Subs — Season 1, Episode 3: The Scapegoat
Comedy • 58 min • 1 season, 15 episodes • ★ 7.8/10
Episode synopsis
Kasia is growing tired of her thankless job. Every day, she has to endure the exhausting company of President Koniuszko’s wife for several hours, and she’s also responsible for picking up their unruly son from school. During a company mushroom-picking trip, where several employees take part, everyone ends up drunk. Piórecka reaches her breaking point and quits. Meanwhile, Mr. Stanisław and President Michalik, both still in the hospital, become friends. Krashan turns to smuggling—bringing a whole bag of sausage stuffed with drugs into Poland.
About Subs
"Zmiennicy" is a grotesque comedy of absurdity and reality that masterfully blends slapstick, satire, and surrealism to expose the absurdities of life under communist rule in the People's Republic of Poland (PRL). The story follows Jacek Żytkiewicz, a taxi driver in Warsaw, and his mysterious new shift partner, Katarzyna Piórecka, who disguises herself as a man to get the job. The series is a comedy of the grotesque, filled with exaggerated characters, nonsensical bureaucracy, and surreal plot twists. It mocks the inefficiencies and contradictions of PRL institutions—from corrupt officials and inept police to bizarre workplace dynamics and social hypocrisy. Underneath the absurdity lies a thriller-like subplot: a drug trafficking operation smuggling heroin from Thailand to West Germany. This storyline, featuring shady sports officials, a Thai student, and a crooked firefighter, adds a layer of intrigue reminiscent of American crime dramas.