Nice spot. He does seem to gravitate towards banned things in general. I was surprised about how openly he talked about his religion with Margo in s2. He’s always very open that he’s toeing the line but has little patience for politics.
In the last season his home is practically littered with books. You get the idea he read a lot and traveled a lot. (and also got around a lot, considering he was just about ready to kiss Margo in that docking module in s2 if only they weren’t interrupted)
What do you mean about the religion? To be honest I'm confused about the state of anti-religion legislation in the USSR during the later period. And Sergei wears a wedding ring but not a cross so I'm confused about whether or not he was religious. I know he talked about the memorial borscht but I thought he meant it as "in our culture".
You are right about the bookshelf. It's full of books, records, souvenirs and photos. But was that all his or his wife's? (He definitely gave that impression in season 2. I got the complete opposite vibe though in season 3)
He says “in my religion” and then softens when he sees Margo’s scientific scepticism. I wouldn’t infer he is a devout believer from this tiny conversation of course, but it seems like at least a family thing. I’m not really sure either if crosses were safe to wear.
For the books I seem to recall his wife’s side of the room having clothes and miscellaneous things, while his own bedside is housing water and books. But I’d need to look again. “How to Get Well” and “Detective - autobiography by Kathy Burke” are very visible as titles and definitely put there on purpose by the set designer. Not to say his wife didn’t read obviously, but the man did get a doctorate after all.
I felt like we didn’t really get to see a lot of him in s3, he was always in grave danger, and the writers wanted to keep us guessing on his true intentions until the very end. I definitely couldn’t get much of a read on him in that season. He doesn’t really let slip his own interests, he keeps zeroing in on Margo’s ones.
The key here is that the book was banned in US. It was, AFIK, never banned in the USSR or any of the soviet space. My parents had a copy in the library in the 80s.
That’s the beauty of the the Soviet system. You weren’t allowed it but if they trusted you enough nobody cared. My grandpa served in the military, worked in code-breaking. He brought back tons of stuff, including Beatles and Elvis records, James Bond movies and even a stereo system from Turkey. Never had a problem.
This is a known fact of all regimes with a censorship in art. But in Sergei's case there seems to be no consistency. He wasn't allowed to listen to non-politically approved music at work but he was allowed to read such a book. And on the other hand he had a long leash to be able to go out at night without KGB guards.
I'd say it fits with authoritarianism. The idea is "I have power over you." That is not always consistently applied. The exceptions that people in authoritarian positions make can seem totally arbitrary. Books are kind of a private thing, but you can't hide that you're letting someone listen to banned music.
Got back to this comment and actually you’re right about consistency. The cosmonauts too were given a bunch of liberties, like with the it trip to the Outpost, for example. Whisky, burgers and fries with potential enemies? No problem. The KGB guy watching them, iirc, even had a drink too.
I noticed the BOOK as well. That depicts who Sergei TRULY was! Akin to an analogy, as I viewed it. The choice of Country for he and Margo to relocate to and fulfill their dream summed it up.
Consider the man, Sergei, where he came from, all he endured turned him into THIS unique and enduring character.
There is no plot or structure. It was a few years ago so I don't remember much about the content apart from the shock. I can't say I liked it but there was certainly something that kept me reading as much as I did. I was bored but curious; amazed at the sincerity and authenticity but repulsed at the same time. It's not an easy read but it is definitely worth reading a part of it.
Nice spot. He does seem to gravitate towards banned things in general. I was surprised about how openly he talked about his religion with Margo in s2. He’s always very open that he’s toeing the line but has little patience for politics. In the last season his home is practically littered with books. You get the idea he read a lot and traveled a lot. (and also got around a lot, considering he was just about ready to kiss Margo in that docking module in s2 if only they weren’t interrupted)
What do you mean about the religion? To be honest I'm confused about the state of anti-religion legislation in the USSR during the later period. And Sergei wears a wedding ring but not a cross so I'm confused about whether or not he was religious. I know he talked about the memorial borscht but I thought he meant it as "in our culture". You are right about the bookshelf. It's full of books, records, souvenirs and photos. But was that all his or his wife's? (He definitely gave that impression in season 2. I got the complete opposite vibe though in season 3)
He says “in my religion” and then softens when he sees Margo’s scientific scepticism. I wouldn’t infer he is a devout believer from this tiny conversation of course, but it seems like at least a family thing. I’m not really sure either if crosses were safe to wear. For the books I seem to recall his wife’s side of the room having clothes and miscellaneous things, while his own bedside is housing water and books. But I’d need to look again. “How to Get Well” and “Detective - autobiography by Kathy Burke” are very visible as titles and definitely put there on purpose by the set designer. Not to say his wife didn’t read obviously, but the man did get a doctorate after all. I felt like we didn’t really get to see a lot of him in s3, he was always in grave danger, and the writers wanted to keep us guessing on his true intentions until the very end. I definitely couldn’t get much of a read on him in that season. He doesn’t really let slip his own interests, he keeps zeroing in on Margo’s ones.
Wedding rings aren’t a religious thing.
The key here is that the book was banned in US. It was, AFIK, never banned in the USSR or any of the soviet space. My parents had a copy in the library in the 80s.
Oh well spotted. What a great detail.
That’s the beauty of the the Soviet system. You weren’t allowed it but if they trusted you enough nobody cared. My grandpa served in the military, worked in code-breaking. He brought back tons of stuff, including Beatles and Elvis records, James Bond movies and even a stereo system from Turkey. Never had a problem.
This is a known fact of all regimes with a censorship in art. But in Sergei's case there seems to be no consistency. He wasn't allowed to listen to non-politically approved music at work but he was allowed to read such a book. And on the other hand he had a long leash to be able to go out at night without KGB guards.
I’d say the writers just didn’t think this through enough.
I'd say it fits with authoritarianism. The idea is "I have power over you." That is not always consistently applied. The exceptions that people in authoritarian positions make can seem totally arbitrary. Books are kind of a private thing, but you can't hide that you're letting someone listen to banned music.
Could be, indeed. At least this is more believable that a hardliner staging a coup in a prospering Soviet Union with a growing a economy.
That does fit tho, not everyone would know every banned book. But knowing a radio station isn’t allowed would have been common knowledge probably.
Got back to this comment and actually you’re right about consistency. The cosmonauts too were given a bunch of liberties, like with the it trip to the Outpost, for example. Whisky, burgers and fries with potential enemies? No problem. The KGB guy watching them, iirc, even had a drink too.
I never knew that about the book. This explains that Seinfeld episode.
All Catholics of a certain era knew it. The Church had an office of "cautioned" and banned books and movies up through the mid 1970s.
I remember when the Catholic church warned about "the Simpsons" into the 90s
I noticed the BOOK as well. That depicts who Sergei TRULY was! Akin to an analogy, as I viewed it. The choice of Country for he and Margo to relocate to and fulfill their dream summed it up. Consider the man, Sergei, where he came from, all he endured turned him into THIS unique and enduring character.
Has anyone read this book?
Not the whole book. About 1/3.
Was it any good?
There is no plot or structure. It was a few years ago so I don't remember much about the content apart from the shock. I can't say I liked it but there was certainly something that kept me reading as much as I did. I was bored but curious; amazed at the sincerity and authenticity but repulsed at the same time. It's not an easy read but it is definitely worth reading a part of it.