25 Russian TV series in the detective thriller genre

Witch Doctor (2019)

• Genre: drama, melodrama
• Number of episodes: 16
• Rating: KinoPoisk – 7.5, IMDb – 6.8
• The main locations were various hospitals in St. Petersburg.

Pavel Andreev always dreamed of becoming a famous neurosurgeon. Having successfully graduated from the university, the main character gets a job at a hospital. The man immediately has a competitor, Sergei Strelnikov, with whom he previously studied. Tense relationships in a new place are already familiar conditions, but Andreev’s personal life is a complete mess. One day he falls in love with the daughter of his boss Nikolai Semenov, who asked him to perform a complex operation and remove an advanced tumor. Pavel agrees, and after a while something terrible happens to him: as a result of an accident, he loses his memory...

Details about the series

River

Genre: drama, crime, detective When released: 2015 IMDb rating: 8.00 Cast: Stellan Skarsgård, Nicola Walker, Lesley Manville, Eddie Marsan

What it's about: A police detective's battle with his demons

A mystical series about a policeman who is really tormented by the souls of the murdered victims whose cases he is involved in.

The hero wants to get rid of this terrible gift, because it interferes with his work and causes monstrous pain.

Search the series on Google

Method (2015)

• Genre: thriller, drama, crime
• Number of episodes in season 1: 16
• Rating: KinoPoisk – 8.0, IMDb – 7.4
• All the cases that Rodion Meglin is investigating are based on real events.

“Method” is one of the most interesting Russian series with a high rating. Rodion Meglin is an investigator of the highest level, who in his youth discovered the strange tendencies of a maniac, but with the help of psychologists he managed to get rid of this pathology. Having overcome his congenital defects, the man gets a job in the police. He solves even the most complicated cases with ease, because he has his own secret method of finding criminals. A detective can easily predict the behavior of a maniac. He was used to working alone, without revealing the secrets of his method. But one day, law school graduate Yesenya becomes Rodion’s trainee and learns about the intricacies of a detective’s work.

Details about season 2

Eureka

Genre: fantasy, drama, romance, comedy, adventure When released: 2006-2012 IMDb rating: 7.90 Cast: Colin Ferguson, Sally Richardson-Whitfield, Erica Serra, Neil Grayston

What: a mysterious story about an unusual city and its inhabitants

Eureka is a closed city whose inhabitants are scientists working on new research in a variety of fields.

An ordinary sheriff accidentally ends up in this city, who is left to maintain order and solve problems associated with unsuccessful experiments and the behavior of locals.

Search the series on Google

Better than people (2018-2019)

• Genre: drama, fantasy
• Number of episodes: 24
• Rating: KinoPoisk – 6.9, IMDb – 7.4
• “Better than People” is an analogue of the successful foreign project “People”.

“Better Than People” is a long series with many episodes. The future has finally arrived! Almost every person can afford to buy a mechanical assistant - a robot. At first, designed to replace people in space, mines and heavy production, they quickly penetrated into homes: they wake you up in the morning, make delicious coffee, work as nannies, act as personal drivers and even raise children. It seemed that a rosy and carefree future had arrived, but not everyone was happy about the new neighbors. Some “Liquidators” are ready to destroy the bots...

Details about the series

The Missing

Genre: drama, crime, detective When released: 2014 IMDb rating: 8.20 Cast: Tchéky Karyo, Anastasia Hill, David Morrissey, Keeley Hawes

What: An intense search for a missing boy

During the World Cup, a British family loses their young son in a crowd of football fans in France.

The child was never found, and the family fell apart. But 8 years later, the father finds a French detective, with whom they discover evidence that the boy may still be alive.

Search the series on Google

Consultant (2016 – 2018)

• Genre: detective, drama
• How many episodes were released: 20
• Rating: KinoPoisk – 7.3
• In preparation for his role, actor Kirill Kyaro consulted with real forensic psychologists.

The maniac brutally dealt with his victims in a small town for a long time. Local investigator Oleg Bragin is confident that he has caught the same killer whom he has been tracking for ten years. At this time, on behalf of the top leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, expert consultant Vyacheslav Shirokov, specializing in deviations in human behavior, comes from the capital to Pridonsk. The man declares that Bragin was mistaken, and an innocent man is in the dock. Is the maniac still calmly walking free in search of his next victim?

Details about season 2

Former

• 2016 - present.
• Drama.
• Duration: 2 seasons.
• IMDb: 6.9; Kinopoisk: 7.3.

The main character of the series, Yana, is trying to get rid of drug and alcohol addiction in a rehabilitation clinic.
In addition, the girl has serious problems with her corrupt father: it was he who sent her for treatment. At the clinic, Yana visits psychologist-consultant Ilya, who also once suffered from alcoholism. He wants to support the girl on the road to recovery, but Yana is not always ready to accept help. To reliably convey the state of addiction, the lead actress Lyubov Aksyonova studied specialized literature, watched thematic films and talked with patients in rehabilitation clinics.

Y'all are pissing me off (2017)

• Genre: comedy
• Number of episodes: 20
• Rating: KinoPoisk – 7.8, IMDb – 8.0
• It was planned that the series would be released under the title “Bitch.”

Journalist of a popular city publication Sonya Bagretsova is not known for her friendliness and sociability. Everyone pisses her off. The girl prefers to spend her evenings at home, in the company of hot coffee and an exciting book. She hates empty and useless chatter with random acquaintances. But there is one way that can make Sonya the kindest and sweetest person in the world - a drop of alcohol. Knowing about her “illness,” the heroine tries to avoid wild parties and alcoholic parties. But one day at the opening of a restaurant, Bagretsova got so drunk that now her new boyfriend, Kirill, and her chatty work colleague, Katya, can’t get enough of her. How can I explain to the “attachers” so that they will unhook from her?

Review

Genre: Comedy When released: 2014 IMDb rating: 8.30 Cast: Andrew Daly, Jessica St. Claire, Megan Stevenson, Michael Kroner

What: the story of a real blogger

How far can you go when coming up with themes for your TV show? Forrest McNeil has no such questions. He just constantly risks his health and life by trying all sorts of things.

Is it possible to become superman? How to engage in lewd behavior in a crowded place? What does it cost to go through a divorce? McNeil's show will answer these questions.

Search the series on Google

Bloody Lady (2018)

• Genre: history, drama
• Number of episodes: 16
• Rating: KinoPoisk – 7.0, IMDb – 5.9
• Filming of the series took place in Kostroma, Rostov and Moscow.

18th century, a terrible time of serfdom. At the center of the story is the famous lady Daria Saltykova, better known as Saltychikha. As a child, the girl’s mother died, and she closed herself off, didn’t want to talk to anyone and behaved very strangely. The father did not bother raising his own daughter and sent her to a nunnery. Once free, the girl got married and gave birth to two sons. After the death of her husband, Daria again decides to imprison herself in the Troitskoye estate near Moscow. Here she behaves as if she had been possessed by a demon: Saltychikha goes on rampages and terrifies her entourage. Over the course of several years, she sent more than a hundred serfs to the next world...

Legal doping (2013)

Lyudmila Primakova is a biathlete. Despite daily training and adherence to the regime, the girl fails to win at the next international competition. Desperate, she decides to find a legal doping for herself, thanks to which she will become the best in all respects and thus overtake her competitors. And indeed, soon, together with her adored husband, she finds a way to win future Olympic gold. Lyudmila decides to become pregnant, which activates hidden reserves in her body. However, over time, she has to make a difficult choice: a career as an athlete, or a child and her beloved husband...

ALGERIA. (2018)

• Genre: history, drama
• How many episodes were released: 11
• Rating: KinoPoisk – 7.0
• The series is based on real stories of women who ended up in the Akmola camp for the wives of traitors.

The plot of the film revolves around Stalin's women's camp, in which more than eight thousand women were kept. Among them were the wives of writers Boris Pilnyak, Arkady Gaidar, the sister of Marshal Tukhachevsky and others who did not please the state for various reasons. At the center of the plot is the wife of the aircraft designer Olga Pavlova, arrested as ChSIR - Member of the Families of Traitors of the Motherland, and Sofya Ashaturova, who was imprisoned following the denunciation of her rival. The girls meet on the prison train, where a difficult life begins for them, to which they will have to adapt.

Call DiCaprio! (2018)

• Genre: Comedy, Drama
• Number of episodes: 8
• Rating: KinoPoisk – 7.0, IMDb – 6.9
• The final episode of the series was shown on December 1 on the TNT-PREMIER platform - AIDS Day. The authors of the project believed that in this way they would be able to attract more attention to the current problem.

Egor Rumyantsev is the star of a popular television series about doctors who does not want to listen to anyone and lives only for himself. Inspired by great success, he goes off the rails: he constantly lies to everyone, disrupts filming, and engages in sexual relations. The guy lives high until he finds out that he has HIV. The complete opposite is brother Lev, also an actor, but unlucky. The young man works on the Ant-TV channel, where he hosts a boring program about useful crafts. Lev lives in a tiny apartment with two daughters and a pregnant wife. A typical loser is terribly jealous of his brother, because he understands that he has no prospects. One day he gets a lucky chance to take the place of a star relative...

Epidemic (2019)

• Genre: drama, fantasy, thriller
• How many episodes were released: 8
• Rating: KinoPoisk – 7.1, IMDb – 6.5
• The world premiere of the film took place at the CanneSeries international festival.

“Epidemic” is an exciting Russian series that will amaze you from the first episode. A terrible virus has turned Moscow into a city of the dead. There is no electricity, and survivors are desperately fighting for water, food and gasoline. Sergei, his girlfriend and his autistic son live outside the city, where it is still safe. The main character cannot leave his ex-wife and child, so he goes to Moscow and miraculously saves them. On the way, they are joined by Sergei's father and an impudent couple with a baby in their arms. These people would never have ended up under the same roof, but a common misfortune brought them together. And now they will have to go on a deadly journey filled with dangers. Their goal is to get to a hunting lodge located on a desert island.

Great

• 2015
• Historical drama.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 6.5; Kinopoisk: 7.6.

Do not confuse it with the English-language series of the same name starring Elle Fanning. Although they are dedicated to one historical figure - Catherine II - they tell about her in completely different ways. American “The Great” is a satire that does not pretend to be authentic (the creators state this at the very beginning). The Russian “Great” is a drama that the creators tried to make historically accurate. The script of the series is based on archival documents - memoirs and diaries, including those of Catherine II herself.

“The Great” is a very expensive, and therefore very beautiful series: the creators did not skimp on costumes or scenery. The rental of premises alone cost about 250,000 rubles for one shooting day.

Teach me to live (2016)

• Genre: detective
• Number of episodes: 12
• Rating: KinoPoisk – 7.7
• Psychiatrist Nikolai Nemts prepared actor Kirill Kyaro for his role.

In the city, on a playground, the body of a young woman dressed in 1970s fashion is found. Investigator Rita Storozheva takes on the investigation of the complicated case, and she will be assisted by professional psychiatrist Ilya Lavrov, who has already participated in the capture of maniacs in the past. It turns out that 25 years ago a similar series of murders with the same style was solved. During the investigation, tense relations arise between Lavrov and Storozheva. The heroes decide to meet with detective Puchkov, who was working on this case, but for some reason he refuses to help them and at the same time behaves extremely strangely. Ilya and Rita decide to track down Puchkov and learn something very interesting...

Cipher (2018 – 2019)

• Genre: detective
• Number of episodes: 16
• Rating: KinoPoisk – 7.0
• The Cipher is an adaptation of the British miniseries Murder Code.

Moscow, 1956. The story centers on four women who share a military background. Once upon a time they worked in the special department of the GRU, ten years later the heroines begin to work together again, helping investigators in solving the most complex and complicated criminal cases. Sophia, Anna, Irina and Katerina have amazing analytical skills. Every day, women have to risk themselves and their families to find criminals who threaten the security of the country.

Details about season 2

99% Dead (2017)

• Genre: action, detective
• Number of episodes: 10
• Rating: KinoPoisk – 6.2, IMDb – 7.2
• The slogan of the series is “The one in whom you believe lives.”

More than anything else, architect Artem Artov loves making money. A man's life resembles a fairy tale: expensive cars, elite restaurants and a chic model girl. The protagonist's idyll ends when he is mistakenly mistaken for a particularly dangerous criminal under the nickname Snake, who is credited with many crimes. The main character is being hunted not only by the special services, but also by Albanian arms dealers, deceived by the insidious and cunning Serpent. Artem will have to find a way out of a difficult situation and try to survive in the city without documents, a car or money. Will a man accustomed to luxury be able to pass through this fateful test?

Tatyana's day (2007-2008)

A provincial from the Saratov region, Tanya Rozbezhkina, together with her mother, comes to Moscow, where she enters a prestigious university to become a designer. While studying at university, she meets a spoiled, capricious and rich girl named Tanya Barinova. Despite her bitchiness, the girls become real friends by sharing their secrets with each other. It would seem that their friendship would last a lifetime, but alas, the girls fell in love with the same guy, Sergei Nikiforov...

"Black Mirror" in Russian (2019)

• Genre fiction
• Number of episodes: 8
• Rating: KinoPoisk – 7.1
• Actor Artem Dubinin starred in the series for the first time.

The plot of the series develops the theme of a person under pressure from technological progress, when the present and future are filled with smartphones, computers, tablets and cameras. Gadgets have made existence convenient and comfortable. Live communication is slowly but surely fading into the background, giving way to social networks - VKontakte, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The narrative begins in the 80s of the last century, showing how a talented programmer decides to combine a novel with a game. As a result, virtuality begins to mix with reality, creating strange consequences for all the characters...

Orphan Black

Genre: fantasy, action, drama When released: 2013 IMDb rating: 8.30 Cast: Tatiana Maslany, Jordan Javaris, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Dylan Bruce

What: a mysterious story about a double life

The main character accidentally witnesses the suicide of an unfamiliar girl who is exactly like her.

To escape from her own problems, the Heroine steals the identity of a dead stranger, along with documents. A new life under a new name brings not only money and a good apartment, but also other people's problems.

Search the series on Google

Bad weather (2018)

• Genre: drama
• Number of episodes: 11
• Rating: KinoPoisk – 7.1
• The slogan is “Once upon a time in a country that no longer exists.”

The story revolves around the former soldier German Nevolin, nicknamed the German. The man went through the Afghan war, and now works as an ordinary driver. To dispel the bad weather in his soul, the main character decides to commit a daring crime. He goes on a robbery of a special van and steals 145 million rubles. Why did Herman sacrifice everything he valued - friendship and love?

Lillehammer

Genre: drama, comedy, crime When released: 2012 IMDb rating: 8.00 Cast: Steve Van Zandt, Trond Fausa Aurvaag, Steinar Sagen, Marian Saastad Ottesen

What it's about: one man against an entire mafia clan

The mafia boss's chief assistant makes a deal with the police, betrays his boss and tries to escape from the assassins.

Arriving in the small town of Lillehammer, the hero tries to live quietly and peacefully, but killers are on his heels and turn the life of the entire town into a real hell.

Search the series on Google

Foundling (2019)

• Genre: detective
• Number of episodes: 12
• Rating: KinoPoisk – 7.0
• The film crew visited ancient mansions on Ligovsky Prospekt and the Tauride Garden.

“Foundling” is one of the most exciting Russian TV series on the list, which you can watch in one go. The series takes place at the height of the NEP, in 1926. The film tells the story of a Novgorod swindler nicknamed Foundling, who runs away from local thugs. The main character arrives in Leningrad, and the police mistakenly recognized him as the famous detective who had recently been appointed head of the Criminal Investigation Department. The cunning tomboy intends to sneak away unnoticed, but suddenly the Foundling finds out that there is a huge warehouse of expensive evidence in the city, so he decides to take his time. It’s a trivial matter to rob a premises while having a police officer’s ID in hand. The hero begins to think through the kidnapping...

Kept women

• 2019 - present.
• Thriller, drama.
• Duration: 2 seasons.
• IMDb: 6.1; Kinopoisk: 6.6.

“Kept Women” is the film debut of theater director Konstantin Bogomolov. This is a story about an art critic from the province Dasha. The girl moves to Moscow for a new life. A friend, who is provided by a married man, helps her settle in the capital.

“Kept Women” has an interesting detective mystery, a complexly woven web of love lines and a beautiful picture. This is also one of the most frank Russian series: there are a lot of daring sex scenes in it.