Ep 308: Reviewing ”Vladimir” (Netflix, 2026): Academia, Obsession, and the Depths of Midlife Crisis

This week we're diving into Vladimir, the Netflix limited series based on Julia May Jonas's acclaimed 2022 debut novel. It's eight episodes of obsession, delusion, and the uncomfortable truth that desire doesn't care about your principles, your marriage, or your tenure.

What We Discuss:

• ​0:00 — Intro: What is Vladimir and why we love it
• ​0:37 — Meet the protagonist: Rachel Weisz's unnamed, unhinged academic
• ​1:50 — Book vs. adaptation: why the series sharpens the novel's themes
• ​2:30 — The generational clash: 20th century vs. 21st century progressivism
• ​3:49 — A professor losing relevance in her own institution
• ​4:03 — Romance addiction as escapism
• ​4:15 — The open marriage and how it shapes everything
• ​5:29 — Female desire on screen: visual and emotional fantasy sequences
• ​8:22 — "She is dangerously mad": the unreliable, unhinged narrator
• ​12:10 — Are these characters bad people, or just products of their bubble?
• ​12:25 — Academia as an industry: intellectually brilliant, emotionally arrested
• ​15:12 — This isn't really about academia — it's about relationships and escapism
• ​16:33 — Unreliable narrators and maladaptive coping mechanisms
• ​17:18 — Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z: each generation perfectly embodied
• ​22:44 — Final verdict and wrap-up

The Cast:

• ​Rachel Weisz as the unnamed protagonist ("M")
• ​Leo Woodall as Vladimir Vizinsky
• ​Jessica Henwick as Cynthia, Vladimir's wife
• ​John Slattery (Roger Sterling from Mad Men) as John, the husband

Our Take: A wildly entertaining, morally complex dramedy that subverts expectations at every turn. Think Fleabag meets The White Lotus — you will not see what's coming. Highly recommend cracking open that first episode (they're only 20–30 minutes each).

Mentioned:

• ​Vladimir by Julia May Jonas (novel, 2022)
• ​The Awakening by Kate Chopin
• ​Fleabag (BBC/Amazon)
• ​The White Lotus (HBO)
• ​Mad Men (AMC)

For more Laura and Stephen, follow us at @middaymoviespod, @umbrellapodcastcollective, and @facehuggersandfriendspod

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