AssHat is happy to collude with Netflix for repeated viewings of Russian Doll

For many years Netflix has desperately sought out a “kooky” dark comedy that is smarter than the sum of its parts and with “Russian Doll” the company has finally succeeded.

Created by the exceptionally talented duo of Amy Poehler and Natasha Lyonne, who also stars as the show’s main protagonist; Nadia Vulvokov, comes a tale of a thirty-something bachelorette who must relive the same day of her life on a loop. And the loop resets when she dies, which is often.

Each day begins with her staring into the same reflection, pondering her existence to the dulcet tones of Harry Nilsson, whilst her birthday party plays out in the background of the morbidly decorated toilet she is forced to reset her day in.

Once released from her latrine-birth she is forced to experience the same pleasantries and pointless party small talk from friends and well-wishers before stumbling in a drug and alcohol-fuelled haze out to the hazards of a dark New York environment, searching for her missing feline companion Oatmeal, before she ultimately meets her demise. And then she’s back in the toilet staring into that mirror again. Sometimes she manages to survive until the next day, sometimes a few hours and sometimes she fails to even exit the party alive.

But it isn’t until we’ve gorged on an ever-escalating menagerie of impressive fatalities (gas explosion, open beer cellar, accidental gunshots) that she meets Alan Zaveri and when they meet their usual demise at the same time and place, neither of which flinching and even seeming bored of the expectation, that the shows really begins to blossom and accelerate to greatness.

We learn that Nadia is not alone and Alan (played excellently by Charlie Barnett) experiences his own death loop, awakening too in a bathroom staring back at his reflection. But unlike Nadia who oozes self-confidence to the point of masculine parody, Alan listens to self-help audio books and instead of trying to locate Oatmeal, is trying to gain closure on his failed attempt at proposing to his girlfriend.

Over the course of eight all-too-brief episodes, we are treated to a show with endless layers like an onion that displays fabulous elements of self-parody, pathos, horror, addiction, existentialism, redemption, lust, hate and love. Whilst many might find the ending to be divisive, it allows you to form your own opinion about what is real and what is imagination. What is good, what is bad and what is merely self-preservation.

Russian Doll is the most unique high-quality show since the debut of “Mr Robot” and is arguably better for its perfect blend of comedy and tragedy. Something which the latter has forgotten over its many seasons. However, even though Poehler and Lyonne apparently pitched this as a three-season idea, I’m unsure whether a second season would be a good idea as it’s hard to envision where it would go next. There’s something satisfyingly redemptive about making a semi-biographical show this perfect and then riding off into the sunset with a Marlboro and Jack Daniels in hand.

Essential viewing.

Watch this if you liked “Groundhog Day”, “Catastrophe”, “Happy Death Day

10/10 

logo

Related posts

The Jungle Bunch (2017) Review

The Jungle Bunch (2017) Review


The Jungle Bunch (2017) Review

Based on a French cartoon series, “The Jungle Bunch” movie is a soft reboot of possibly the one kids’ property I’ve never encountered before. But if you’re bracing yourself for another artless animated cash grab like “Norm of The North” or “Robinson Crusoe”, you might be in for a pleasant...

Across The View Askewniverse: Mallrats (1995) Review

Across The View Askewniverse: Mallrats (1995) Review


Across The View Askewniverse: Mallrats (1995) Review

“Mallrats” has a reputation as one of those ‘difficult’ second movies and is regarded as something of a disappointment after the blistering debut of “Clerks”.Not by me, though. It’s one of my favourite View Askew offerings and holds a special place in my heart because it was through...

Gordon Gekko lied to us. Greed (2020) is not good.

Gordon Gekko lied to us. Greed (2020) is not good.


Gordon Gekko lied to us. Greed (2020) is not good.

Michael Winterbottom’s unfortunately unfocussed polemic takes a swipe at the lifestyles of the rich and the shameless, or maybe at the grotesque exploitation underpinning the ‘fast fashion’ industry or perhaps at the financial chicanery that underwrites those big blockbuster boardroom deals you...

The Alienist Season Review

The Alienist Season Review


The Alienist Season Review

It’s the late nineteenth century in New York and delinquent children are starting to go missing. Future President and newly appointed Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt (Brian Geraghty)contacts criminal psychologist Dr Laszlo Kreizler (Daniel Brühl) and illustrator John Moore (Luke Evans)...