"Sparta" is an eight-episode Russian TV series, produced in 2018 and
available on Netflix with subtitles. It is very dark, but Russians do
"dark" better than Americans. There are a lot of flashbacks, but I guess
they were all well done for I never lost track despite not being completely
sure I wanted to watch the entire thing.
The two main characters are Bark (Barkovsky) who intends the video-game
Sparta to advance his ideas of Eugenics, and Kryoko, a police detective who
pursues the mystery of a murder qua suicide. Bark advances his Sparta
scheme while Kryoko, despite struggling with the effects of a stroke,
doesn't pause until he has unraveled everything. He is framed by Bark and
Bark's girlfriend and spends three years in prison. When he gets out he
wants to find out what became of everyone during the time he was in prison.
Bark's idea of eugenics hasn't worked, but Bark doesn't care. He is
settling for power and money. Kryoko is no longer a policeman nor likely
to become one again, but he is inexorable and deals with Bark on his own
authority.
I have watched Sparta just once, and my current understanding probably
doesn't do it justice, but it is so dark that I hesitate to watch it a
second time. Kryoko limps about, refusing to take the medication prescribed
to counter-act the effects of his stroke. He conceals his paralyzed hand
and struggles with his left eye and leg. In my case it is my right leg, but
pursuing Sparta a second time probably won't do it any good. Kryoko, on
the other hand, walks and sees much better after his three years in prison
and his exacting of judgment against Bark, He stalks off looking
self-assured and in good health -- but then he is Russian and I am not.
Lawrence
