KGB v smokinge (2005– ) User Reviews

Between a rock and a hard place or Scout Runners

[lyubitelfilmov · 6/10 · 18 January 2021]

An adventurous adventure. A screen adaptation of the book of the same name by the Israeli writer and journalist of Soviet origin Yosef Chagall, who wrote the script here. For the book I have nothing to say, since I have not seen it in my eyes, therefore I will evaluate the series as an independent work. A series from childhood, which I watched on TV, and even remembered several vivid episodes from there, although then I did not have such knowledge as I do now to appreciate this creation of Oleg Fomin, who also starred here as an actor in a far from last role ... And here's my brief opinion - Between a rock and a hard place. The series has both expressive advantages and disadvantages that greatly interfere with viewing. On that happy note, let your humble servant finish with the introduction and get down to the details. So, the advantages: 1. Scenario - the series tells us about Valentina Maltseva, a chatty and extremely quirky journalist who stuck her nose where she shouldn't - and as a result - she was recruited into the KGB and sent on a mission. Everything is not going very smoothly there, and then it started. The death sentence from the KGB, the interest of the CIA, even the Mossad got involved. Love, old friends and casual acquaintances. The script was clearly worked out and in the end it works. They twirled dashingly, there is nothing to say. After watching one episode, you immediately want to watch the next, then again and again, and so on until the very end. The intrigue, the viewer, like the heroine, does not fully understand why there is so much noise around Maltseva. Why are the three largest intelligence services in the world hunting for her? What could she possibly know? After all, a fool is a fool who always has to get out of trouble. Frames, tricks, shootouts - to your delight. Political games of the mighty of this world and pawns who follow orders or die. If you want to watch a series with a twisted script, then you definitely should come here! 2. Places of action - together with Maltseva we will visit Latin America, Europe on both sides of the "iron curtain" and, of course, in the Soviet Union, even in the personal office of the chairman of the KGB Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov on Lubyanka. Moreover, everything was filmed on location, so the viewer believes in the authenticity of what is happening. Here and there monuments of history and culture will slip through. 3. Humor - which comes mainly from Maltseva, who jokes and makes fun of everything that happens, and can not be silent at the crucial moment. At first, it even annoyed me, but later I realized that without her witticisms and freaks, this series would simply not exist, well, or it would be boring, if about garlic. Other heroes also joke from time to time, but Maltseva is strange in a cube. 4. Maltseva - I will single out our main character as a separate item, because our stupid adventurer deserves it. Her twists and turns are brilliant, although I have already said that. Nevertheless, it definitely deserved. 5. Music - half of it is good, the other half is not. So the disadvantages: 1. Finale - when will the series be admitted, which will end normally and logically? Will it ever be? Why do all TV shows have such an eternal problem? Tell me what happened to the characters I followed in sixteen episodes? Am I asking a lot? Like no? What a scam? 2. Boring beginning - the first two episodes are frankly boring and uninteresting, if not for my principle, I would not have watched it to the end. And not everyone is capable of this. And they look pretty budgetary. 3. Betrayal or not? - Has Maltseva betrayed the country or not? What happened after the finale? And don't refer to the book. I still do not understand, I was worried about the whole series for a traitor or a victim of circumstances who got into trouble? 4. KGB - the creators drew a picture for us that everyone in the KGB worked out of the bargain or because of the use of threats against loved ones, and the recruitment methods are frankly one-sided, as if a carbon copy. But in the CIA - manna from heaven, they even take them to a restaurant, and even after interrogation they won't show the paper. Well, straight angels on the wings of the stars and stripes. How can I put it mildly? I do not even know! Maybe nonsense! Lies! Lying! Do not tell my horseshoes, as the horse Julius said. How did the KGB annoy Chagall? Probably not allowed into Israel. Oh so, well then it all fits. Not a very patriotic series turned out. Rather, it's a story of running errands for intelligence with a touch of romance. A little about the main characters: 1. Valentina Maltseva, performed by Ekaterina Volkova, is a young and ambitious journalist who, having put her nose into someone else's business, could not even imagine that soon she would become not only a KGB agent, but also an adventurer, followed by a herd of men from several intelligence services. Smart, witty, with a good sense of humor. The whole series was kept on Maltseva, and she - on Ekaterina Volkova, who performed this role just brilliantly! 2. Mishin performed by Oleg Fomin - KGB lieutenant colonel, later a fugitive, like Maltsev. A school friend who helps his old girlfriend more than once. An excellently trained professional who is almost impossible to catch. Oleg played this role no less convincingly. Well done! 3. Eugene performed by Ville Haapasalo is a CIA agent who fell in love with Maltseva, which endangers not only his career, but can also harm the political field for his country. He is polite, courteous, caring, knows how to be convincing. Sometimes capable of insanity. I liked Ville here, he was convincing, our hot Finnish guy. Yes, and there are shootouts, and filmed pretty well, and chases. Despite the obvious shortcomings, I still recommend looking. As a result, we have a good adventure-adventure series about the misadventures of a KGB agent, with a good script, good music, an entertaining main character, not devoid of flaws, and good acting work. My rating is 6 out of 10 and my recommendation for viewing!

A good spy yarn

[al1-571-220909 · 8/10 · 2 November 2009]

The plot was riveting and the international scope was very welcome in a day when most plots take place in just one country.

I particularly liked the way the heroin was hooked into being a spy and the constant twists and turns that kept her hopping to understand and keep up with the threats against her.

I recommend it for people who like a good spy or mystery.

The book itself has been translated into English as "KGB in High Heels".

Available as an electronic book at AKW Books. I don't think it's available anywhere else, but if anyone knows, chime in.