The limited series is based on the book by Julia May Jones, following a professor's affair with her younger colleague
By Emma Wilkes 11th March 2026
Rachel Weisz and Leo Woodall in 'Vladimir'. CREDIT: Netflix
Netflix‘s new miniseries Vladimir has not racked up the level of viewership the streamer might have been hoping for.
- READ MORE: ‘Vladimir’ review: Rachel Weisz is mad about the boy in this steamy midlife crisis comedy
The show stars Rachel Weisz as a professor on a college campus who is dealing with the fallout of her husband’s (John Slattery) affairs with past students when she herself begins to fall with the new writing professor Vladimir (Leo Woodall).
AdvertisementIt is based on Julia May Jonas’ novel of the same name, with Jonas herself developing it for the screen, and all eight episodes landed on Netflix on Thursday (March 5).
However, in its first few days on the platform, Vladimir only brought in 4.2million views (via What’s On Netflix). By contrast, Adolescence pulled in 24.3million cumulative views when it debuted on Netflix this time last year and The Perfect Couple had 20.3million.
Nonetheless, it still made it into Netflix’s English language top 10, coming in at Number 4 behind season 4 of Bridgerton, the first season of The Dinosaurs and the third season of The Night Agent.
NME has given the show a four-star review, writing: “This rollicking comedy drama about sex, obsession and the generation gap never plays it safe. There are frequent fantasy sequences – many of them steamy – and the fourth wall is obliterated from the start. Rachel Weisz’s unnamed protagonist doesn’t just quip to the camera like Phoebe-Waller Bridge in Fleabag; she turns us into her confidante and co-conspirator. As her life spirals into chaos and potential calamity over eight pacy episodes, there’s a lot to unpack – not least her growing infatuation with a dashing younger man.”
Recommended“The final episode ties up certain plot strands a little too neatly, but Weisz’s parting shot is suitably ambiguous and witty. You’ll end the series wondering whether you should have been rooting for her, but feeling glad that you did. Well, maybe. Vladimir is far too smart to leave us with any easy answers.”
