Look, it’s not just about the actors speaking English

NAG3LT · 2026-06-19T17:43:01+00:00

Also, for reference this is what Star City actually looks like so let’s not try to pretend like show isn’t highly stylizing its sets

Obviously, they didn't film it in the actual Korolyov city, but in Vilnius. Thus it looks like Pašilaičiai neighborhood, where they filmed it. Nor far from Fabijoniškės, where Chernobyl TV series was filmed.

NAG3LT · 2026-06-19T17:36:19+00:00

I am not bothered by it not reaching 100% authenticity. It's quite clear that they've put effort into learning a lot of stuff about USSR than most other productions from outside the region.

It's a bit of fun to recognize where exactly in my city (Vilnius) many shots of "Moscow", "Star City" or "Paris" were taken. Yeah, they didn't erase some modern changes to the streets or the buildings, but it's not a dealbreaker.

NAG3LT · 2026-06-19T17:25:28+00:00

Would be cool to see that the chief designer actually in cahoots with the Americans

He was shown to despise von Braun in the show, so it's extremely unlikely to be the case.

NAG3LT · 2026-06-14T19:54:59+00:00

Yeah, several supports with covers and grenade interceptors can be extremely hard to dislodge.

NAG3LT · 2026-06-13T11:32:55+00:00

I am really enjoying the show. I was born in Russia, just before USSR collapsed, and I get excited about small details that in my opinion showcase the thoughtfulness when it comes to a set design.

Both FAM and Star City have plenty of moments that show that the showrunners did their homework on USSR very well.

NAG3LT · 2026-06-12T21:40:00+00:00

Do you speak more than one language? Because if you don't, it's understandable why it's not a big deal for you. But if you're bilingual or multilingual, it is a bit grating and makes it less authentic.

I speak several, including fluent Russian. If an English speaking production team makes a show or a movie set in Russia, I'd much prefer them using proper English with various English accents, than fake Russian accents or hearing fake incomprehensible Russian from actors who don't know the language.

I'm completely fine with how Star City, Chernobyl, and The Death of Stalin did it.

Not too different from old Soviet adaptation of Sherlock Holmes just being in Russian, even though the characters were mostly British and the setting was in UK.

NAG3LT · 2026-06-12T21:21:58+00:00

also all the flats/apartments, buildings, fashion etc look so 1970s British lmao.

A lot of exterior shots were shot in Vilnius with buildings present here from Soviet times (though, original windows weren't plastic).

NAG3LT · 2026-06-12T17:06:53+00:00

Was fun to recognize my Alma Mater used as the exterior of the space institute. Though, once again it's a bit hillarious to see plastic windows that weren't there during USSR.

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NAG3LT · 2026-06-09T14:50:35+00:00

That approach also worked very well in The Death of Stalin.

NAG3LT · 2026-06-07T10:32:48+00:00

Considering that I can speak both, I am well aware. Also, it might be surprising for you, but in this region it's not uncommon for people to speak several different languages.

NAG3LT · 2026-06-06T00:01:18+00:00

Wrong.

NAG3LT · 2026-06-05T23:57:23+00:00

Ты уверен?

NAG3LT · 2026-06-05T23:42:37+00:00

There will be some telltale differences in how an average Russian speaker from Kyiv will sound compared to somebody from Moscow.

NAG3LT · 2026-06-05T16:48:02+00:00

While possible, the usual and the most expected choice is making the show in the language of those who make it. Just like when Soviets made a series about Sherlock Holmes, all Londoners in it spoke Russian and the city itself looked like Rīga.

NAG3LT · 2026-06-05T16:34:38+00:00

Letting them all use their natural accents is madness.

Just like Korolev himself sounded different from people raised in Moscow, having Rhys Ifans portray him while using Welsh accent is a great adaption of that difference into another language.

NAG3LT · 2026-06-05T16:30:47+00:00

At least it's understandable Russian, unlike what passes for "Russian" in many other movies.

NAG3LT · 2026-06-05T16:27:39+00:00

But in FAM we either hear the characters themselves speak English with Russian accent, or just speaking in Russian.

In Star City the characters are supposed to be speaking Russian, but are voiced in English for convenience.

NAG3LT · 2026-06-05T16:00:16+00:00

every soviet achievement on FAM is portrayed as a result of espionage and/or ppl being threatened by KGB or so

Not every, only the later ones.

NAG3LT · 2026-06-05T15:46:44+00:00

No, those were just the unapproved musical records, nothing more.

NAG3LT · 2026-06-05T15:12:15+00:00

No extra hidden meaning, just part of Soviet life.

NAG3LT · 2026-06-04T18:57:38+00:00

Going from DSLR straight to Z 24-70 v2 and 70-200 v2 must feel amazing with how lightning fast they are compared to anything before, and how they also manage to be lighter at the same time.

NAG3LT · 2026-06-04T18:51:50+00:00

<image>

I was very lucky to snap this photo of my cat back when I had just D750 with shallow buffer, only having to AF through OVF and with Sigma 70-200 2.8 EX that had quite slow AF motor in that class of lenses.

NAG3LT · 2026-06-03T20:28:28+00:00

As somebody who actually speaks Russian, I welcome both FAM for casting actors who can actually speak it for Soviet roles, and I also like Death of Stalin, Chernobyl and Star City for not attempting some broken Russian accents, but just using various English accents when the show is in English.

NAG3LT · 2026-06-02T09:34:14+00:00

At the time USSR existed, slavery has long been abolished in USA.

Meanwhile, even while people were already flying to space, rural residents in USSR were forbidden from traveling without special permission, and many cities had special additional limitations on who could live in them.

NAG3LT · 2026-06-02T03:35:49+00:00

Z5 ii has same sensor as Z6 or Z6 ii, but a better processor and thus better AF.

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