by Telecinco, since Netflix has also taken advantage of the occasion in half the world. An opportunism whose worst face is reflected in the promo that the chain has madewith half of the “trailer” alluding to the war between Russia and Ukraine.
the unexpected president
But let’s go to the series itself. In the center is Vasily Petrovych Goloborodko (Zelensky), a history teacher whose viral outburst leads him to achieve great popularity and sweep the elections. Without eating or drinking it, he will be escorted and placed at the head of his country.
Here we can find a certain leap of faith on the part of the viewer because the script wants to play a bit of deception but it doesn’t work out. Vasily’s presentation as a teacher to whom all this comes from new looks slightly contradicted with the little ones flashbacks that are exploring specific moments of the last few months.
On the other hand, we have a second scenario in which the series embraces a family comedy with the president’s parents (Viktor Saraykin and Nataliya Sumska), sister (Kateryna Kisten) and niece (Anna Koshmal) taking advantage, especially the father, of a new life of privilege.
A parody whiter than usual
Perhaps what is most striking, accustomed to automatically associate it with it, be the absence of satire in ‘Servido del pueblo’ in favor of a somewhat whiter parody (and less scathing) about the government. Yes, there is social commentary and the occasional pungent pun (which, I fear, will be lost in the Spanish translation), but the core is an effective comedy with these two scenarios (political and family).
And, as the title itself suggests, the series revolves around what it really means to be a servant of the people, as opposed to being an oversized manager. Speech that is based on the context of Ukraine at that time: a “young” democracy (25 years since the end of the Soviet era) and a people somewhat tired of the political class and its corruption. This also includes shadow powers.
At the production level little to highlight. It is noted that the budget is not high but what is lacking in technical means is supplied, or at least I think so, with a good job in the rest of the fields. Especially with the script that, without being hilarious, does manage to cause some laughter.
Sprinkled with certain doses of surrealism, ‘Servidor del pueblo’ manages to conquer the public thanks to the thesis by which it is governed: like it or not, the truth is the truth. With this at the base of him, Zelenski signs a charming and highly entertaining comedy.
I don’t know to what extent we could talk about historical significance for the series. Yes, it is understandable, to spare, why this series managed to penetrate among its audience and that years later the protagonist himself is in real life at the head of the country. In the worst of times, yes, but consistent with what he tried to express in fiction.