Russian Study Group

[Speakeasy]

Does anyone have any suggestions of US/UK series that have decent dubbing into Russian ...

Although the Fluentu website is not exactly what you're looking for, it does represent an interesting alternative with video/audio/transcript practicing numerous languages, including Russian. Sign up for the 15-day free trial and burn through a selection videos, it just might be what you're looking for.

Fluentu
https://www.fluentu.com/

[David27]

Not quite the answer you’re looking for (I’m not a fan of dubbing and Russian dubbing is the worst because they usually leave the English in the background and it’s distracting), but I also have disliked a lot of Russian television shows but found a few things outside of movies to get into. Likvidacia, while not being the best show I’ve seen, kept my attention to the end (very difficult to do). I also enjoyed watching Russian series of books. They follow the authors books and want them to be as accurate as possible, unlike American directors who shorten to fit into a movie, and will shamelessly change plot points. Watch doctor zhivago in English and Russian, master and margarita and the idiot have good series as well. Watch that and it will keep you busy for several months.

[Longinus]

The dubbing on Jackson's Lord of the Rings film series is excellent. Don't know if it's available on line, I bought DVDs a few years ago.

[leosmith]

(I’m not a fan of dubbing and Russian dubbing is the worst because they usually leave the English in the background and it’s distracting)

Agreed. Does anyone know why they do that? Teaching English to the masses?

[vonPeterhof]

(I’m not a fan of dubbing and Russian dubbing is the worst because they usually leave the English in the background and it’s distracting)

Agreed. Does anyone know why they do that? Teaching English to the masses?

I believe it's just a matter of ease/cost - probably cheaper to add a new vocal track than to erase and replace the original one. FWIW it's only done that way in dubs for TV - cinematic releases have proper dubs instead of voiceovers.

I don't think I've ever actually found the English track distracting back when I still didn't really understand it - when you don't understand spoken English it's easy to get used to listening to the Russian voiceover for the meaning and to the English original for the tone and emotional cues. You especially don't have a choice other than getting used to that if for the first few years of your life your only option for foreign media were bootlegs like this one

But yeah, if you're looking for actual dubs, theatrically released movies and TV cartoons may be a better bet than live action TV shows. A lot of the Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and Fox Kids/Jetix/Disney channel cartoons have decent dubs. Their official YouTube channels apparently have plenty of complete episodes.

[MamaPata]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions

This week in mildly entertaining Russian experiences, I was looking at плотский and плоский because I knew I was studying both but couldn't remember the actual spelling of 'flat' or the meaning of the other. Flat is плоский. Apparently плотский is a dated form of 'carnal'. Why this came up and I decided I needed to learn it, I don't remember, but tbh it's the sort of thing my Russian knowledge is heavy on.

Unrelated, does anyone know the difference between выкройка and узор?

[Theodisce]

Apparently плотский is a dated form of 'carnal'.

It's still used, at least in religious contexts.

[vonPeterhof]

Unrelated, does anyone know the difference between выкройка and узор?

Выкройка means "pattern" in the sense of "sewing template" (and can also refer to the act of cutting out shapes). Узор is "pattern" in the sense of "motif or decoration, especially formed from regular repeated elements".

[Systematiker]

Apparently плотский is a dated form of 'carnal'.

It's still used, at least in religious contexts.

Of the two, guess which word I recognized....

[MamaPata]

Unrelated, does anyone know the difference between выкройка and узор?

Выкройка means "pattern" in the sense of "sewing template" (and can also refer to the act of cutting out shapes). Узор is "pattern" in the sense of "motif or decoration, especially formed from regular repeated elements".

Brilliant, thanks. I'd assumed it was along those lines but would have got them the wrong way round if I'd guessed.