Детективы

Synopsis

Set in mid-2000s Moscow, Detektivy (Detectives) follows two veteran investigators—Commissioner Sergei Makarov (Igor Ivanov) and his younger partner Viktoria Lebedeva—as they navigate a city rife with corruption, organized crime, and personal vendettas. Each episode presents a self-contained case—from high-profile murder investigations to white-collar fraud schemes—while an overarching storyline explores Makarov’s struggle to balance the letter of the law against the grim realities of his beat. Against the backdrop of gleaming offices and shadowy back alleys, the series delves into moral ambiguity: officers must decide how far they’re willing to bend rules in pursuit of justice. As the duo uncovers tangled conspiracies that reach into Russia’s power corridors, they learn that every lead has a cost. With gritty cinematography, atmospheric score, and procedurals grounded in forensic detail, Detektivy offers both tense crime drama and a portrait of a society in transition, where the pursuit of truth often collides with entrenched interests.

Cast

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  Igor Ivanov

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  Elena Kollegova

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  Evgeniya Bordzilovskaya

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  Evgeny Valts

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  Irina Vilkova

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  Nina Kurpyakova

Reviews

Detektivy has received a largely muted response outside Russia, but domestic ratings paint a picture of modest appeal. On IMDb it holds a 6.3/10 rating based on 1,248 user votes, reflecting a mix of praise for its leads and criticism of its formulaic plots. “A gritty, authentic take on post-Soviet policing,” writes IMDb user SvetlanaM, while CrimeFan89 adds, “Compelling procedural with strong leads, though it occasionally falls back on clichés.” The Russian film portal KinoPoisk gives the series a 6.7/10, with many commenters applauding Igor Ivanov’s steady, world-weary portrayal of Commissioner Makarov but noting that some episodes overuse familiar genre tropes. Professional criticism is sparse: Argumenty i Fakty’s television section lauded the show’s atmospheric Moscow backdrops and believable procedural detail but faulted it for predictable story arcs and uneven pacing. Unlike major Western series, Detektivy did not secure a Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic score, indicating limited international exposure. Niche blogs highlight its value for viewers seeking a window into Russian law enforcement culture, whereas some viewers find the lack of character development outside the central duo diminishes its overall impact.