We've been watching this on Netflix and it is pretty amazing on a number of counts.

First of all, Kiev was a heartbreakingly beautiful, magnificent city. It is a little hard to watch the show knowing the splendid architecture and statuary may be lying in ruins now. If there weren't a war on Ukraine, mr. pique and i would be saying, "hey, let's go to kiev!" after all that is where my grandfather grew up.

Second, the weirdness of seeing the character of the naive history teacher become the president of Ukraine, played by the comedian who actually became the president of Ukraine.

Third. The show is a political farce. It lampoons the corruption that must have been self-evident to the average Ukrainian. Zelensky's character is wonderfully unpredictable as you never know when he's going to play along with the political game or say something that freaks out the oligarchs but endears him to the Narod.

Fourth. Zelensky comes across as principled and loveable, and the show was a huge hit. i can see how it gave him a platform to win the election. but do Ukrainians really believe Zelensky the actor is the same guy he played on this show? Don't they realize that his lines came from writers, not from him?

There is a scene several episodes in, that is horribly prescient of what may have actually spurred Putin to attack. Having to do with Zelensky's character, Vasily, not going along with the oligarch's playbook.

Is anyone else here watching this? Would love to hear your impressions.

Especially, do you think Zelensky is playing a role still?

eta: i am enjoying hearing Russian again so much!