The new Netflix limited series Vladimir is designed to make viewers feel slightly uneasy—and according to its creators, that reaction is entirely intentional.
The show stars Rachel Weisz and Leo Woodall and relies heavily on a storytelling technique in which the main character speaks directly to the camera. This approach pulls viewers into the story, making them feel both involved and uncertain about what they are witnessing.
However, the series adds a unique twist to the familiar device. Creator Julia May Jonas says audiences should not necessarily trust everything the protagonist says.
Jonas, who adapted the series from her own 2022 novel, explained that the idea of an unreliable narrator was central to portraying the character’s complex and chaotic inner world.
“One of the reasons I became interested in adapting it was the idea that her direct address could have a different tone than what we usually see,” Jonas said, noting that the character is intentionally unreliable.
Traditionally, when characters address the audience directly—such as in Shakespearean theatre—they reveal the truth behind events. But Jonas intentionally reverses that concept in Vladimir.
“Most direct addresses are like turning to the audience and saying, ‘This is the real truth,’” she explained. “Here, we have someone who is actually trying to shape or spin the truth in front of you.”
This subtle shift keeps viewers questioning what is real and what might simply reflect the professor’s obsession, particularly her fascination with a colleague named Vladimir.
Jonas added that the storytelling approach creates a sense of uncertainty for viewers.
“There’s a bit of insecurity for the audience about whether she’s being honest with you, or how deluded she might actually be,” she said.
As a result, the series invites audiences to pay close attention—because the narrative may be influencing them just as much as it does the characters within the story.
