Picture: (L to R) Rachel Weisz as M and Leo Woodall as Vladimir – Netflix
Julia May Jonas’ best-selling provocative novel 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 May Jonas, who also wrote the 2022 novel on which the series is based. Kate Robin, who was a writer on the Netflix series Dead to Me, serves as showrunner. The series boasts an all-star cast, spearheaded by Academy Award-winning actress Rachel Weisz (The Mummy, The Constant Gardener) and Leo Woodall (One Day, The White Lotus). Supporting cast members include Jessica Henwick (Glass Onion, Iron Fist) and John Slattery (Mad Men, Nuremberg).
Vladimir follows an unnamed English literature professor in her late 50s (Weisz), who is herself a struggling writer. The series chronicles her lustful obsession with her new, handsome younger colleague, Vladimir (Woodall). The longer she spends time with him, the more intense her unhinged and outlandish fantasies become. The flirtation and chemistry between them are undeniably palpable. Our protagonist is in an open relationship with husband John (Slattery), who’s in trouble for sleeping around with students before regulations outlawed his acts. Both our protagonist and John have a daughter, Sidney (Ellen Robertson), an outspoken lawyer who returns home and finds herself in the midst of her parents’ struggles. Meanwhile, Vladimir himself is in a healthy relationship with his wife Cynthia (Henwick), and they have a child of their own.
Is Vladimir ‘just being nice’ to our protagonist — or does he feel the same way as she does? Cue the spiciest Netflix show of 2026 so far.
From the outset, Vladimir makes a couple of unusual and quirky creative choices. Firstly, Rachel Weisz’s character is never actually named. This was a strange artistic choice; the show doesn’t necessarily gain anything by not naming its protagonist, but it doesn’t lose anything either. Perhaps, with the narrative being so tightly told from her POV, the need to name her directly felt unnecessary.
That brings me to the second point: our protagonist’s strict POV. She breaks the fourth wall constantly and provides a lot of narration. This creative technique, on the other hand, was a very welcome addition, adding humour. The fourth-wall breaking absolutely works, allowing Weisz to showcase her brilliant personality and wit, directly to the audience. We’re taken inside the mind of a woman who’s feeling unlike herself, and we experience what she feels as a 50-something who no longer feels sexually desired. It dives into the complications of lust, tacking the tangles of desire and envy.
All the other characters are portrayed from our protagonist’s perspective, not least her colleague Vladimir. Despite being many years his senior, she falls deeply and unapologetically in love with him at first sight, with the show visually playing out her sexual fantasies. It adds spice to otherwise mundane scenes, such as cooking dinner or daydreaming during a mind-numbingly boring faculty meeting. These intense cutaways, blended with Weisz’s narration and fourth-wall-breaking, feel intrusive in the best way.
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. At times, it feels like the writers have shackled the character. He’s very much a paragon of perfection and virtue, someone completely desirable and loved by everyone. Granted, the perspective we see is almost always from our protagonist’s point of view, who sees him through rose-tinted glasses.
The casting team played a blinder on this show. Weisz is outstanding as the lead, and Woodall plays the role of a fun and flirtatious young professor brilliantly. Plus, of course, John Slattery returns to a hedonistic and cynical style of character he knows exceedingly well — who better to cast than him?
The plot itself and the pacing are strong enough. However, this is a narrative that’ll grip you through personality and charm rather than heavy plotting. The ‘will they, won’t they‘ dynamic between our protagonist and Vladimir is easy to guess and offers nothing original. The strength of the series comes from the charisma and aura of Rachel Weisz’s character as she keeps digging herself into a deeper hole.
The ending won’t blow you away, nor will it leave you wanting more. I don’t find myself breathlessly awaiting news of a renewal. And yet, I ended Vladimir with more than enough satisfaction. It’s not Netflix’s strongest romantic drama, but it’s still a solid, highly entertaining watch.
MVP
VLADIMIR. Rachel Weisz as M in Episode 107 of Vladimir. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2026
Rachel Weisz — An all-round standout performance, Weisz brings an infectious seductiveness to the series through terrific energy, charisma and charm. From a range of intense scenes to intentionally breaking the fourth wall, her style is endlessly entertaining.
Watch Vladimir on Netflix if you like:
- Dark Desire
- Bridget Jones
- Obsession
Verdict
Star Rachel Weisz has previously described the series as “a heightened fairy tale,” and while it certainly carries a romance that’s pure fantasy, that description feels perhaps a little too gratuitous. Vladimir is an obsessively entertaining, highly comedic, indulgent romp. If that’s what you’re looking for, this show is for you.
