Netflix brings back Zelensky’s political comedy TV show 'Servant of the People'

Netflix announced Wednesday that it had returned Servant of the People, the political satire that launched Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s political career, to its library.

“You asked and it’s back!” Netflix announced on its Twitter account. “Servant of the People is once again available in The US.”

You asked and it’s back!

Servant of the People is once again available on Netflix in The US. The 2015 satirical comedy series stars Volodymyr Zelenskyy playing a teacher who unexpectedly becomes President after a video of him complaining about corruption suddenly goes viral. pic.twitter.com/Pp9f48jutF

— Netflix (@netflix) March 16, 2022

The 2015 satirical comedy series follows a high school teacher (played by Zelensky) who unexpectedly becomes President [of Ukraine] after a rant about corruption goes viral on social media. The show ran for three seasons and ended when Zelensky decided to run for president of Ukraine in 2019, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

His new political party’s name? Servant of the People.

Zelensky has become an internationally recognized public figure for his courage and social media-savvy in the face of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which analysts have credited for galvanizing his citizens toward the defense of their homeland. His speech to the U.S. Congress on Wednesday was met with a standing ovation.

The was in Ukraine has also spurred interest in the former comedian’s background.

The Los Angeles Times notes that only the first season of the Russian-language series (subtitled in English) is available on Netflix at this time, saying it was unclear when or if the platform will stream the subsequent seasons or the 2016 movie adaptation.

Swedish TV group Eccho Right has been licensing the show and movie to broadcasters around the world, including Netflix in the U.S., the U.K.’s Channel 4, MBC in the Middle East and ANT 1 in Greece, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“The series is a comedy but also an important document of where Zelensky comes from,” said Eccho managing partner Nicola Söderlund in a statement. “His fictional president is a normal man, who grows into his role as a heroic and adored leader. While the real-world scenario facing Zelensky and the Ukrainian people is far more grim and appalling than the comedy of the series, there are obvious parallels with the real-world situation, and Servant of the People is a fascinating, important and historic piece of television.”