Best Russian TV Shows on Netflix and Amazon Prime (2018)

1. Silver Spoon (Мажор)

This unique crime drama, beloved in its home country, was the first Russian television show to be acquired by Netflix. Forced to become an apprentice cop, spoiled rich kid Igor finds he’s got a knack for police work. But his job soon takes him down a dark personal path.

Interesting commentary on the decadent lifestyle of the kids of Russia’s oligarchs as well as the country’s endemic corruption. Мажор is set in Moscow, but the first season was filmed in Kiev. The second season was filmed in St. Petersburg and Moscow.

Personal note: I saw star Pavel Priluchnyy on the streets of St. Petersburg in 2018 filming the latest season, and he is even more handsome in real life! *swoons* 😉

2. The Method (Метод)

Slick serial killer crime show that’s a Russian adaptation of Dexter. This dark psychological thriller follows a brilliant young graduate who is elated when her idol takes her on as a trainee. But his methods are much more disturbing than she imagined…

3. Fartsa (Фарца)

This bright, energetic series suffers from an unfortunate name, but provides a colorful glimpse of Russia in the early ’60s. As four friends grow up, life, love, and the curse of success threaten to derail their dreams.

4. The Sniffer (Нюхач)

Fun Russian-language detective series shot in the Ukraine but set in an unnamed Russian city. An extraordinary sense of smell gives a crime investigator unique insight into solving mysteries, but his gift takes a toll on his personal life.

1. The Red Queen (Красная королева)

This fascinating Russian drama set in the Cold War era follows the meteoric rise of Regina Zbarskaya from a humble cleaner to the first Soviet supermodel. But who was the Red Queen? Was she queen of the catwalk or a KGB agent seducing foreign diplomats?

2. Ekaterina: The Rise of Catherine the Great (Екатерина)

Lavish production that traces the sensational rise of one of the most famous women in history, Catherine the Great. Ekaterina begins her journey as an innocent young German princess who came to Russia to marry Peter III. Once she ascended the throne, this brilliant leader transformed the Russian empire. Spectacular sets and costumes.

3. Sophia (Софи́я)

This historical drama set in 15th-century Russia follows Sophia, the last Byzantine princess, as she moves from Rome to Moscow to marry Czar Ivan III. Destined to become the first influential female figure of the Russian Empire, Sophia overcomes court intrigue and betrayals and helps Ivan consolidate the fragmented country, push Mongolian invaders out, and build the Kremlin.

This lush production does suffer from some factual inaccuracies and is best viewed as historical fiction.

4. Detective Anna (Анна – Детективъ)

Note: No English subtitles available for trailer

Amazon has finally added all episodes of Season 1 of this nineteenth-century murder mystery about nineteen-year-old Anna, who unexpectedly discovers that she possesses supernatural powers. The spirits of the dead literally haunt her, begging for help.

Aided by her visions, Anna manages to investigate and solve a number of mysterious crimes that have baffled the police. Read more about Detective Anna.