Netflix’s ‘Vladimir’ Review: Rachel Weisz Headlines One of many Raunchiest Romances of 2026

Characterize: (L to R) Rachel Weisz as M and Leo Woodall as Vladimir – Netflix

Julia Would maybe perchance additionally Jonas’ only-promoting inviting original Vladimir has arrived on Netflix in an all-new 8-episode series headlined by Rachel Weisz and Leo Woodall.

Netflix’s latest romantic comedy, Vladimir, is created by Julia Would maybe perchance additionally Jonas, who also wrote the 2022 original on which the series relies mostly. Kate Robin, who used to be a author on the Netflix series Unimaginative to Me, serves as showrunner.  The series boasts an all-star solid, spearheaded by Academy Award-successful actress Rachel Weisz (The Mummy, The Constant Gardener) and Leo Woodall (One Day, The White Lotus). Supporting solid members encompass Jessica Henwick (Glass Onion, Iron Fist) and John Slattery (Enraged Males, Nuremberg).

Vladimir follows an unnamed English literature professor in her leisurely 50s (Weisz), who is herself a struggling author. The series chronicles her lustful obsession alongside with her new, subtle younger colleague, Vladimir (Woodall). The longer she spends time with him, the extra intense her unhinged and queer fantasies change into. The flirtation and chemistry between them are undeniably palpable. Our protagonist is in an originate relationship with husband John (Slattery), who’s in concern for drowsing round with college students prior to guidelines outlawed his acts. Both our protagonist and John like a daughter, Sidney (Ellen Robertson), an outspoken attorney who returns dwelling and finds herself in the center of her folks’ struggles. Within the period in-between, Vladimir himself is in a healthy relationship alongside with his considerable other Cynthia (Henwick), and so they like got reasonably one amongst their very like.

Is Vladimir ‘elegant being nice’ to our protagonist — or does he in actuality feel the identical technique as she does? Cue the spiciest Netflix mask of 2026 to this level.

From the outset, Vladimir makes about a irregular and quirky inventive selections. At the birth, Rachel Weisz’s character is rarely ever essentially named. This used to be a irregular inventive need; the mask doesn’t essentially construct the relaxation by not naming its protagonist, however it doesn’t lose the relaxation either. Presumably, with the story being so tightly told from her POV, the must title her straight felt needless.

That brings me to the second level: our protagonist’s strict POV. She breaks the fourth wall continuously and provides somewhat loads of narration. This inventive technique, on the assorted hand, used to be a in actuality welcome increase, adding humour. The fourth-wall breaking absolutely works, allowing Weisz to showcase her inviting personality and wit, straight to the audience. We’re taken all over the mind of a girl who’s feeling not like herself, and we experience what she feels as a 50-one thing who not feels sexually desired. It dives into the considerations of lust, tacking the tangles of need and envy.

All the assorted characters are portrayed from our protagonist’s level of view, not least her colleague Vladimir. No topic being a long time his senior, she falls deeply and unapologetically in esteem with him at the birth sight, with the mask visually enjoying out her sexual fantasies. It adds spice to otherwise mundane scenes, reminiscent of cooking dinner or daydreaming all over a mind-numbingly dreary college assembly. These intense cutaways, blended with Weisz’s narration and fourth-wall-breaking, in actuality feel intrusive in the easiest technique.

VLADIMIR. (L to R) Rachel Weisz as M and Leo Woodall as Vladimir in Episode 102 of Vladimir. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2026

Vladimir himself lacks the contagiously offbeat, irreverent personality of our protagonist. Now and then, it feels devour the writers like shackled the character. He’s very considerable a paragon of perfection and advantage, any individual utterly wise and loved by each person. Granted, the perspective we analysis is nearly continuously from our protagonist’s level of factor in, who sees him through rose-tinted glasses.

The casting group performed a blinder on this mask. Weisz is prominent as the lead, and Woodall plays the role of a fun and flirtatious younger professor brilliantly. Plus, of course, John Slattery returns to a hedonistic and cynical kind of character he is aware of exceedingly effectively — who better to solid than him?

The place itself and the pacing are stable ample. Nonetheless, right here’s a story that’ll grip you through personality and appeal in must heavy plotting. The ‘will they, won’t they‘ dynamic between our protagonist and Vladimir is easy to wager and provides nothing customary. The strength of the series comes from the charisma and charisma of Rachel Weisz’s character as she keeps digging herself correct into a deeper gap.

The ending won’t blow you away, nor will it leave you looking extra. I don’t find myself breathlessly waiting for news of a renewal. And but, I ended Vladimir with bigger than ample satisfaction. It’s not Netflix’s strongest romantic drama, however it’s silent a solid, extremely inviting understanding.

MVP VLADIMIR. Rachel Weisz as M in Episode 107 of Vladimir. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2026

Rachel Weisz — An all-round standout efficiency, Weisz brings an infectious seductiveness to the series through terrific energy, charisma and appeal. From a range of intense scenes to deliberately breaking the fourth wall, her sort is forever inviting.

Ogle Vladimir on Netflix ought to you devour:

Darkish Desire Bridget Jones Obsession Verdict Megastar Rachel Weisz has previously described the series as “a heightened fairy anecdote,” and whereas it absolutely carries a romance that’s pure delusion, that description feels seemingly reasonably too gratuitous. Vladimir is an obsessively inviting, extremely comedic, indulgent romp. If that’s what you’re taking a survey, this mask is for you.