User reviews

I was watching this mini series of only four episodes, each only twenty minutes long, and wondering. First, why am I watching this? Why am I enjoying it? It is the tale of an inexperienced doctor, fresh out of school forced to work in a small village. Set right after the first World War, or maybe even during it, in a region of Russia so remote that the war would not have counted anyway, it shows the barbaric medical practices of the time, the horrible transformation of a naive and idealistic doctor into a desensitized morphine addict.

But I did enjoy it. It is both comedy and terrible drama. The actors are perfect for their roles, the atmosphere is despondent and the Russian theme of the story gives an air of surreal to it all (even if for me personally, it is at least geographically closer than to an American audience). Even if about terrible things, the film is really quite quite good.

My second reason to wonder is how can a such a good show that is this dark and full of hopelessness even make the screen? Audiences will be shocked and disgusted by a period in human's history that they don't want to acknowledge and a character that is both very close to one's heart, but impossible to accept as similar to one.

I can only surmise that, just like the original short stories escaped the Russian censorship, the show also somehow managed to escape audience's democratic censorship of shows that are too real to watch. Quite hard to bear so much reality, in fact, but found myself immediately looking for clues for a next season. I doubt there will be one, but I would watch it if it were.

The history of the crew that got together to place on screen such an obscure collection of short stories is also fascinating. Do search for it, you will understand more about the background of the series and maybe even make you read the original material, why not?

I utterly adored this little series. So far three episodes have been shown and I have laughed uncontrollably at them all. It won't be for everyone, being a little too black humored in places for some people's tastes however it had me in bits. Daniel Radcliffe is really maturing as an actor and rarely puts a foot wrong in this, gamely throwing himself into the role of the younger Doctor and his counter from John Hamm gives pathos to his older version and the supporting characters are excellent too, adding to the bleakness with a strong sense of sarcasm.

If you like bleak comedy with some unexpectedly gory moments, I recommend and wholeheartedly hop for more.

Having watched all the 4 episodes have to at this one was superbly made. The story itself is quite a simple one but wonderfully narrated , hence the most accolade should go to the author.Mostly dark humour but will be liked by most and hopefully will have a sense of humour to laugh about some medical topics. The editing is good too especially considering the number of episodes they were aiming for. The direction does justice to the story and the story and plots essence is never lost. Radcliffe is almost made for his role with the boyish looks and is very well supported by Jon Hamm. All the the supporting actors are very good and offer comic support just with their superb expressions.The half hour episodes make it quite easy to watch too . An easy watch but very entertaining.

Based all on what I've seen of Series 1 only. What to say, eh? Writing this whilst I watch episode 4, again. That's my biggest endorsement of all. Each time watching adds to the depth of it all. And I want to watch it again. People will define this show by many non essential things, the accuracy to the texts its based off, the cast of English actors and of course that this series is defined by Daniel Radcliffe playing the main character. None of it matters for the show we get, as a stand alone, it stands high.

The premise, in 1934 Moscow the Older Doctor is recounting his years as Young Doctor who, fresh out of his doctorate, is sent to run a hospital in the middle of nowhere. From here we see the doctor grow from his naïve book smarts into the stark reality of his situation.

To start it's a comedy for sure, but it holds plenty of drama. Both come equally when needed and play off each other well, think a tragic comedy and you have the basic idea. The jokes range from the minor slapstick to the darkest laughter, and easily not for people who can't laugh at the tragedy that life holds. They're all there for a purpose, the laughter sets up and releases the tension creating a good pace throughout the episodes. The themes are extensive and deep, addiction, loneliness, life experiences, death, healthcare through doctors and patients, and of course medicine. And those are just the heavy themes, there are even themes of sexuality, nature vs artificiality, mentors, past mistakes and many more.

It's well written, it shows a lot and doesn't tell you everything. Characters are well defined, each play their part in the narrative and the dialogue is very well done. Both of the Doctors grow over the series, where from the begin they are totally different by the end. There's a great retrospective segment in the last episode, and by this time we're shown the vast differences between the two. The production is great, you feel like you're there, in the cold, in the operating room, the locations are alive in their own way. The cast act their roles well enough, some characters don't have the breadth of depth as they might, but this is the doctors story and not theirs of course.

I come away from A Young Doctor's Notebook thinking. How can I laugh at tragedy? These stories are based off the experience of the original author, Bulgakov, when he was a doctor himself and we can only imagine the horror of healthcare back then and how it relates to modern medicine. Nietzche says we humans laugh because we realise we are going to die. And here I am now, watching it again, realising that the best pain killer will always be laughter in the face of that horror.

Daniel Radcliffe stars as a young doctor, who in 1917, is sent to a remote village hospital in Russia, where he has to contend with eccentric staff, few supplies, and his own growing morphine addiction. Not to mention the various conversations he has with his older self (played by John Hamm).

In parts, the show is quite gruesome - it certainly made me wince! - but it also manages to be extremely funny - sometimes guiltily funny, as I found myself laughing at the inappropriateness of certain comments and situations.

Daniel Radcliffe surprised me by being very good as the younger doctor, while John Hamm is just super as his older, somewhat wiser self, who tries to stop his younger self from the mistakes he is about to make. The supporting cast are excellent, especially Adam Godley as the dull (to his colleagues, certainly not to the viewers) assistant.

What I really liked is the inversion of the popular 'doctor as hero' storyline. This doctor is most certainly not a hero - he can be uncaring about his patients, filching morphine for his own use rather than for those who really need it, he is a coward at times, and incredibly selfish. And of course, he is able to see himself being all of those things, but is powerless to stop himself.

It's well acted, well-written, will make you laugh and make you squirm - and it's definitely worth watching!

First off, hats off to Daniel Radcliffe for trying to outgrow the Harry Potter image he will forever be associated with. He shows us that he is not just a cute boy wizard but a mature actor that can handle diverse roles. Jon Hamm also shows his acting muscle in a role which is much different from Mad Men.

I've never read Mikhail Bulgakov and so cannot comment on how accurate the series is to the short stories of the Russian writer but i can say this with certainty, the series has me hooked. I have seen the first season and it was all good. The found the dark humor oddly refreshing though shockingly gory at times.

Its not for everyone, but if you have the stomach for gore and comedy go see it, you will probably like it.

AZD

I found the show to be much more enjoyable than I thought I would. This show is hilarious in great places, and makes you really want to get the doctor out of the weather. A Young Doctor's Notebook is very different than other shows, and I am looking forward to season two! It's as addicting as morphine! I wish that the seasons were longer than four episodes a piece, and only being 20-25 minutes long. I almost feel like the show should be a movie instead. However, it's still a great show that will leave your mouth hanging open in all the right places. Daniel Radcliffe is spectacular as the young doctor, and John Hamm delivers a performance that seems so natural to him. I recommend this to anyone who is into dark humor.

I read a few of these stories years ago, and I don't recall that they had much in common with the later work, full of outrageous black humor and demonic fantasy, for which Bulgakov's remembered today. In this 4-ep UK series, three comedy writers attempt a seriocomic mashup of the two, plus a back-from-the-future framing tale in which an older (and much taller!) version of the protagonist, now a cynical, drug-addicted burnout, turns up as a sort of shady mentor to his younger self. Daniel Radcliffe displays fine comic timing as the younger doc; Jon Hamm seems uncomfortable at times with the accent (British, not Russian) but gets off some great line readings as the older one. Series hits its stride in the second episode, but our interest started to wane as things get darker and more chaotic in the last two. Seems kind of pointless to be satirizing the monotony and bleakness of rural Russian life in 1917— Bulgakov and his compatriots were about to endure much worse than bad weather and a cigarette shortage. Good supporting cast, esp. Adam Godley as an overly friendly paramedic ("Feldsher" is the term; until I looked at the cast list I though they were saying "the felcher"). I understand why the Russian reviewer who weighed in below was unimpressed, but when the second series turns up on 'flix, we'll prob'ly give it another chance. FYI, snarky guy from the Netherlands, this series was an Anglo-Japanese co-production

I'm not given to watch series or mini-series, but sometimes I give them a chance. And I was very happy to have done that with this mini-series of two seasons, each one with four short episodes. It was very slightly based on tales, deeply sarcastic and a little self-biographical, by Mikhail Bulgakov, a very little-known Russian author who graduated in medicine and became a deeply critical voice to the Russian communist regime, characteristics that we can see very well in this series.

The series focuses on the figure of Dr. Vladimir Bomgard, a young doctor recently graduated from the best medical school in the Russian Empire, with an academic curriculum to make anyone envious, but who is sent to run a hospital in the middle of the Siberia in 1917, months before the outbreak of the Russian Revolution. In addition to missing the civilized world that Moscow represents, the young doctor will have to face the rivalry of his predecessor's memory, the late Leopold Leopoldovich, forcing him to fight to establish himself and be accepted. At the same time, we will see events that take place decades later, when the already prestigious Dr. Bomgard is investigated by the communist authorities and will reread the pages of his youth diary. On a mental journey, the mature doctor goes back to the past in order to confront or help his younger self in the difficulties he went through, especially his terrible addiction to morphine.

The series is very good, despite its dark and deeply sarcastic humour that, decidedly, does not please all audiences. Many people will consider it simply barbaric or even in bad taste. Each episode reveals how inhuman medicine could have been a little over a hundred years ago, in a place where everything was lacking to the point of a doctor, no matter how good his intentions might be, compared himself to a butcher. I also liked the way in which ego and alter-ego argued and sometimes fought, as the mature doctor tries to prevent the young doctor from making mistakes or being, simply, an insensitive idiot.

The cast is dominated by Daniel Radcliffe and Jon Hamm, in the role of the two versions of the main character. Radcliffe is perfect for his character and knows very well how to be sarcastic and cruel without letting that stop us from sympathizing with his character. On the other hand, Hamm is not so uniform... if in the first season he shows rudeness in the things he says and in the brutal and insensitive way in which he faces reality, but in the second season he will prove to be more sensitive and palatable. From the supporting cast, I would particularly highlight the good performances of Adam Godley and Rosie Cavaliero. I also liked Margaret Clunie's in the second season.

Technically, its a series that does not stand out. It has a good cinematography and makes good use of excellent sets and period costumes. I thought that the character Natasha's costume was beautiful, but also something imaginative and unlikely, as the character is too elegant and well dressed for an aristocrat who has lost everything and is fleeing her country. CGI images, in particular the landscapes, did not seem very realistic. The soundtrack, in turn, is really good, is in the ear and has a sound that really reminds us of Russia and Russian culture.

I only discoverd this series last week. Too bad it had to end at 2 seasons, would have loved to see how the story would have developed further.

Good dynamic between Hamm and Radcliff and I liked the cast in general. It stayed dark and snowy and there were no colors really, but it illustrated well the dark humour and circumstances of the setting.

I loved the first episode of this series, which was really funny and intriguing and unusual. But the surgical parts were over the top gory, and it was difficult to sit through. The next episode was even worse, so even though overall it's a very good series, I gave up at that point. But if you've got a stronger stomach for gore than I do, this is worth watching.

It is amazing me that two talented actors such as Daniel Radcliffe and John Hamm can not realize when they are in such a bad series. It was supposed to be funny, but failed miserably on that score. The Doctor that Radcliffe replaced had a somewhat funny name. Half the jokes relied on repeating the name. Such was the level of humor. You could almost imagine Daniel Radcliffe thinking "I've got to overplay this scene so it will be really funny". None of them were. I was almost embarrassed for him. We only watched one episode but that was enough to get the tone. This show just didn't work for me.

Top notch acting, top notch story, top notch everything.

A black-comedy drama of an unusual tale in an unusual setting.

I truly feel if they were to make this into a movie, this it would become a classic

A young doctor's notebook is based on the book with the same title by Mikhail Bulgakov. It tells the story of a young doctor from Moscow who is send to a village a day's ride from 'the middle of nowhere in 1917's Russia. First of all, I really loved the atmosphere of the series and it's the main reason why I gave it an 8 out of 10. On the other hand, I cared little for the personal problems of the main protagonist. They seemed a bit forced but nevertheless added some depth to the story. I don't share the problem that most people seemed to have with the difference in appearance of Daniel Radcliff and John Hamm. For me those could be seen as the director taking artistic liberties with the story. Both actors do a fine job in communicating to the audience the distinctions that could be made between a young doctor fresh out of medical school and a more seasoned practitioner with his fair share of personal problems.

I am fascinated. This is one of the best made series I've watched. And one of the funniest. Again a magnificent cast by Daniel Radcliffe. I recommend it!

First of, I should say I've read the novel in which this tv series are based on, which goes by the same name. The author is Mikhail Bulgakov, almost a legend his land (now but not at that time) and quite a fierce opponent to Stalinism, even thought it's true he was favoured by the man of steel who is been said to have enjoyed Bulgakov's sardonic humor and ironic view of soviet society.

It's a pity though, that this tv series is not as "truthful" to the book. If you have read it you will see many changes in the overal story, and a leaning to add some pathetic overall feeling which is not in the book to begin with, but only appears in later Bulgakov's literary work. Despite all this, I would still recommend the show since I enjoyed it quite a lot.

I acknowledge that any TV series based on the written source shouldn't follow it in everything. Especially since this TV series is aimed at the viewer from another country and of another time and context. Most exaggerations are excessive and unnecessary and could be avoided through the brilliant idea of bringing together young and older protagonists. However, instead of the deep conceptualization of the original story, I saw a bunch of cheesy jokes. Maybe, my personal rating is unobjectively low, but it really conveys my (unexpected) frustration. Maybe, watching this TV series wouldn't have been so painful in case I haven't done this right after reading the original book, which I recommend to look at instead of the TV series or afterward.

This is a show that I would make. It feels so Mighty Boosh-esq, whilst also maintaining a strong sense of originality and its own brand of amusing comedy. It is fantastic in so many ways, and for that I give it props. This is a show that is almost so perfect, except for a few minor slip ups, that it becomes something of an epic in its own right. Truly a glorifying view into English TV shows and the nature of British comedy.

One of the better shows I've seen on Netflix, and one of the best shows I've seen ever. It's addictive, fun and funny. It's so mystically fantastic that you forget that this show is being held in such a backwards world that you begin to assimilate their world with ours. I just can't stop rambling about this show.

Didn't realize Hamm and Radcliffe were supposed to be the same person. I was working at my computer while I watched, so I wasn't paying really close attention. I never read about it, only watching for the two actors in lead roles. When I finally caught on, I kept doubting it because Hamm is a giant and there is no way he could ever be Radcliffe. Maybe it was intentional that they made the young DR. so small?

Be that as it may, I found it funny and will have to rewatch now.

I've read the original several times and never thought that it is a comedy. But still I enjoy this series. Perhaps, nobody would look it if it were the dark depressive drama. It's always good to find some fun even in such circumstances. And I'm sure, Bulgakov wouldn't mind this interpretation. He was a master of comedy.

I'm not a fun of Harry Potter films, I didn't realized who is Radcliffe, so it didn't prevent me from enjoying the film. If you can, try to forget about Harry Potter before watching. And about Mad Men as well. You'll lose the point if will try to find Don Draper here. I wish I haven't known any artists before.

Thanks to those who took the risk and decided to do that. I'd like to see something of this kind by Chekhov's short stories

It is a powerful film, but I doubt I will ever want to watch it again. In the early 20th century, a young doctor arrives in a small Russian village around the time of the Russian Revolution to work in the local hospital. The real centerpiece of the film is its acting. This is a story about a place most people might not be able to conceive. All the characters struggle against a system that has perpetuated falsehoods. OK, there are some flaws and I am not too naive to suggest this movie is worthy of an Oscar. My advice would be to watch this movie in full before you judge it. It shows how wrapped up we can become. It deserves its final rating of 7/10.

In 1917, during the Russian Revolution, Dr. Vladmir "Nika" Bomgard (Daniel Radcliffe) has just graduated in Moscow and is sent to run the Muryevo Hospital in the middle of nowhere to replace the deceased Dr. Leopold Leopoldovich. Along the days, the lonely Mikhail discusses with his team from by the assistant physician and two midwives the means to treat the illness of the local residents. Occasionally he is visited by his older self that tries to warn and prevent him from making mistakes that he will regret. When he has a pain in the stomach, Vladmir becomes addicted in morphine. Meanwhile, he is under investigation of the police seventeen years later.

The overrated "A Young Doctor's Notebook & Other Stories" is an awful TV Series with absolute bad taste. The first four episode are terrible and people should be afraid of any viewer that finds humor in this type of show. After watching this four episodes on DVD, it is not worthwhile buying or watching the following ones. My vote is three.

Title (Brazil): "Diário de um Jovem Médico" ("Diary of a Doctor")