There’s no shortage of complex family histories, cute friendships, and wild romances in Russian Doll. Which are the best relationships on the show?
Content Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the Netflix show Russian Doll.
Thanks to the recent release of the highly-anticipated second season of Russian Doll, fans now know about Nadia and Alan’s complicated family history. The series certainly focuses more on Nadia’s messy past, which isn’t too surprising considering that’s also the case in the first season.
Because of this focus on Nadia’s story arc, the best relationships on the show often feature a character from the Vulvokov family. These are the friendships, family ties, and romances that have impacted her situation in the present the most, and played an important role in her character’s development. Of course, other important relationships like Alan and Agnes’ are worth exploring, too.
Maxine and Lizzy are fan-favorites who are among the most likable characters in Russian Doll. Whether she’s caught in a time loop or traveling through time, Nadia can always count on the entertaining duo to be her supportive constants.
Even without Nadia in the mix, the dynamic between the two is interesting on its own. They seem like opposites, with Maxine being high-strung and energetic, and Lizzy being relaxed and more open. It’s this stark contrast that makes them such a fun pair to watch, and – despite these differences – they’re both always there for Nadia no matter how wild the situation may be.
Another constant Nadia has in the series is Horse. The eccentric character often has surprisingly insightful things to say and even knows the answers to impossible questions Nadia has (like the missing passenger car).
Every time they meet, something weird happens, which is why fans always look forward to seeing the duo. Whether it’s cutting her hair or raising the middle finger on the subway, Horse always acts like he’s interacting with a close friend when he sees Nadia, which isn’t too far from the truth.
One of the biggest reveals from Russian Doll’s trailer for season 2 is Maxine’s part in the continuation of Nadia’s journey. Fans were beyond excited to see the pair reunite, as they often have gut-busting conversations and wacky scenes together.
Aside from these humorous moments, though, their friendship is also crucial for the protagonist, who likely wouldn’t have made it through all those time loops without hearing Maxine’s “sweet birthday, baby.” It’s not surprising that Maxine flies to Budapest with Nadia at a moment’s notice in season 2, as they just have that kind of close friendship.
Fans are introduced to the lovable Agnes, Alan’s grandmother, in season 2. Her line in The Void about how she and Alan are so similar speaks volumes about their relationship. Although viewers only see her briefly (and not Alan as her), they can already tell she cares deeply about her grandson.
Her wise words help Alan understand that it’s okay to embrace unpredictability and change, as it’s in those situations that life moves forward. It’s obvious that their short interaction has a profound impact on Alan, whose relationship with his grandmother is forever changed.
Agnes and Lenny’s love story is a true standout in the series, as their complicated situation underscores the core message of the show. When Agnes tries to comfort Alan and explain the situation in The Void, she perfectly captures the lesson that both Alan and Nadia have to learn – “there was no other way it was supposed to happen.”
Agnes “was never going to go” and Lenny “was never going to stay,” so there’s no use fighting what’s already been decided. It’s an incredibly mature and brave view for both of them, who were young students in a foreign country at that time.
One of the most important backstories viewers learn more about is centered on Ruth and Nora’s relationship. Fans see along with Nadia just how much Ruth cared for Nora, even during her darkest days.
Just as Nadia tells her towards the end of the series, Ruth had no obligation at all to take care of Lenora (or Nadia, for that matter), but she did it anyway. It’s a good thing she did, as there’s no telling how much worse things could’ve been for Nora without Ruth.
A lot of fan theories about Russian Doll’s second season revolved around who Vera is. It’s revealed on the show that just like Nadia and Nora, Vera and Nora have a chaotic mother-and-daughter dynamic.
At first, it seems like Vera is the source of Nora’s, and in turn, Nadia’s troubles. Audiences soon learn that Vera had a difficult journey, too, which only further highlights the need for accepting the present and all the messy events that have led up to it. Vera’s imperfect relationship with Nora is parallel to Nora’s flawed relationship with Nadia – they’re both irreversible products of everything that has come before them.
A major plot twist on the show happens when Nadia finds out she’s actually in her mother’s mind in the past. This premise allows her (and audiences) to better understand Nora’s life and experiences, building on what fans already know from the first season.
The second season helped the protagonist see Lenora in a different light, beyond just knowing her as a neglectful and hurtful mother. Their relationship has allowed Nadia to understand herself better by seeing how similar she actually is to her mother, and how what ultimately happened to Nora was not Nadia’s fault at all.
When viewers first meet Alan, it’s clear that he has a drastically different personality from Nadia. Alan embraces stability and routine, while Nadia runs towards chaos and unpredictability. The odd pair learn the value of both views eventually, but, more importantly, they develop a bond that transcends space and time.
They may disagree at times, but they know they can turn to each other when things get really scary. They’re unafraid of telling the truths the other needs to hear, which is exactly what happens when Alan confronts Nadia about ruining time and space for her own selfish reasons.
Arguably the most important relationship in the second season, Nadia and Ruth’s deep bond is the thing that scares the protagonist the most. She’s in denial that her mother figure is dying and she dives further into the past in a futile attempt to change what has already happened.
Of course, it’s Ruth who helps her realize how pointless it is to find “closure” by evading the truth. Her tear-jerking line about how “in the end, nothing can absolve” her but herself will likely stay with Nadia (and with viewers) long after Ruth’s passing. Even after her death, Ruth manages to find a way to take care of Nadia, which is just the kind of thing that fans expect the loving character to do at that point.
