Arkady Vasilovich

Arkady Vasilovich is one of the courtiers orbiting Peter's absurd, debauched Russian court, a nobleman who has learned that survival means flattery, drinking, and staying useful to whoever holds power. He watches the games around the throne with a courtier's practiced neutrality, ready to laugh at the Emperor's jokes and vanish when the mood turns dangerous.

The show thrives on courtiers who are funny precisely because they're terrified, and Arkady gives that dynamic a sly, watchful edge. Bayo Gbadamosi plays him with the alert stillness of a man calculating odds in real time, so even small reaction shots land as commentary on the madness surrounding him.