Netflix’s New Erotic Thriller Is The Perfect Unreliable Narrator Show

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Warning: This article includes minor spoilers for Netflix’s Vladimir!

Unreliable narrators make stories incredibly engaging, and the TV show Vladimir is a prime example. Based on Julia May Jonas’s first novel, this Netflix erotic thriller centers on a woman—we’ll call her “M” or “the protagonist”—who is a professor at a small college.

A woman named M is struggling with her husband’s Title IX investigation – he’s accused of having relationships with students. Her attention is diverted when a new, young professor, Vladimir Vladinsky, arrives at the college, and her fascination with him quickly leads to trouble for the story’s central character.

This Netflix miniseries is a darkly funny, exciting, and steamy watch. It’s ideal for people who love characters that directly address the audience with witty remarks, and it’s especially good for those who enjoy stories told by narrators you can’t quite trust.

Vladimir’s Protagonist Is An Unreliable Narrator You Can Love & Hate At The Same Time

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The main character in Julia May Jonas’s book is deeply flawed and unlikeable, yet incredibly compelling. She consistently defends abusive behavior and harshly criticizes those around her, particularly her husband’s alleged victims and her students. But the Vladimir TV adaptation brilliantly transforms her into a narrator who is both frustrating and endearing, making her a complex character you can simultaneously love and hate.

Okay, so right from the very first scene, this show immediately tells you M is not to be trusted. She claims everyone raves about her salad and finishes it off, but then the camera clearly shows a full, untouched bowl! It instantly sets you up to question everything she says, and honestly, that pattern continues throughout the whole series. I don’t want to give anything away, but let’s just say it’s full of moments like that.

It quickly became apparent that M would consistently act impulsively and recklessly in her pursuit of Vladimir. Her behavior was driven by strong attraction and posed a significant threat.

Although M can be incredibly frustrating, her flaws are also what make her so endearing. She truly embodies the idea of accepting both the good and bad in women. She’s a complex character – messy, selfish, and occasionally unkind, but also deeply passionate, intelligent, and humorous.

Vladimir accepts a woman despite her flaws and occasional little lies. And believe me, this woman, M, says things that can be really frustrating.

She seems to be living in her own world and doesn’t really understand what’s going on around her. Her views are very one-sided and based on old-fashioned beliefs. I eventually grew frustrated with her constantly dismissing things by saying “It was a different time” without ever thinking about why that’s not a good enough explanation.

What really makes Vladimir work is its ability to embrace complexity. It doesn’t rely on simple answers or a perfect hero to be a compelling story.

Vladimir’s Unreliable Narrator Makes The Story More Interesting

The show is much more engaging because the main character tells the story in a way that makes you question what’s actually happening. This makes it perfect for discussing with friends – there’s no single ‘right’ way to understand the plot, and lots of room for different interpretations.

It’s easy to think M is being honest at times, but you can never be sure. Just when you start to trust her, she does something to prove you wrong. This keeps you guessing about her true intentions, and the story is open to interpretation – what happens likely looks different depending on how you see it. It’s like a puzzle with many possible answers.

The story is open to interpretation, meaning M could be seen as a victim, the one causing trouble, someone who helps it happen, a hero, a villain, or a complex character in between. Viewers might believe Vladimir genuinely cares for the main character, while others will think it’s all in her head. Some, including me, feel Vladimir’s fate isn’t real, but others will accept it as it appears.

A great example of this is my colleague Liz Hersey and me. We both reviewed the TV show Vladimir, but came to different conclusions. We formed our opinions separately, and that’s what makes discussing it so enjoyable! Stories with unclear meanings or untrustworthy narrators often make for a really good experience.

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2026-03-06 23:39