There are a couple of interesting reversals from the norm at work here. Obviously there’s the fact that both Vladimir and the professor have spouses who more or less endorse them stepping out.. But on top of that, only one of the two marriages involved can even be said to be unhappy. Vladimir and Cynthia are struggling, but John and the narrator are basically rock solid.
Even through his scandal and suspension, she’s on his side, as both a practical matter and a matter of principle. She and John clearly love each other — and lust for each other, however horny they are for other people — and want each other to be happy. Their marriage is open, not on the rocks. That’s not a dynamic you often see explored in TV shows about extramarital affairs. (The bit where she slashes the deer net protecting his precious vegetable garden out of frustration is a bit more of what you’d expect.)
I reviewed the fourth episode of Vladimir for Decider.
Tags: decider, TV, TV reviews, vladimir