Season 5 • Episode 12
LatestPopular football player Anton Kovalev, after spending two years in prison for a drunken brawl in a cafe, is released. The offense blocked the successful career of Kovalev, who was previously the captain of the Russian national team. The reputation of a "downed pilot" does not allow him to continue his favorite business and get a prestigious job. The head of the center for difficult teenagers, Herman, who once raised Anton, offers him a place in the center to prepare difficult children for the local Olympics. Out of desperation, Kovalev agrees to the offer, but he does not even imagine how difficult it will be to find a common language with the guys, and what an important place they can take in his life.
Acting
Volkov's gruff vulnerability anchors every scene
Writing
Balances slapstick with genuine emotional gut-punches
Practical Effects
Authentic Russian youth sports culture down to the tracksuits
Creator
Rustam Ilyasov
Nikita Volkov
Anton Kovalev
Vitaliy Andreev
Phil Belov
Anastasia Krylova
Lena Fokina
Timofey Eletskiy
Gena “Drochila” Shutskiy
Vladimir Gartsunov
Egor “Platon” Platonov
Svyatoslav Rogozhan
Nikita Boyko
Alyona Shvidenkova
Zhenya Khomyakova
Mila Ershova
Yana
Gleb Kalyuzhny
Maks
Aleksandr Lykov
German Alekseevich
Grigory Kalinin
Eduard Valentinovich
Anna Ukolova
Galina Mikhailovna
Aleksandr Bulatov
Artyom
Vilma Kutaviciute
Veronika Aleksandrovna
Sergey Novosad
Danya Makeev
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The series mirrors real Russian 'difficult teen' rehabilitation centers that use sports as social reintegration, a system largely unknown internationally.
Volkov trained with actual youth football coaches for months; several teen actors were cast from real street sports programs.
RU
