MyShows Awards 2025: Best Russian series
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This year, voting is once again being held in conjunction with Kinopoisk. Therefore, winners will receive individual promo codes for a Kinopoisk subscription along with their prizes from MyShows! |
"Outsource"
Crime, drama | 4.27 out of 5 on MyShows | 1 season | 2025
1996. The most security prison in Kamchatka. New warden Konstantin offers to sell the victims' relatives the right to personally execute the convicts, turning the death penalty into a business and confronting people with moral dilemmas. Konstantin's idea quickly spirals out of control: violence and greed destroy relationships between prisoners, wardens, and victims' loved ones. People begin to seek revenge, trade power, and cross moral boundaries, turning the prison into a dangerous battlefield for life and power.
"The first episode. Atmosphere and dissonance. I liked the very tense and oppressive atmosphere, which draws you in like a swamp as you watch. All the characters live in their own "personal hell," which has no plans to let them go and sucks them deeper and deeper into the abyss. The atmosphere of a musty, frozen city is conveyed perfectly. The cinematography is also pleasing: there are some very interesting, captivating shots, and overall the filming leaves a pleasant impression, plus the color grading and entourage add to the density of the atmosphere. But against this backdrop, Yankovsky's character stands out in stark contrast, somehow too "different," as if from another world entirely. It's not yet clear how a person with such a mindset ended up in this particular world, in this particular place, in this particular environment, and how he so easily begins to rebuild the system to suit himself", — Vapoig
"The ending is like ice water in your face. No catharsis, no hope, just a period. One that leaves only silence and the feeling that you've been squeezed dry. It's amazing how the series managed to maintain a dark tone until the very end without descending into farce. But that's also scary — no light, no way out, just gray everyday life where everything is predictably bad. The characters haven't changed by the finale — except that their masks have finally fallen. Yankovsky has brought his character to complete moral annihilation. At some point, you catch yourself thinking that you can't even hate him anymore — he has become a symbol of something bigger, some kind of system without a soul and without a purpose. I want to say that the series impressed me. But it would be more accurate to say that it left me feeling empty. It feels like it has made me a little bit darker inside. If the writers wanted to use this ending to remind us of how things should not be, they succeeded", — zsendi
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"One Call Bar"
Drama, detective | 4.37 out of 5 on MyShows | 1 season | 2025
The One Call Bar is a mystical establishment that appears in different places and offers visitors a unique chance to call a deceased loved one. However, for this opportunity, you have to play Russian roulette, risking your life. The main character is investigator Andrei Morozov, who is searching for his missing son. All the clues lead him to this mysterious bar, which disappears as suddenly as it appears.
"An interesting series. Philosophical, a little sad. The short episode format works very well. Most of the visitors are well developed, especially considering the short format. In fact, the visitors are the most interesting part of the series. I like Ilyin as an actor, but I found his character rather boring. And he lacked obsession with the search for the boy (it was better in "The Road"). Kozlovsky, in general, is not bad, although he didn't pull off the moments of "madness," it's not his thing", — vorkott
"I don't like Russian series, but this one changed my mind. Some of the actors didn't pull off their roles, but some were just great. Even Kozlovsky wasn't so bad. I unexpectedly cried. It's really not bad at all", — Puf
"Very dynamic, not drawn out, and to the point. Even though the episodes were only about 30 minutes long, they managed to tell the stories of all the main characters... It's a shame that not everyone got a happy ending. A second season is hardly necessary. What would they film about?! It's clear how you become a bartender... A guy who happens to drop by would be monotonous and uninteresting. Some of the references and jokes seem strange, of course... They were supposed to be topical, but they turned out to be nostalgic", — mari_zem
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"Overheard in Rybinsk"
Comedy, detective | 4.24 out of 5 on MyShows | 1 season | 2025–...
Journalist Yura works for a provincial newspaper and spends most of his life writing ordinary news stories about his hometown. Suddenly, something strange happens to him: he begins to have visions of future murders that are secretly taking place in Rybinsk. Trying to prevent the crimes, Yura soon finds himself at the center of a criminal investigation and even becomes the prime suspect in one of them.
"I've already watched all the episodes and I must say that the series turned out very well. It's simply a showcase for Tribuntsev. When he appears on screen, he simply outshines everyone else, like a light bulb shining. He plays the role of a simple, unpretentious, semi-alcoholic, but at the same time unusually kind, educated, and with an excellent sense of humor, very well. The entire cast is perfectly chosen. They all turned out to be so different, colorful, and "lively." The plot is very cleverly woven, with just the right amount of irony and detective work, excellent jokes, relevant and without exaggeration. If I could give it a 5+, I would. Bravo to the creators!" — katrinus
"An excellent series thanks to a clever mix of comedy, darkness, and soulfulness. It sags in places, but what doesn't sag in places these days? All the actors are in their right places. The plot is smooth. And even though the penultimate episode is stronger than the last, the second was more necessary to tie up all the loose ends after the catharsis with the host", — dalton1k
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"The Method"
Crime, drama | 4.18 out of 5 on MyShows | 3 seasons | 2015–2025
Investigator Rodion Meglin is a brilliant but eccentric expert in solving the most dangerous murders. In the third season, he assembles a team of people with dark pasts and, together with them, investigates a series of complex cases across the country. Against this backdrop, moral dilemmas, tense relationships within the team, and conflicts between the law and Meglin's odd methods develop.
"It's as if the third season can be watched separately from the previous ones, which is a strange feeling. At first, I couldn't understand where Meglin was, he was the main character, and then Kologrivy appeared — is he the main character now? But the ending made me think that they will explain everything later... I'll keep watching", — raisabraga
"I didn't particularly like the first season until halfway through. Then I got used to the characters and grew to love them, and I enjoyed watching it. The second season was even more lively and interesting for me. The identity of TMNP and the revelation of the intrigue didn't impress me much, but it was still interesting and exciting. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't even watch it; I don't like to torture myself. The new season feels different, but I like the actors — a couple of maniacs playing unusual cops made me think that Meglin is now a mentor. However, it turned out that he has much more than just a couple of people under his command. It's unusual and intriguing, and it's really cool to see Meglin back in action. I didn't like Esenya, so I hope she's not in it much, if at all. I wish there was more action. The Beast and the Communicator are dangerous guys. I liked them — in terms of how they were played. I'm sure I'll enjoy this season too", — juliawishes
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"Moscow Doesn't Believe in Tears. It's Only Just Beginning"
Drama, romance | 3.66 out of 5 on MyShows | 1 season | 2025–...
Young Ksyusha arrives in Moscow with her little son. Without money, connections, or prospects, she tries to build a new life in the capital. In Moscow, she finds two new friends — diligent student Olya and flighty Masha, who dreams of marrying a foreigner and moving abroad. Years later, fate brings the three women together again, giving them another chance at happiness and the fulfillment of their dreams — of love, success, and self-realization.
"An amazing series, I really liked it, and the music was a real treat. Magomayev's song warms the heart — it just makes me cry! I live in Moscow myself and understand that it really is the best city on earth! Ksyusha is simply adorable, a wonderful actress, and what a voice. The incredible song and number at the end, those dances and the fountain — wow! I was delighted with Anastasia Talyzina, I adore her. Overall, it's very cool, it lived up to my expectations, I'm looking forward to the sequel", — Jeronimoo
"TV series and films should evoke emotions. If there is something to think and talk about while watching and afterwards, that's already a success. It's good work. Definitely. In terms of reflection and evaluation of the characters — absolutely. The minor stories about the musical numbers aren't always relevant, and the miscasting in some places can be forgiven. Just take your time and think about it. Is it always true that "Moscow doesn't believe in tears?" — okshinaolga
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"Cyber Village"
Comedy, sci-fi | 4.16 out of 5 on MyShows | 2 seasons | 2020–...
Farmer Nikolai Kulibin lives on a cyber farm on Mars, breeding android robots and futuristic animals. His peaceful life is disrupted by his former friend Baragozin, who wants to demolish the village for an industrial project. Nikolai is forced to embark on a risky space adventure to protect his home and family.
In the second season, he finds himself in a space prison on Venus, and his allies organize an escape and confront a powerful corporation in an attempt to regain control of the cyber village.
"It's clear that the creators had a lot of ideas. I can't bring myself to say anything about each episode individually, but in terms of the structure of the season, there were too many filler episodes in the middle that were too original overall. I would have liked to see a stronger plot progression rather than a bunch of different ways to solve the problem for both the protagonists and the antagonist. Be that as it may, it's one of the best Russian series in principle, and I'm looking forward to the continuation! Perhaps the storyline has run its course and a spin-off or anthology could be released, since there are still ideas and characters left in the short films that could be developed", — vokton
"A very cool series. I'm indifferent to science fiction, but I liked this one. It combines "high technology" and reality, and not the current reality, but rather that of the 70s and 80s of the last century. It's very spectacularly done. There are touches of Soviet cinema classics. The visualization is top-notch. I really liked the acting. I especially want to mention Elena Makhova — she played such a bitch, it was just great. I also liked Sofya Vorontsova, a kind of gangster from a large "galaxy," but with a very kind heart. And of course, love, friendship, humanity", — vlivkor
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" Moscow does not believe in tears" and " Method " in the nomination are NOT the most ))
" Outsourcing " was released in early 2025 and is well remembered ! The other three are good too)
Because there is such a hodgepodge of genres ...
I gave it to the Cyber village, because it is fiction in the very heart, always and forever.
But the one-call bar is also cool, but it's supernatural.
And Moscow doesn't believe in tears, let's be honest, if you put this in a selection of the best Russian melodramas of the year, then it would have won, nothing better came out of this genre that year.
I haven't looked at the rest, but I think there are questions in their genres, too.
take the same "method". if the first season captured all my attention, then the last one is not the same at all, and it is hardly possible to regard it as the series of the year.
Cyber village is undoubtedly good with its own vibe, but still not.
But Outsourcing, yes, was very good and well deserves to win.
the rest are +- but somehow not either.
Inspector Gavrilov and Two hills would also add here. Although they did not premiere in 2025, but only continued, but still.
But there were quite a few good novelties: Demis and Marina, Afro Village, Bloggers locked up, Live like people, Cash collectors, Flight 314, Sanctionist and Theater zone, although the last of them is perhaps the weakest
As well as a great competitive selection of TV series in the voting, I watched almost everything and was satisfied.
An unbroken plot, the interest holds until the end, and well, the finale.
There have already been 2 articles))
Are we waiting for the other 4?)
As a result, I got tired of it and unblocked it, but I continue to be with him in an emergency, because I can't like it, and sometimes I really want to. 😅
I haven't watched the rest yet, but it's in the plans)
xs as far as everything is true, but streaming is a fact;)
I like this format better, because it often turns out that some new season of "the old man" turns out to be better than all the new inventions.
I'm waiting for an article about the nominees in the undervalued and overrated - that's where I wonder what kind of discussion will unfold.
We should continue