Ekemen

Not completely, but close to it. Behind her warm attitude towards Ilya we don’t notice obvious assholish behaviour when it takes place.

First of all, this behaviour is not her choice, it’s an upbringing. Svetlana (as well as Sasha, by the way) is a nepobaby, raised and cherished like a spoiled princess, in wealth, comfort and American passport.Plus cultural difference, because she, obviously, was growing up mostly in America, where her dad played hockey.

Second appearance during Gala in Sochi is a disaster: why would you interrupt the conversation? No “sorry”, “can I grab Ilya from you”. Gross.

“You dad is an asshole”, excuse me? What for was that? And extremely rude and unwelcome. Doesn’t sound like “old”and definitely not like “friend”.

Something more than a drink - what did you mean, Svetlana? Cocaine? Sasha snorting cocaine? Both are not good for Ilya.

Intrusion in the middle of conversation between two close family members in stressful situation after the funeral? Trying to rescue a whole grown ass man out of the last attempt to sort things out with his brother, who definitely knew what do you think of Rozanov family? Wise. Resulting in loss of last scratches of his family. Are you sure it was help?

She loves Ilya, no shit. But not romantically. She is too selfish and spoiled for it. She is no evil, and not kind (opposite to Rose) -just self-centered, as usually all assholes are.

Watch it: there text opposes subtext at maximum.

Just notes:

1. Alexey already knows that Ilya is going to leave the country. Immigrate, hence avoidance.

2.it’s really rude not to get in touch with your older brother on arrival, considering what he was through during this time.

3. Alexey, due to his work and family connections knows about Ilya’s sexual orientation and probably about Shane.

4. Alexey definitely knows that if Ilya would immigrate and /or publicly come out, it would cost Alexey his career and put shade on their family.

5. Alexey spent at least five months apart from his family, stopped or quit his police job to be with their father. Their sacrifice is not equal.

6. Rozanovs family have no problem with money even without Ilya’s help. They have at least two big nice apartments in the centre of Moscow in fancy buildings. Not to speak about father’s salary as very high ranked brass (he is police colonel, as written in Ilya’s phone contacts), his friendship with minister(s). They are wealthy,Alexey will easily live without Ilya’s money. To ask for it was always the only way to get on Ilya’s nerves and attention.

7. Svetlana interference in the middle of conversation between two very close relatives, especially men, is extremely rude.

8. Alexey is not frightened by Ilya’s outburst. He already realises that he lost his brother.He doesn’t hit him back and prevents second blow like he is accustomed to fight. He is not intimidated by Ilya’s treats,look at his face,he is clearly in pain as a man, who forseen this break up apoaching.

9. Alexey says nothing since assault. I suppose he doesn’t even hear what Ilya is saying.

So, communication goes the ugliest possible way from all sides. And each participant is villain here, not only Alexey.

If you agree or have same cognitive dissonance between popular perception of Rozanov’s family and your opinion on the topic, pls, reblog.

If you disagree, comment.

It’s not that I would defend all Russians in this show just for the sake of their Russianness. Russian assholes are next in queue, and their are not fun playful assholes, as series tries to sell it.

Exciting - for the English-speaking viewers, whose loud approval of refreshing authenticity confirm that 5 minute Russian monologue by Ilya was powerful choice.

At the same time all Russian-speaking fans know that as soon, as you start to talk about anything more serious, than weather, in Russian, not a Chekhov’s gun pops up on screen,but the whole Dostoevskiy’s canon. Language influence? No, because Russia!

Here is typical Russian classical literature paradox: everybody talks, but subtext is mainly opposite to the text’s literal meaning.

And, suddenly, all Rozanov’s family starts to look far less unhinged. Father, who really cares, how Ilya looks, what impression he will make on Boston’s officials,nagging him not to nag by itself, but to push him higher, be better self (I suppose he knew or suspected on all Ilya’s adventures with Sasha, drugs, girls due to his work’s character). Old Rozanov managed to up bring Ilya without mother (and to raise a hockey player of such level in Russia takes a looot of money and afford), he closely watches his career, somehow got American visa to travel on draft ceremony (huge troubles both as active and retired police brass, and so richly decorated), and, in spite of yearning his son to play for Russia, supports his decision to be drafted by NHL. Rationally approaching, Grigoriy is a good old fashioned dad (not necessary nice personality), who cares. Just opposite to verbal narrative.

Next part - second glance on Alexey: typical Russian villain, or? Hidden hints.

First of all, i wanna mention, that i'm a great fan of the series, the crew and actors did fantastic job, which looks 100% perfect to non-Russian viewers. On Russian part all russians suffer)

Sit down, it would be a lot of letters.

On Grigoriy Rozanov's medals:

First picture left and second picture left: both were meant for participants of WWW2, either in trenches or home front workers

So, as i see, we have 3 possibilities here, as soon as it was mentioned, that he was "about" 50, when Ilya was born:

1. Grigoriy Rozanov participated in WWW2. In that case he could be born in 1930 at lastest (a lot of teenages were partisans, factory workers hence the medal), so he is about 60 when Ilya was born. In this case he is a real hero and his behavior is even soft and indulging, judging from generational circumstacies.

2. He could mistake his medals for his father's (Ilya's granddad) medals due to dementia. Upper right (Lenin's medal, highest honor sign in USSR), and lower right (50annivesary of military force (including KGB)) could be either his or granddad's.

3. Strange set of medals does really mean only fuck up of HR property department. I know these series are not that serious, were low-budget and not about that at all, but come on! Its 10 minute research, guys, if you want to show highly decorated brass of... what? (in Russia we also have FBR and CIA, inner police force department, etc, but Rozanov's shoulder strip on mess jacket is unreadable).

Last remark: it seems to me, that most possibly, we are dealing, unfortunately, with theory N3 and Grigoriy was born about 1940, because he also has Medal of Courage (grey cross near shot glass), which was, mostly, put in action after 1995. And, mostly, was for veterans of Chechnya wars, so, probably, then Ilya was little, he commanded special operations against terrorists, Irina was at home alone with little hockey kid and "adult" Alexey. Or, if it was police work, rewarded by such medal at home, it means that Grigory's life was also at risk all the way.

Next part: on Terney's flirting with Dostouevskiy, and what comes of that (nothing good, but hold on...).

Ilya: Rozanov become such a nice guy!