The heroes of Olga Kartunkova and Vladimir Epifantsev are doing Moscow in new series

Sister vs Mikhalych

The genre, conditionally called “a good man from the hinterland against the immoral capital” is in many ways a win-win. A similar plot can become a melodrama, a thriller, and a comedy. The creators of the series “Sister” and “Just Mikhalych” decided to get the most out of this situation, and it so happened that they do it at the same time, but on different channels.

It’s probably not quite right to compare these two series, because they are a bit from different worlds. “Prosto Mikhalych” is a comedy with big stars, and “Sister”, although it looks much more complicated than “Two Broke Girls” with the same Olga Kartunkova, still does not go too far beyond the sitcom. However, the plot turns both projects into almost twins.

The main character of “Sister” comes to Moscow to help out her brother, whom they want to jail for a bribe, which is quite predictable for the owner of a fashionable club. The impulse of the sister is not that sincere. She hates her brother for jewelry stolen many years ago, but creditors on the threshold of their own apartment turn flight to Moscow into some kind of solution. Mikhalych, performed by Vladimir Epifantsev, goes to the capital to his cousin, who has settled on Rublyovka, one might say, for justice. Capital raiders are squeezing out their native forestry, and, therefore, problems need to be solved where they came from.

Then begins a series of quite predictable adventures. Sister and Mikhalych rush like elephants into the sleek Moscow world, destroy everything that can be destroyed, but at the same time their often ridiculous actions, of course, are dictated by the search for justice. The characters of the guests of the capital turned out to be bright, but as if the same. There is, apparently, a general production decision about how such characters should behave. They are almost caricature boors, they do not shine with education and, of course, they are sure that if not all evil is concentrated in Moscow, then at least most of it.

Regarding the Muscovites, there is also some scenario agreement. They are rich minions, two-faced scoundrels, ready to sell anything and anyone for money, and, of course, full of contempt for everyone who is not their circle. And also, perhaps, gays and drug addicts, as is sometimes suggested in “Sister”. Or officials who have shifted in spiritual practices, which is played out quite coolly by Gosha Kutsenko in “Just Mikhalych”.

Both comedies diligently try to get out of all these cliches, slightly humanize the characters who seemed to be terrible people, and sometimes even give out sentimentality. This is hardly a salvation for projects. Perhaps the salvation is that from time to time both “Sister” and “Just Mikhalych” are quite funny. Maybe we are talking about jokes at which it is a little embarrassing to laugh, but it is not easy to control oneself. Sometimes you can relax, especially when no one is watching.

Published in the newspaper “Moskovsky Komsomolets” No. 28972 dated February 15, 2023

Newspaper headline:
Sister vs Mikhalych