Sniffer (2013– ) User Reviews

Funny, well acted and entertaining

[erik-687 · 8/10 · 4 September 2017]

The premise to the story is original and the actors do really pull it off. This is not the average crime show, the investigations and crime stories on every show are refreshing and there is real humour to the police force.

The main actor is the attraction to the whole show, his relationships to all the other characters are very funny, there is not a single line that he doesn't deliver with a straight face.

This show never gets gory or violent and still stays entertaining - which is why I think it deserves an 8/10.

Great entertainment

[dinalt10 · 8/10 · 24 September 2017]

An enjoyable twist on the usual detective shows out there.

Whether it's believable will depend on your perspective. But I guess it's not beyond the realms of possibility, so skirts with realism.

Overall a really enjoyable show, and the only complaint is that there aren't more episodes in each series.

Much fun to watch

[margaretkarmazin-540-587476 · 8/10 · 18 May 2017]

Great idea and I don't see it as entirely impossible, though possibly only with some kind of enhancement to the body. Being a writer myself, I see more possibilities with the idea than I've seen so far in the show, but then I've only watched four episodes so far. The Sniffer would be able to smell disease in humans like some dogs apparently can. Not only could he use his talent to solve crimes, he could work for doctors and quickly tell what a person has, such as diabetes, kidney disease or various cancers and metabolic imbalances. The show could go in that direction too and turn him into a super House. The guy who plays the main character is perfect, his expressions subtle and though the character is a bit of a snob or maybe it's just that he's too sensitive for normal social life, the actor makes him very likable, at least to me.

Way watchable

[pelstatetennis · 10/10 · 3 July 2017]

Ukraine buddy cop series, very polished production and likable leads. I love it because first show or movie I've seen where Russians are normal, ethical ( and not) folks. They aren't you stereotype of sneaky corrupt and ruthless. As American I'm forced to look to scandi noir and BBC for quality TV these days. I never in a million years thought I would find my next gem in the Ukraine. How very cool!!

Wow!

[popnruss · 10/10 · 5 May 2017]

This is a very uniquely, creatively written series. Having taught forensic science for a number of years, I find the premise of this series fascinating, if a bit unbelievable. Nevertheless, it is totally enjoyable, never predictable. The characters are interesting to say the least and certainly contribute to the fact that this is not your usual whodunit. The actors are extremely talented, especially the lead and his ex-wife. She puts the "b" in that unladylike word. The story lines are terrific.

Incredible

[jjsbrooks · 10/10 · 29 June 2018]

This is an incredible series. Well-plotted, with brilliant acting, it's a joy to watch even with subtitles.

Innovative concept for a detective story

[Isis-Ascending · 7/10 · 13 May 2017]

The lead actor is convincing as a man with a preternatural sense of smell. His extra-sensory nose is beyond phenomenal as a human sense organ, and he uses it as a positive skill to solve crimes. His ex-wife is gorgeous but she goes a bit over the top to portray a witch with a capital B. Hopefully, she will tone down her "acting" in her next films.

In the opening scene, "the Sniffer" detects an ominous-looking man who boarded the plane has a bomb hidden in his arm cast. The Sniffer tells the flight attendant to alert the pilot Captain, etc...

I wondered how the man with the bomb in his arm cast got past security? Wouldn't the X-ray machines and walk thru's have detected the explosive device?...and arrest him for "packing heat?"(how did he even get on board the plane?) The red sports sedan the Sniffer drives is hot. It looks like it's a newer model Mustang.

The film was made in the Ukraine and shows a lot of local color in Kiev, its capitol city. Entertaining, clever film.

Unique premise, well acted, gorgeous lady doctor

[bobbobwhite · 8/10 · 23 March 2017]

This is an 8 episode crime series filmed in Russia, with leads no one has ever seen before. Very interesting premise, that of a uniquely gifted man with an extremely acute sense of smell, more like a wild animal than a human, and which leads him to try to solve violent crimes by smelling various trace scents left at the crime scenes, and on suspects and victims. This he does under the solid direction of his good friend, a dedicated police colonel, and a confirmed bachelor and playboy.

The stereotypical Eastern European cynical sarcasm was at full boil at all times in the Sniffer, with him seen calmly disdaining and insulting almost everyone around him as he arrogantly helps the colonel work through difficult crime solving. An added bonus to me was the fine depiction of a modern Russian city, and how similar the location city(Kiev)was to the rest of the 1st world.

Great and creative use was made of wispy smoke imagery that formed from the scents the Sniffer smelled at crime scenes, smoky visions of what really happened there. That effect added greatly to the series' overall production values. Also, the show co-starred who I think is the most beautiful female actor in film, the gorgeous doctor love interest of the Sniffer. What an incredible beauty, and very classy.

Weak point...white subtitles that were often poorly translated, and so often not enough time on screen was allowed for the viewer to thoroughly read them, and the words were often obscured by the background colors.

I liked this series for its glimpse of a modern Russian city, for the unique story premise, for the good acting, and for its style of storytelling that was more realistic than today's American crime story TV. I also liked that each episode was a complete story where the crime was solved.

And, of course, I liked it for the gorgeous lady doctor. Hope to see more episodes of this show, and of her. Wow. Even Trump would surely give her an 11.

Tightly-directed series from Russia with plenty of style but little depth.

[msghall · 7/10 · 14 March 2019]

This is the perfect series for a 14-year-old male: just right amount of action; tons of beautiful women, covered in makeup, industrial strength push-up bras and tight skirts as if they've stepped off a Fox News set; understated acting; nifty Dodge Challenger and cool digs with own private elevator; romance kept to a minimum - well, you get the picture. Despite the obvious superficiality of it all, this is a breezy show without heavy dialog or prolonged melodramatics. A bit of fun for the 14-year-old in all of us.

A Melange of Genres

[qui_j · 5/10 · 22 July 2017]

This series is a mixture of genres all rolled into one. It's a detective series with a guy who uses his uncanny sense of smell to solve cases, it's a "Buddy" film with a "Bromance" between the two male leads, it's a comedy with an element of slapstick and a couple one-liners. It's entertaining most of the times but eventually becomes formula driven with the inevitable wind up at the end. It does give a perspective of modern Russia not often seen in other series. It's not particularly "noir" like many of the Scandinavian series but the sets and outdoor shots are more often monochrome. I guess this makes the brilliant green and red cars, driven by the lead actors stand out more. It's a good watch when you want something silly and light, yet entertaining and fast moving.

Starts a little strange but gets better and better, great show.

[chris-77932 · 10/10 · 1 June 2017]

My wife and I loved the series- the acting, the writing, directing of this show is very professional. The sets, staging, sound etc. are top notch.

The story line starts out a little unbelievable but they convince you and you become part of the show.

The relationship between Col. Ledbedev and the Sniffer is complex and well developed.

WE ARE WAITING for more episodes!

Just doesn't meet the expectations

[chuckw-69006 · 6/10 · 11 February 2020]

While not horrible, I can't help but feel that this could have been so much better. Decent story lines with some suspense sprinkled in here and there is mostly marred by simply unbelievable plot lines as well as spotty acting to say the least. Casting surely went for the beautiful/tall Slavic look actresses that we associate with TV/Movies from this region rather than good actors in their place. Give it a shot to see for yourself, but there are certainly better Netflix series to spend your time on.

Just Meh.

[azhcpunk · 2/10 · 1 July 2018]

The female characters have zero depth to them whatsoever even the main characters love interest the doctor comes across as flat. They failed to pass the bechdel test insofar as I have seen and honestly it shows a pervasive misogyny throughout the series in the treatment of female characters by every male character that has interactions with the opposite sex. The Detective is a bit of a player seen with a new woman almost every show and hitting on his direct subordinates (totally unacceptable behavior and a blatant abuse of power) The ex comes across as annoying and frankly appears to have some major issues (Barbiturate dependence, easily excitable, and a domineering figure to their son) the concept in and of itself is quite interesting however they failed to produce anything new and exciting it almost feels a little formulaic. However to their credit I think the camerawork on this show is quite good with decent CGI in the form of smoke like outlines of what "The Sniffer" is smelling and the relationship between him and the detective is at times fun to watch in their chummy rivalry.

Great cop show

[barbara-paschen · 10/10 · 23 July 2018]

But will there be any more? I fear there might not be.

I didn't know that Russia was so sparsely populated

[fanficfreak-23505 · 10/10 · 10 August 2018]

Wow, I'm so happy to have discovered this show. I'm fascinated with forensic science so naturally I gravitate towards the shows Sherlock (the British show), Elementary (the American Sherlock), and now this Sniffer show. It's brilliant, funny, and very engaging.

I've watched up to the 3rd season finale, and I'm hoping that they'll make more seasons to come.

Worth the watch

[sfb-07719 · 10/10 · 26 February 2018]

Quit reading the reviews and just watch it. If you don't like reading subtitles, watch it anyway because the show will keep you engaged.

A good show and stories so far

[nimuegal · 7/10 · 10 September 2019]

Just finished season 1 , thanks to Netflix for putting it up. Liked the plot and each episode is well thought. No holes or exaggeration in the facts. Lead pair works good together.

Entertaining

[spike-71146 · 8/10 · 17 December 2018]

Despite the blatant workplace sexual harassment and sexy medical examiners showing up to a crime scene to investigate a body in a short mini-skirt and high heals, the show has some depth and entertainment to it. The acting from some is mediocre, and great from others, like the lead character. Due to the subtitles, not a show you can just relax on your couch and watch.

russian bromance S1 watchable

[surfisfun · 6/10 · 25 February 2022]

S1 was ok.

The writing of the continuity stories feel badly written with plot holes and too far fetched.

Despite its flaws, S1 still had a better focus and pull then S2 where back story get more complicate in a bad way.

Like another reviewer commented, its a Bromance central with many cleavage in sites.

Great premise, poor execution

[stormy724 · 5/10 · 6 May 2017]

This sounded like it would a fun show, but it is totally unbelievable. I think it would be better if it were a comedy played mostly for laughs.

I can see where it might have some appeal, but frankly I had a hard time staying awake.

The scene settings are all futuristic and mostly gray ---so, visually, it is uninteresting.

Roll on Season 4

[jiballini64 · 8/10 · 29 October 2018]

Just starting Season 3 and I've been hooked since mid Season 1. It's well acted, even if all the female characters are a bit one-dimensional (or should that be two? As most of the shots are cleavage orientated!), amusing and entertaining. I do like the way there are continuing stories running behind the "solve it in one episode" story lines. Hoping for a Season 4 as it's clearly been an international success.

a truly great idea that should be picked up by a US network and produced here .

[bc-117 · 1/10 · 28 June 2019]

There have been many shows from the UK and other countries that wear successful here. Shameless , Elementary, All in the family and so on.

This show can be seen on Netflix . The first season is a little slow , but by the thrid season the production values and interplay between characters is outstanding.

Although sci fi but very entertaining

[siuching-12999 · 8/10 · 8 September 2018]

Interesting twists. I particularly like Kirill whose extessfacial expression is simply unique. The main detective Ivan is very feisty! The story lines get better and better with more twists. Highly recommend it

The Sniffer's car

[arizona_ferret · 9/10 · 19 January 2021]

Many think he drives a Mustang...no way. The majority of the time is drives a Dodge Challenger. One of the great muscle cars.

Definitely worth one's time! Watch it!

[eveisneverwrong · 10/10 · 10 August 2018]

I watch this series on Netflix. It's very engaging, very like Sherlock, but not. I like the series' industrial look, very pleasing aesthetic. Even if I can't understand the language, one can surely follow the plot along with the subtitles.

Now my question is: when is Season 4 coming???