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In A Certain Land
The Tale of Dobrynia and the Dragon
When the legendary Ilya Muromets becomes war-leader of Kiev, not every hero is pleased. The proud and quick-tempered Alyosha Popovich openly challenges the prince's decision—but an older, wiser warrior steps forward to defend the newcomer. That warrior is Dobrynia Nikitich, and his own story reveals why true greatness is measured by courage, humility, and keeping one's word.
In this classic Russian epic, young Dobrynia ignores his mother's warnings and rides to the forbidden River Puchai, where he encounters the fearsome dragon Zmei Gorynich. After sparing the monster's life in an act of mercy, Dobrynia discovers that evil creatures rarely honor their promises. When the dragon kidnaps Prince Vladimir's beloved niece, Zabava Potiatichna, Dobrynia is forced to break his own oath, ride into the serpent's mountain lair, and wage a battle that lasts for days.
Filled with dragons, enchanted weapons, impossible endurance, and unforgettable heroes, this epic poem celebrates one of the greatest bogatyrs of the Russian tradition. It's a tale of honor tested, promises broken, and the hard choices that separate true heroes from those who merely seek glory.
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25. Ilya Muromets Quarrels with Prince Vladimir
16:04||Ep. 25When Prince Vladimir's pride drives away the greatest defender of Rus, disaster follows. As King Kalin's vast army descends upon Kiev, only the aging Ilya Muromets can stand between his homeland and ruin. Yet before he can save the prince who betrayed him, Ilya must decide whether true loyalty belongs to a ruler—or to the widows, orphans, and ordinary people he has always sworn to protect. This powerful bylina explores forgiveness, justice, and the burden of defending a nation even when its leaders have failed.23. The Tale of Volga the Warrior Mage
13:51||Ep. 23Born with the power to shake the earth and master the secrets of shape-shifting, the young bogatyr Volga Vseslav'evich leads a band of fearless warriors on an impossible mission. As an enemy king prepares to invade Rus, Volga must rely on wit as much as strength, proving that the greatest heroes win battles long before swords are drawn. A remarkable Russian epic of magic, cunning, and one of the oldest heroes of the bogatyr tradition.22. The Tale of Ilya Muromets and Nightingale the Outlaw
21:33||Ep. 22Ilya Muromets leaves his parents’ home at last, armed with a warrior’s strength and a solemn oath, but the road to Kiev quickly tests both his promise and his mettle. When a great city lies under siege and the deadly Nightingale the Outlaw rules the forest roads with a whistle that can topple armies, Ilya must decide when a vow must bend for the sake of the innocent sufferers.A powerful tale from the Russian epic tradition, this episode follows the making of Rus’s greatest defender, whose true strength is measured not by might alone, but by courage, mercy, and the will to stand for those who cannot.21. The Tale of Ivan the Bull’s Son
30:47||Ep. 21A miraculous birth gives a kingdom not one Ivan, but three! Yet among prince, cook’s son, and bull’s son, only one rises first among equals: Ivan the Bull’s son, whose strength can topple boulders, outmatch dragons, and recover kingdoms lost to monsters.When the brothers ride into the deep forest and find Baba Yaga’s hut turning on chicken feet, their journey opens onto a darker path: the River Currant, the arrow-wood bridge, and a night watch haunted by monstrous foes from another world. But some battles are won not only by strength, but by vigilance, cunning, and the willingness to stand vigil when others sleep.A sweeping tale of dragon-slayers, enchanted traps, brotherhood, and the perilous road home, this episode follows one of the great wonder-tales of the Russian tradition—where every victory hides another test, and the sharpest sword is often wisdom itself.20. How Ilya Muromets Won Sviatogor’s Sword
14:18||Ep. 20In a certain kingdom, in a certain land, young Ilya Muromets rides north into the holy mountains, where the old powers of Rus still linger among thunder, stone, and cloud. He seeks the sword of the legendary giant Sviatogor—a warrior too mighty and great for the earth itself to bear. What begins as a journey for a sword becomes something far greater: a passing of the mantle of strength from the old to the new and a terrifying test of restraint and wisdom. This is the tale in which Ilya Muromets, Rus’s greatest protector, steps out of legend’s shadow and begins to claim it as his own.19. The Childhood of Ilya Muromets
21:02||Ep. 19In a certain kingdom, in a certain land, a long-awaited child is born beneath a star bright enough to shake the heavens. His name is Ilya—and though prophecies swirl around his cradle, his path to greatness proves stranger than anyone could imagine. Years of stillness, wandering sages, and a cup of mysterious mead set the stage for the rise of one of the great heroes of old Rus. In this legendary beginning to the tale of Ilya Muromets, strength is not simply given—it must be learned, tempered, and turned toward something greater than selfish gain and grasping power.18. The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish
12:44||Ep. 18On the banks of the deep blue sea, an old fisherman casts his net day after day without any change to his routine. But one morning, it brings him a marvel—a golden fish with a human voice and a promise too generous to refuse. What begins as an act of kindness soon draws the fisherman into a rising tide of desires, each larger and more dangerous than the last. With crashing waves, sharp humor, and a wife whose hunger knows bounds, this classic fairy tale asks a timeless question: when is enough truly enough?