Richard Sorge. Master Spy (TV Mini Series 2019) Poster

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8/10
The story of a spy who served the Fatherland
alekspredator8724 October 2023
The story of Richard Sorge somehow always passed by. At some moments I heard about this man, read about his fate, but the series "Sorge" directed by Sergei Ginzburg helped me to dive into the study of the issue. The project is interesting, memorable, with its drawbacks, but still well staged and sometimes fascinating with its plot development.

Richard Sorge with the call sign "Ramzai" was a Soviet intelligence officer, diplomat, and German journalist. His story is multifaceted and interesting, tragic and sometimes contradictory. At different times, this person received opposite assessments of his activities. About everything, I am sure, with a proper percentage of fiction in the life of this person, the viewer will be able to learn from the project of the same name.

I was interested in a multi-part tape with a good production. And if immediately from the first episode we are waiting for the finale of the scout's activities, which, in my opinion, is a terrible spoiler, then the creators carefully reveal the identity of Sorge, as they see it. The series shows a lot of interesting events that span several years. The viewer will definitely be able to observe how the Second World War is looming over the world, what is happening in politics and how Sorge's spy cell acts for the benefit of its country.

Richard appears in the project as a real person. Alexander Domogarov, who plays the titular role, is convincing: he has a heavy tired look, shows proper emotions, shows a versatile person in difficult life situations in which the hero often finds himself. In my opinion, Domogarov coped well, he also has a good external resemblance to Richard. In general, getting into the image is excellent.

Other performers are also good. I remember the works of Andrei Leonov, who gave an unusually serious image to his hero Max Clausen. Still, it is difficult to reorient to a different perception when you know the actor well from the comedy series "Daddy's Daughters". The transformation is gorgeous. Thank you for this work. Osama Yamamoto and Shion Nakamaru are good. The excellent dramatic story that was born between the characters of these actors was played out 100 percent. Andrey Rudensky and Victoria Isakova coped well. But in my opinion, their arch was written much weaker than the story for the heroes of the Japanese colleagues, so the acting looked a little bland.

Despite the abundance of storylines and various twists, of course, the story of Sorge himself remains in the foreground. The hero lives in eternal tension, is in the lair of a hypothetical, and then a real enemy. Only brave people can remain prudent and thoughtful in such a situation. Sometimes you imagine what stressful loads you have to cope with. It's very difficult. After all, this is not the usual always persistent and unshakable fictional James Bond. In reality, everything is much more complicated.

The series left positive emotions. In the finale, you realize that this is not a story about a spy, but about a person, his environment. The picture shows how to be a real person. Be confident in yourself and your beliefs, have flaws and weaknesses, like anyone else, be able to love and be loved.

8 out of 10.
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Ominsously Underrated
Walkino18 November 2022
I don't understand such such a low rating on this tv series. Those who contributed to such a startling low score, obviously have never set foot in Russia, never read a book about Russian history, never heard of Richard Sorge "Ramsay" before and, most of all, do not understand anything about photography, choreography, costumes and acting. The actors in this tv series are amazingly good, the story is absolutely faithful to the real plot - as much as a short tv series can be about one of the most controversial episodes of the Stalinian age - this show should have rated between 8 and 9. Perhaps the only critics I can formulate regards the shortness of the series. I wish it has lasted for a couple of years.

Richard Sorge is unanimously considered one of the most representative figures in the history of spooks business; one whose shrewdness has changed the fathom of the second world war. I wish one day a colossal tv series might be produced lasting for 4 or 5 seasons.
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9/10
It looks real
MB_West_Lafayette21 July 2021
I was surprised by the quality of the production and acting. It is not Hollywood but it is more than good enough. The portrayal of Sorge in particular looks real. The story is riveting, of course, since Sorge was a larger than life character to begin with. The series conveys the charisma and recklessness of the man. The portrayal of the Nazis is pretty good too. The Japanese... so-so so far (I have only watched the first four episodes). I didn't know Russian TV had improved so much.

Now for the trivia. It is a little funny to hear Germans and Japanese speaking Russian, but I watch it with my son who is learning Russian so it's a bonus. The BMW motorcycle Sorge drives is a gem. The Ninja assistant is a cool touch.
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5/10
Propaganda extrodinaire!
zxcbsx5 January 2023
Russian James Bond? Richard Zorge was unheard of prior to Ian Flemings novels turned into movies during the 1960's! I found the movie interesting. However follow up verification of the series facts, proved to be nothing more than propaganda. Think about it. How good is a spy who would have so much documentation? What was his father's real occupation? I have seen more than one. Mrs. Ott one of his lovers was NOT his nurse in WWI! As a matter of fact the nurse who did attend to him her father provided his first socialist exposure! The points that she was his youthful lover, and family was against the relationship is a blatant farce!
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5/10
Things that didn't happen for 500, Alex
sbaxter-0895814 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Historical fiction is based on real life but usually doesn't alter facts. This series did.

1. Eugen Ott did not commit suicide 2. The defector Lyushkov was not killed by Soviet agents in 1941. The Japanese killed him in 1945 to silence him before the Red Army could capture him.

3. The US and UK did not provide aid to the Kwangtung Army 4. The US did not hope for the UK to lose the war so it (the US) could take over UK colonies 5. The series starts with Voroshilov which is fine but he was removed from his position in 1940. The series has him advising Stalin in 1944.

Aside from those complaints (maybe others) it is not a bad series. I will try to find more information about Sorge. Seems to me he must have known about the plan to attack Pearl Harbor.
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