[2] It was written using research from then recently released government documents that disproved a popular conspiracy theory surrounding the defection.
[3] Vladamir and Evdokia Petrov were both played by East European born actors, Russian Alex Menglet and Czech Eva Sitta respectively.
[5] Barbara Hooks of the Age gave it a negative review and asked "How could a story which has teased the curiosity of Australians for decades be delivered to the screen so bled of its natural drama that, for the most part, it has all the lure of a long-winded night at the politburo?
"[7] In the same masthead Jane Sullivan wrote "The Petrov Affair is sometimes muddled, sometimes silly, and about as thrilling as reading back copies of Hansard" and she called "the mediocrity of this mini-series such a tragedy.
"[8] The Sydney Morning Herald's Doug Anderson wrote that the story was "enhanced by the recent release of hitherto classified documents which have illuminated numerous aspects of the complex events surrounding [the Petrov's] defection in April, 1954.