This show is awesome. Tongue firmly in cheek, Comrade Detective chronicles the patriotic exploits of good Communist cops Greghor Anghel and Iosif Baciu, while turning the American cold war era flag-waving capitalist propaganda we know and love on its head in a most satisfactory manner. For instance, the ominous music that plays when the American embassy is shown perfectly matches the Hollywood trope of letting the music tell you who the bad guys are.
The characters, being creations of the communist state, of course take every opportunity to praise the glorious nation of Romania as well as communism, and remark on the greed and corruption of the capitalist west. For instance, when Anghel remarks that an American woman is dressed like a prostitute, Baciu replies with the line, "She's a capitalist; isn't calling her a prostitute redundant?" When busting a criminal Anghel explains that Americans put drugs into black communities to weaken and control them; why would he bring American drugs to his fellow countryman? When he's told "because I want money," the grizzled detective is nonplussed; isn't the perp's healthcare, education, and food provided by the glorious state? What more does he need?? Later when he's anxious to question a suspect who he's put in the hospital-- in case he doesn't recover-- the doctor patiently explains that, "of course he'll recover; he's receiving the best healthcare in the world."
The plot is what you'd expect from such a show. The cops must stop whatever American killer is on the loose, not only to stop him killing again, but to stop him spreading dangerous, decadent western values! The Romanian cast does a great job, as do the American voice actors. The plot is something that might very well be featured on an 80's Soviet tv show, I guess, and it's actually just a good show. Plenty of action and it's really funny. Now, the funny doesn't come from jokes being rattled off; it's the faux seriousness of the show that's funny. I understand that it's a bit too cerebral for some people who just want to watch a comedy and laugh at constant punchlines. I do recommend this though!
The characters, being creations of the communist state, of course take every opportunity to praise the glorious nation of Romania as well as communism, and remark on the greed and corruption of the capitalist west. For instance, when Anghel remarks that an American woman is dressed like a prostitute, Baciu replies with the line, "She's a capitalist; isn't calling her a prostitute redundant?" When busting a criminal Anghel explains that Americans put drugs into black communities to weaken and control them; why would he bring American drugs to his fellow countryman? When he's told "because I want money," the grizzled detective is nonplussed; isn't the perp's healthcare, education, and food provided by the glorious state? What more does he need?? Later when he's anxious to question a suspect who he's put in the hospital-- in case he doesn't recover-- the doctor patiently explains that, "of course he'll recover; he's receiving the best healthcare in the world."
The plot is what you'd expect from such a show. The cops must stop whatever American killer is on the loose, not only to stop him killing again, but to stop him spreading dangerous, decadent western values! The Romanian cast does a great job, as do the American voice actors. The plot is something that might very well be featured on an 80's Soviet tv show, I guess, and it's actually just a good show. Plenty of action and it's really funny. Now, the funny doesn't come from jokes being rattled off; it's the faux seriousness of the show that's funny. I understand that it's a bit too cerebral for some people who just want to watch a comedy and laugh at constant punchlines. I do recommend this though!