"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.
Seasons and episodes
1 season · 15 episodes
S1 E1Contract Prices
Oct 17, 198756 min
Jacek and Mr. Stanisław take turns driving an old taxi, which the WPT management is soon planning to replace with a new one. Meanwhile, Krashan Bhamaradżanga, a student from Thailand studying in Warsaw, is having trouble with his creditors.
S1 E2The Last Course
Oct 24, 198758 min
After returning from his final shift, Stanisław begins repairing his battered old taxi. Suddenly, a statue of a mouse falls onto the car—having detached from a helicopter in flight. It’s a rough day for President Michalik as well: on his wa
S1 E3The Scapegoat
Nov 9, 198758 min
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 mushr
S1 E4Classic Gender Logic
Nov 16, 198758 min
President Koniuszko makes Kasia an unusual offer: he persuades her to impersonate his son and take the driving exam on his behalf. Kasia initially agrees but soon backs out of the plan. However, she cleverly repurposes the idea—disguising h
S1 E5Safari
Nov 23, 198755 min
Disguised as a man, Kasia begins her job at MPT. She quickly realizes that pretending to be Marian Koniuszko is far more difficult than she expected. This time, she and Jacek are tasked with driving the famous actor Rawicz to Kraków. The pa
S1 E6The Special Care Press
Jan 17, 198855 min
The so-called “special care press” is a weekly magazine that President Klusek’s associates buy in bulk. Hidden inside the newspaper bundles are drugs, which they smuggle to Germany for President Gonschorek. Delighted that the latest shipmen
Starring
Mieczysław Hryniewicz
Jacek Żytkiewicz
Ewa Błaszczyk
Kasia Piórecka
Kazimierz Kaczor
Zenon Kuśmider
Irena Kwiatkowska
Maria Piórecka
- K
Krystyna Kołodziejczyk
Helena Koniuszkowa
Bronisław Pawlik
Stanisław Lesiak
Piotr Pręgowski
Krashan Bhamaradżanga
Krzysztof Kowalewski
Tomasz Michalik
Adam Ferency
militiaman Borkowski
Marian Opania
Ceglarek
Zdzisław Wardejn
Waldemar Barewicz
Janusz Rewiński
Zdzisław Mroczkowski
Frequently asked questions
- Where can I watch Subs?
- Subs is not currently listed on a streaming service in the US. Use the country picker on the page to check other markets.
- How many seasons of Subs are there?
- Subs has 1 season and 15 episodes. Status: Ended.
- Will there be a new season of Subs?
- Subs has ended; no new episodes are scheduled. The final episode aired on January 17, 1988.
- Who stars in Subs?
- Subs stars Mieczysław Hryniewicz, Ewa Błaszczyk, Kazimierz Kaczor, Irena Kwiatkowska, Krystyna Kołodziejczyk.
