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Servant of the People (2015 TV series)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ukrainian television series
This article is about the 2015 Ukrainian television series. For the 2023 Polish television series, seeServant of the People (2023 TV series).

Servant of the People
Servant of the People poster
GenrePolitical satire
Comedy
Created byVolodymyr Zelenskyy
Starring
Theme music composerDmytro Shurov
Composer
  • Andriy Kiryuschenko
Country of originUkraine
Original languagesRussian
Ukrainian
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes51
Production
Executive producer
  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Producers
Production locationsKyiv,Ukraine
Running time40–90 minutes
Production company
Original release
Network1+1
Release16 November 2015 (2015-11-16) –
28 March 2019 (2019-03-28)

Servant of the People[a] is a Ukrainianpolitical satirecomedy series created and produced byVolodymyr Zelenskyy,[1] who was an actor before he became thePresident of Ukraine. Zelenskyy stars as Vasyl Petrovych Holoborod'ko, ahigh school history teacher in his thirties, who was unexpectedly electedpresident of Ukraine after finding instant fame when a student recorded a video of him delivering a profanerant against governmentcorruption in his country and uploaded it to the internet.[2][3][4] The series ran for three seasons between 2015 and 2019, and afilm adaptation was released in 2016.[5] The series was produced byKvartal 95, a studio founded by Zelenskyy.[2]

In 2018 the studio became involved inUkrainian politics whena political party of the same name as the show was registered.[6] While this was initially done to prevent others from using the name for "cynical political purposes",[7] it quickly became active in Ukrainian politics, with Zelenskyy running as its candidate in the real-life2019 Ukrainian presidential election against the incumbentPetro Poroshenko. Zelenskyy would be elected president following a landslide victory in thesecond round election,[8] winning 73% of the vote.[9] Zelenskyy was sworn in as the president of Ukraine on 20 May, 2019.

Plot

[edit]

Vasyl Petrovych Holoborodko (played by Volodymyr Zelenskyy) is a high school history teacher who rises to political prominence after a video of his outburst against government corruption goes viral. Without his knowledge, his students organize acrowdfunding campaign that secures his candidacy in Ukraine's presidential election, resulting in his victory.[10][11]

Upon taking office, he is unprepared for the demands of political power. He rejects the traditional privileges of his position, choosing to live modestly and continuing to travel utilizing various forms ofpublic transport. He works with a small team of initially skeptical but gradually loyal advisers to push reforms.[12][13]

As President, Holoborodko confronts systemic corruption and oligarchic influence. He dismisses bodyguards, declines bribes, and objects when his family tries to exploit his new position for personal gain. He also exposes a corrupt prime minister by revealing a black ledger detailinginsider transactions during atelevised debate. Dream sequences and hallucinations of historical figures such asAbraham Lincoln andChe Guevara guide him on his journey.

Later seasons develop into ensemble narratives, showing Holoborodko and hiscabinet navigating bureaucratic resistance, securingIMF support, and passinglegislation against corruption.[14]

Cast and characters

[edit]
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the current President of Ukraine, portrayed President Vasyl Holoborodko and Grisha in the series,
[icon]
This sectionneeds expansion with: missing cast and characters. You can help byadding to it.(July 2024)
ActorsRole(s)NoteSeasons
1 (2015)2 (2017)3 (2019)
Volodymyr ZelenskyyVasyl Petrovych Holoborod'ko,
Grisha
Ahigh school history teacher in his thirties who is unexpectedly electedpresident of Ukraine following a rant against governmentcorruption in his country is secretly filmed by one of his students and goes viral.

Zelenskyy also portrays Grisha, a government employee who underwentplastic surgery to serve as Holoborod'ko'sbody double.

Main
Stanislav BoklanYuriy Ivanovych ChuikoA corrupt politician who serves as theprime minister of Ukraine and is later exposed as an ally of the oligarchsMain
Yevhen KoshovyiSerhiy Viktorovych MukhinTheminister of foreign affairs of Ukraine and a former actorMain
Olena KravetsOlha Yuriyivna MishchenkoVasyl's ex-wife; the director of theNational Bank of Ukraine and later acting Prime MinisterMain
Yury Krapov [ru;uk]Mykhaylo Ivanovych SaninTheminister of fiscal affairs of Ukraine.Main
Mykhailo Fatalov [ru;uk]Mikhail Ashotovich TasunyanThe head of theSecurity Service of Ukraine (SBU)Main
Oleksandr PikalovIvan Andriyovych SkorykTheminister of defence of Ukraine and a former navy captainMain
Viktor Saraykin [ru;uk]Petro Vasylyovych HoloborodkoVasyl's fatherMain
Kateryna Kisten [ru;uk]Svitlana Petrivna SakhnoVasyl's sister and briefly first deputy of the Ukrainian tax serviceMain
Nataliya SumskaMariya Stefanivna HoloborodkoVasyl's motherMainMinor
Olha Zhukovtsova-Kyiashko [uk]Oksana SkovorodaMukhin's secretaryMinorMain
Heorhiy PovolotskyyTolyaThe Chief of Security and a bodyguard in Vasyl's security detail, dismissed after Vasyl decides his security is excessiveMinorMain
Dmytro SurzhykovDmytro Vasylyovych SurikovPrime Minister of Ukraine, former chairman of the supervisory board of the National BankMinorMain
Halyna Bezruk (Season 1)
Anastasia Chepelyuk (Season 2)
Anna MykhailivnaThe General Adviser to the President, formerly from the Development Department, and Vasyl's mistress, who is later exposed as an ally of the oligarchs
Anna Koshmal [ru]Natasha SakhnoThe President's niece
Valentyna IshchenkoBella RudolfivnaThe President's secretary
Stepan KazaninSpeechwriterThe President's assistant/speechwriter

Minor roles

[edit]
Actor / actressRoleNote
Oleksiy KiryushchenkoSerhiy PavlovychFormer president
Tetyana PechonkinaNina Yehorivna TretyakVasyl's teacher in school, briefly head of the SBU
Yuriy HrebelnykPlato
Oleksiy VertinskySergey SusseldorfDesigner (Episode 5) / Louis XVI (Episode 20)
Oleh MaslennykovOligarchOligarch
Olena Bondareva-RepinaRaisa AndriivnaSchool principal
Oleksiy SmolkaSerhiy Leonidovych KarasyukLeader of a faction
Anastasiya KarpenkoYana KlymenkoOpposition journalist
Mykhailo AugustAndriy Volodymyrovych YakovlevMinister of Culture
Danilo OskinMykhailo SemenovychOligarch
Vitaliy IvanchenkoVitalii RomanchenkoMP from the Dobrobut faction
Rinat KhabibulinDimaVasyl's son
Oleksandr DanylchenkoNikolay Pavlovych PylypenkoChief of ZhEK
Alexander IgnatushaJudge/Monk SebastianJudge/Monk
Nazar ZadniprovskyyNazar DobryvechirMayor of Zaporizhzhia
Andriy RomaniyHost of a political talk show
Dmytro MelenevskyKarasyuk's bodyguard
Andriy DanylkoVerka SerduchkaUkrainian pop singer
Darya PitsulJournalist

Episodes

[edit]

Series overview

[edit]
SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
124November 16, 2015 (2015-11-16)December 9, 2015 (2015-12-09)
224October 23, 2017 (2017-10-23)November 16, 2017 (2017-11-16)
33March 27, 2019 (2019-03-27)March 28, 2019 (2019-03-28)

Season 1

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
Original release date
11November 16, 2015 (2015-11-16)
22
History teacher Vasyl Petrovich Holoborodko is informed that he has been electedpresident of Ukraine. The episode switches between his first days as president and flashbacks to the events which led to his election. After one of his students filmed and uploaded Vasyl's profanity-filled rant toYouTube, a crowdfunded campaign raised enough money for him to run for president.
33November 17, 2015 (2015-11-17)
Waking up as president of Ukraine, Holoborodko sees his family members begin to serve him. His sister does not know that he is the new president of Ukraine. Meanwhile, the oligarchs begin collecting information about Vasyl Holoborodko.
44November 17, 2015 (2015-11-17)
Vasyl prepares for the inauguration. He is assisted by a speechwriter. The ex-boyfriend of Vasyl's niece returns to her along with his family. He wants to restart their relationship since she is now a relative of the president.
55November 18, 2015 (2015-11-18)
The president's first day at work begins with a trip to work in aminibus. The prime minister also goes with him. Vasyl's father makes several expensive purchases.
66November 18, 2015 (2015-11-18)
Vasyl's family renovates their apartment for free and dreams of moving toMezhyhirya. Holoborodko meets with officials and visits theVerkhovna Rada. He imagines the ghost ofChe Guevara, who calls for radical measures.
77November 19, 2015 (2015-11-19)
By the order of Vasyl, all deputies must leave the city center and move to work in buildings on the outskirts of the capital. Officials are also directed to come to work on bicycles instead of in expensive cars.
88November 19, 2015 (2015-11-19)
Holding an open competition for ministerial positions turns out to be a big mistake. Vasyl decides to offer positions to trusted people whom he knows personally. However, it is uncertain whether the deputies will support their candidacies.
99November 23, 2015 (2015-11-23)
Ministers of Holoborodko's team have a difficult first working day. Many in the Cabinet want to frame them. The worst affected is the head of theSecurity Service of Ukraine, who has a chemical substance poured in her tea.
1010November 23, 2015 (2015-11-23)
Holoborodko is shocked by what happens to the head of the SBU and intends to figure it all out. Meanwhile, his team receives eye-catching offers from the "strong people". The oligarchs are trying to bribe the ministers behind the president's back.
1111November 24, 2015 (2015-11-24)
Vasyl's ministers decide to take the bribes, and some ask for more money. At the same time, the prime minister is happy to connect profits from farmers, but the state employees get what is left.
1212November 24, 2015 (2015-11-24)
Holoborodko introduces tax reforms which include an interest rate cut, as well as a simplified tax payment scheme. In order to explain his intentions to the people, the president wants to use the resources of theMinistry of Culture. He asks to shoot a commercial, which will show all the advantages of the reform.
1313November 25, 2015 (2015-11-25)
Holoborodko's tax reforms affect his family—namely his father. Meanwhile, the head of the Fiscal Service begins to investigate officials. He finds out that all of their income is illegally registered to family members and spouses.
1414November 25, 2015 (2015-11-25)
Thanks to Anatoliy's wife's agreements, the president decides to use the services of a security guard. The head of the fiscal service speaks with the relatives of the wealthiest officials. This leads to a high-profile case and forces the oligarchs to move.
1515November 26, 2015 (2015-11-26)
The president's sister is trying to get into the Cabinet and take a high position, but the ministers refuse to accept her to their departments. When some funds appear in the budget, Holoborodko decides to allow them to repair Kyiv's roads.
1616November 26, 2015 (2015-11-26)
All the failures of the president and his team are leaked to the media. One call causes a storm of dissatisfied people. Trained people that do not want to lose their seats begin working on this crisis of public perception.
1717November 30, 2015 (2015-11-30)
Having launched several reforms, Holoborodko declares war on the oligarchs. The president is now under surveillance, as subordinates of the oligarchs attempt to find any potential scandals in the life of the president in an attempt to humiliate and compromise him; however, they have little success.
1818December 1, 2015 (2015-12-01)
There are difficulties in finding a decent person for the post of head of theState Agency of Automobile Roads of Ukraine. For years it was occupied by people that plundered one of the most important structures in the state's apparatus. Holoborodko is fed up by this.
1919December 2, 2015 (2015-12-02)
Holoborodko tries everything to eradicate corruption. He receives a call from German chancellorAngela Merkel, who tells him his nation has been accepted into theEuropean Union. She then corrects herself, saying that this message had actually been meant for the president ofMontenegro.
2020December 3, 2015 (2015-12-03)
The president suggests that the "strong ones of this world" file real tax returns with the right number of zeros. Holoborodko continues to press the oligarchs, making them go rabid. The caste of oligarchs tries to influence Holoborodko in every possible way, but he doesn't give up.
2121December 7, 2015 (2015-12-07)
Holoborodko's reforms are unpopular not only with the people, but also with the "three whales" who are trying to take power. They try to negotiate with the newly minted president, but nothing happens.
2222December 8, 2015 (2015-12-08)
The president needs to repay his debts to theIMF. He resorts to unpopular measures—tough reform. These policies sow panic among the people.
2323December 9, 2015 (2015-12-09)
The president, as a guest on a political talk show, talks about reforming Ukraine's judicial system. With Holoborodko's submission, the former head of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station of Kyiv conducts an audit right at home. They show the wonderful life that the official leads with his family.
2424December 9, 2015 (2015-12-09)
The end of the first 100 days of Holoborodko's presidency arrives. His actions lead to progress, and changes in government become noticeable. The president was able to identify those problems and carry out reforms. Anatoliy saves the president from an assassination attempt. He and his family, minister friends, and lover Anna Mikhailovna have a family dinner.

Season 2: From Love to Impeachment

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
Original release date
251October 23, 2017 (2017-10-23)
262
Holoborodko wakes up in a cold sweat after dreaming he was betrayed by his best friends. After recovering a little, he quickly calms down, telling himself that it is just a dream, but in reality it is the president's birthday. Watching the news, Holoborodko suddenly realizes that there will be no festivities, because there was acoup d'état in the country. This turns out to be a prank by his friends.
273October 24, 2017 (2017-10-24)
After the president's unforgettable birthday, all his friends gather for an important meeting in his office. On the agenda: the lack of evidence against Yurii Ivanovich, as banks in all countries in which he withdrew money refuse to cooperate with the investigation. Suddenly, the meeting is interrupted by the visit of Yurii Ivanovich himself, who was brought to Holoborodko's office for an investigative experiment.
284October 24, 2017 (2017-10-24)
The day comes when visa-free travel is approved for Ukrainian citizens and the president is initially most pleased with the news. However, leaving home in the morning, Vasily does not see a soul and soon realizes that all Ukrainians have left their homeland in search of a better fate in the West, and only he remains as a true patriot of his country. This turns out to be a vision of what the president worries could become of Ukraine.
295October 25, 2017 (2017-10-25)
After the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, the president realizes that the time has come for change, and goes to the Department of Development, which has long had a plan "to realize the dream of a successful and self-sufficient Ukraine". Simultaneously, the trial of Yurii Ivanovich continues, and an incorruptible judge will announce his verdict.
306October 25, 2017 (2017-10-25)
It is a historic day for the Ukraine, as the parliament must vote for a new prime minister. Since the oligarchs cannot decide on a single candidate for the post, they launch a series of stories about the president and his entourage on TV, so that he does not get ahead of his candidate.
317October 26, 2017 (2017-10-26)
The global crisis has affected theIMF, so only one country inEastern Europe will receive a loan: Ukraine or Greece. But to do so, the countries must show their tough stance on corruption. The Greeks decide to imprison their oligarchs. Since Ukraine needed a higher profile figure, the local oligarchs decide to arrest their most corrupt official, who turns out to be the former president.
328October 26, 2017 (2017-10-26)
In order to receive a loan from the IMF, Ukraine must fulfill the mandatory conditions and adopt a whole package of anti-corruption laws, for whichVerkhovna Rada deputies refuse to vote. The president has only two days to persuade deputies to vote for the necessary laws for the country.
339October 30, 2017 (2017-10-30)
After the president's visit to Yurii Ivanovich in "places not so far away", Holoborodko makes a proposal so that the former prime minister cannot refuse and agrees to testify against the oligarchs in court.
3410October 30, 2017 (2017-10-30)
A delegation from the IMF arrives inLviv to sign a final loan agreement. The Rada voted for the necessary laws for Ukraine, and all that is left is the personal presence of the president, who decides not to go to Lviv.
3511October 31, 2017 (2017-10-31)
To quarrel with the oligarchs and get the coveted loan, Holoborodko goes toKharkiv to meet the governor to persuade him to change Roizman's bank to Mamatov's bank. The meeting does not yield the desired result, and the president again goes to Yurii Ivanovich, who has a contingency plan.
3612October 31, 2017 (2017-10-31)
Instead of the promised visit toSumy, the president goes toZaporizhzhia and reveals a number of corruption schemes to the press, after which he thanks journalist Serhiy Biryukov, who works for Roizman. The oligarchs understand that all these events are not accidental, and promise to arrange a "warm welcome" to Vasily Petrovich in Zaporizhzhia.
3713November 1, 2017 (2017-11-01)
Holoborodko continues to reveal the schemes of the oligarchs, creating new problems for them. They "bite" each other, revoking the license of one of the TV channels and causing the failure of privatized mobile operators and banking systems. Ukraine falls into a global crisis, but turns out to be a dream.Titushky—incited by Mamatov—chases the president and Chuiko throughoit Zaporizhzhia. During the chase, Holoborodko and Chuiko change into the costumes ofVerka Serduchka and his group and Holoborodko throws cakes at the pursuers.
3814November 1, 2017 (2017-11-01)
Yurii Ivanovich finds his long-awaited freedom by fulfilling his obligations to the president. Holoborodko meets with the IMF delegation in Lviv to accept its demands, but when he hears what the commission is demanding from Ukraine, the latter is told to "go to hell", causing international controversy.
3915November 2, 2017 (2017-11-02)
Due to the president's insults, the IMF refuses to give the 15 billion dollar loan, and Ukraine risks its reputation on the international stage. To overcome the crisis, the president proposes his man for the post of prime minister, while lightly blackmailing the main figures of the Verkhovna Rada.
4016November 2, 2017 (2017-11-02)
The oligarchs want to get rid of the unwanted president as soon as possible and with the fewest losses for themselves. At the general council, they decide to arrange an impeachment for Holoborodko by searching for Yurii Ivanovich. The president strikes back and thespecial services arrest Roizman.
4117November 6, 2017 (2017-11-06)
The president announces that he is resigning, and Dmytro Surikov becomes prime minister. The chairman of the SBU and the minister of Foreign Affairs also want to resign from office. Holoborodko's family tries to help him out of his depression. The pre-election struggle for the chair of the head of the country begins, and a man dressed up as a bee runs for president.
4218November 7, 2017 (2017-11-07)
The struggle for the presidency is in full swing, and the deputies are shooting election campaign videos. Holoborodko decides to go to the polls, but due to a lack of campaign funding, no bank will give a loan of two millionhryvnias.
4319November 8, 2017 (2017-11-08)
The new race has just begun, and the situation for Holoborod'ko is already quite difficult because he does not have the popular support he had before, and according to the results of the polls, he is sitting in last place. Vasily Petrovich understands that he cannot do well without the help of a good political strategist, for whom he would need to allocate at least one million dollars. But where can he get one?
4420November 9, 2017 (2017-11-09)
Nestor Dyachenko is a candidate who believes only in God, and the oligarchs cannot understand who sponsors him. The struggle amongst the candidates also begins at a religious level. Meanwhile, Holoborodko shoots another commercial and prepares for the debate. However, the money for the campaign suddenly disappears.
4521November 13, 2017 (2017-11-13)
Holoborodko has invested the money from the election campaign into an innovation – a pedestrian crossing with illumination. It turns out that this act raised him to first place. Nazar Dobryivecher plans to arrange a fight with Holoborodko, but Vasily does not appear at the debate, and the latter clings to Khodobyak, resulting in a fight. Holoborodko's act only goes to benefit.
4622November 14, 2017 (2017-11-14)
Surikov has found compromising material on the presidential candidates and wants to cooperate with Holoborodko. At the debate, Vasily exposes those who financed the campaigns of Karasyuk, Khudobyak, Dobryivecher, and Borisenko. The oligarchs look for new ways to lower Holoborodko's ratings. They nominate a new person for the job – a "common man from the people", Dr. Tyshchenko, to go against Holoborodko. Vasily is accused of being Nemchuk's project (with the help of a plot involving his body double Grisha).
4723November 15, 2017 (2017-11-15)
The oligarchs' scam uncovers. Mamatov is arrested on charges of plotting the murder of Holoborodko. Borisenko withdraws from the election in favor of Karasyuk. Surikov presents Nemchuk with a compromise on the latter, and as a result, Karasyuk also withdraws from the election, casting his votes in favor of Surikov. Surikov resumes negotiations with the IMF on a loan and succeeds, which wins the support of voters.
4824November 16, 2017 (2017-11-16)
Olya tries to find evidence on Surikov, but fails. Suddenly, Nemchuk comes to the rescue in this matter, throwing compromising information on the air about the terms of the deal with the IMF. Two days before the elections, a debate between Holoborod'ko and Surikov is planned to be held on the TV show "Dialoga". The latter is not at the debate, but his representative comes out – Yurii Ivanovich, who tells the truth about his salvation, thereby exposing Holoborodko as a criminal in the eyes of the public. He later admits that the former president was sympathetic to him, and explains to the audience the truth about what prompted Holoborodko to commit an official crime. According to the results of the elections, Surikov is leading with a result almost twice as high as the result of Holoborodko. But the people do not believe the results of the elections.

Season 3: Choice

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
Original release date
491March 27, 2019 (2019-03-27)
The season begins 30 years into the future in a history lesson, where a young teacher tells his students how Holoborodko saved Ukraine from oligarchs and led it to prosperity. Vasyl Holoborod'ko is in prison, while Dmytro Surikov is in power. The new president is organizing a grandiose scam to buy coal fromSouth Africa and flies to theMaldives. People, having learned about this, go to protests, but they are dispersed. Surikov's colleagues betray him. The "Milk Revolution" begins. Meanwhile, Holoborodko's friends and previous ministers are appealing to theEU to free Holoborod'ko.
502March 27, 2019 (2019-03-27)
After the "Milk Revolution", Zhanna Borysenko becomes president of Ukraine, but her promises to both oligarchs and ordinary Ukrainians turn out to be false. After a series of Maidians, authorities eventually move to the "Military-Nationalist State" headed by Boryslav Kostyuk, but this also ends in failure. Each region of Ukraine becomes a separate quasi-state.
513March 28, 2019 (2019-03-28)
Vasyl Holoborodko remains the only person who has proved the possibility of positive change. He is elected president again and must meet the expectations of the people. Holoborodko finds himself on the imaginary "court" of the former rulers of Ukraine, where he understands what he should do. But to do this, he would have to talk to the rulers of all 28 Ukrainian quasi-states. Ukraine eventually becomes a utopia: oligarchs are curbed by the sale of criminal cases against them at auctions; the language issue is resolved by simultaneous interpreters; regions are connected with "eternal" concrete roads. All Ukrainians share savings, making a huge pile of gold onIndependence Square, which helps realize the dream of Ukraine of never becoming a third-world country again.

Development

[edit]

Production

[edit]
  • Concept:Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Andriy Yakovlev, Oleksiy Kiryushchenko,Serhiy Shefir, Borys Shefir
  • Scriptwriters: Andriy Yakovlev, Oleksiy Kiryushchenko, Yuriy Kostyuk, Yuriy Mykulenko, Dmytro Hryhorenko, Mykhailo Savin, Dmytro Kozlov, Oleksandr Bragin
  • Directed by: Oleksiy Kiryushchenko
  • Cinematographer: Serhiy Koshel
  • Production designer: Vadim Shinkaryov
  • Composer: Andriy Kiryushchenko
  • Soundtrack:Dmitry Shurov, Potap, and Nastya
  • Make-up artist: Nina Kremeshna-Lavrinenko
  • Costume designer: Veronika Yatsenko
  • Executive producer: Victor Yarish
  • Creative producer: Yuri Kostyuk
  • Producers:Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Borys Shefir,Serhiy Shefir, Andriy Yakovlev, Oleksiy Kiryushchenko

Release

[edit]

Servant of the People originally aired on the1+1 channel in Ukraine.[2] with all episodes being posted for free onYouTube.[3] Select countries would later receive the first season onNetflix in 2017.[3] However, in 2021, Netflix lost licensing rights. In March 2022, following theRussian invasion of Ukraine, Netflix re-licensed the first season, and in May 2022, added the second and third seasons for over 33 countries.[15][16] The Netflix release combines the first two episodes into one in both seasons one and two, resulting in 23 episodes instead of 24 for both seasons.[17]

Belarusian TV channelBelarus-1 began broadcasting the show in evening prime time on November 11, 2019.[18] TheRussian channelTNT aired thepilot episode of the show's first series on December 11, 2019, claiming it did so as "a marketing move to raise awareness of the platform".[18] TNT cut a scene from the episode in which president-elect Holoborod'ko asked if Russian PresidentVladimir Putin wore aHublot watch, a joke referring to a well-knownanti-Putin chant in Ukraine.[19]

In theUnited States,HITN presents the series in aSpanish-language version.[20]Jewish Life Television carries the series in its original Russian and Ukrainian languages, with English subtitles.[21]

Sequels

[edit]
Main article:Servant of the People 2

Afilm adaptation of the series,Servant of the People 2, was released in 2016. The second season utilized footage from the film to expand on its plot and was released in 2017, bringing the movie into the series' main continuity.[22]

Controversies

[edit]

The show has been criticized for its political nature due to it effectively functioning aspolitical advertising forVolodymyr Zelensky.Kvartal 95 also registered apolitical party of the same name as the show, and their televised campaign announcements have been viewed as strategic political moves rather than mere promotion of a TV show.[23][24]

Language use inServant of the People has generated further controversy. As a primarily Russian-language series, the show has ignited debate overcultural identity. Many Ukrainians found it troubling to see a major national series nominally set inUkraine rendered largely inRussian.[23]

Internationally, the series has been deemed too politically provocative for reconciliation. In Russia, it was pulled from broadcast—an act viewed as state-drivencensorship.Russian media has mocked the series as a symbol of dangerous ideas taking root in Ukrainian society, inverting the concept of service to power.[25]

Impact

[edit]

2019

[edit]

Zelenskyy would later mirror his character's rise to political power by beingelected President of Ukraine in 2019. After his victory was announced, Zelenskyy walked onto the stage at his campaign headquarters with the show's theme playing.[26]

2022

[edit]

In the wake of the2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and Zelenskyy's wartime leadership, the show's popularity received a notable boost.Broadcasting rights have been requested by various foreign companies.[27] On March 16, Netflix announced that season 1 of the series would be available to US streamers again due to popular demand.[28][29][30] On May 16, Netflix added the 2nd and 3rd seasons.[15]

Broadcasting rights

[edit]

In 2022, Zelenskyy, serving as president during theRussian invasion of Ukraine, received international attention, which corresponded with increased interest in the series.

Remakes

[edit]

An American remake ofServant of the People was ordered byHulu, with British writerSimon Farnaby involved in its development, but the show was later shelved.[54] After the premiere of the original show, the rights to create aPoland-based remake were bought byOkil Khamidov; however, no film studios showed interest. In 2022, in the wake of theRussian invasion of Ukraine and Zelenskyy's wartime leadership, the popularity of the original show increased internationally, causingPolsat, a Polish television network, to express interest in the remake's creation and to begin its production. This show, also titledServant of the People, premiered on 4 March 2023. It was created by Khamidov, directed by Khamidov and Maciej Bieliński, produced by Polot Media, and distributed by Polsat. It currently features one season of 24 episodes, with a second season in production.[55][56] Khamidov sent the first episode of the series to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who reportedly approved of it.[57]

See also

[edit]
Portals:
  • Man of the Year (2006), American film with a similar concept, starringRobin Williams as a talk show host who is elected president following an offhanded remark.
  • Welcome Mr. President (2013), Italian film with similar concept, starringClaudio Bisio as a librarian who is elected president due to a joke vote.
  • Mudhalvan (1999) andNayak: The Real Hero (2001), Indian political action films in which a TV journalist is challenged to take over the Chief Minister's job for a day.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^Ukrainian:Слуга Народу,romanizedSluha Narodu,IPA:[sɫuˈɦɑnɐˈrɔdʊ]

References

[edit]
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  3. ^abcKao, Anthony (6 June 2017)."Ukraine's 'Servant of the People' is a hidden gem of political comedy".Cinema Escapist. Retrieved25 August 2017.
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  7. ^"Межа жарту. Як Зеленський готується до виборів".Українська правда (in Ukrainian). Retrieved28 October 2025.
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  41. ^Πρεμιέρα για τον Υπηρέτη του Λαού: Τι τηλεθέαση έκανε η σειρά του Ζελένσκι [Premiere for the Servant of the People: What audience ratings the TV series starring Zelensky performed].dikaiologitika.gr (in Greek). Retrieved8 March 2022.
  42. ^"Az RTL Klubra érkezik Volodimir Zelenszkij vígjátéksorozata" [Volodymyr Zelensky's comedy series arrives at RTL Klub].rtl.hu (in Hungarian). 10 March 2022. Retrieved1 April 2022.
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  46. ^Gonçalves, Bruna (24 March 2022)."Série cómica de Zelensky vai mesmo chegar a Portugal (e só o trailer faz rir até doer a barriga)" [Zelensky's comic series will even come to Portugal (and the trailer alone will make you laugh until your belly hurts)].MAGG (in Portuguese). Retrieved20 April 2022.
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  49. ^"Mediaset España adquiere los derechos de emisión de 'Servidor del pueblo', la serie que lanzó la carrera política del presidente ucraniano" [Mediaset España acquires the broadcasting rights for 'Servant of the People', the series that launched the political career of the Ukrainian president].Mediaset (in Spanish). 17 March 2022.
  50. ^"SVT visar Zelenskyjs serie 'Folkets tjänare'" [SVT shows Zelenskyy's series 'Servant of the People'].Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 29 March 2022.
  51. ^"Ramadan 2022: La série du président Ukrainien Volodymyr Zelensky sera diffusée sur Hannibal TV" [Ramadan 2022: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's series will air on Hannibal TV].Tekiano (in French). 7 March 2022.
  52. ^Kemp, Ellie (6 March 2022)."How to watch Servant of the People comedy series in full in the UK".Manchester Evening News.
  53. ^"Servant of the People - All 4".Channel 4. Retrieved20 March 2022.
  54. ^"Kermode and Mayo's Film Review - Simon Farnaby, The Phantom of the Open, Paris 13th District, Master, X, Deep Water and Three Floors".BBC Sounds. 18 March 2022.
  55. ^"Polsat stawia na "Sługę Narodu". Ruszają zdjęcia do drugiej serii".wirtualnemedia.pl (in Polish). 14 June 2023.
  56. ^"Polsat podjął decyzję. Wiadomo, co dalej ze "Sługą Narodu"".teleshow.wp.pl (in Polish). 14 June 2023.
  57. ^"Zelensky praises Polish version of 'Servant of the People'".polskieradio.pl. 5 March 2023.

External links

[edit]
6thPresident of Ukraine (2019–present)
Presidency
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Entertainment career
(Kvartal 95 Studio)
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Directed
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