When I went to describe The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt to a friend recently, I realized that the premise of the show doesn’t seem at all like it’s going to be a comedy. But Season 3 was recently released on Netflix and it has definitely kept the laughs rolling for this great series. Executive Directed by 30 Rock, SNL, Baby Mama, Mean Girls, and Sisters fame, Tina Fey brings her unique, hilarious storytelling style to the nearly anything is permissible, Netflix.
Kimmy Schmidt has been unbreakable since before she was kidnapped by a cult at 13 years old, placed into a bunker with 3 other women for 15 years and forced to marry the “Reverend” (like I said, it doesn’t seem like a comedy). When the bunker is raided and the dubbed “Mole Women” are given their freedom, Kimmy makes the decision to try and make her way in New York City.
She has the knowledge, naïveté and wardrobe of a 13 year old, but she’s got an unbreakably positive outlook and spirit. She finds a roommate and unlikely friends in the Drama-est of Queens and Broadway actor wannabe, Titus Burgess/Andromedon, and their hippie landlord Lillian (Carol Kane) and lends them some of her abominable spirit. Kimmy also lands a job as an assistant to millionaire trophy wife, Jacqueline Voorhes (Jane Krakowski – 30 Rock). Kimmy’s journey to finding her place after missing out on so much with these two characters gave me many moments of out-loud laughter.
Navigating dating, working, school, bills and friendship when you’ve missed out on the above-ground world for the last 15 years is so much more funny than I would have thought. And the cameos…Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Amy Sedaris (Strangers with Candy, Bojack Horseman), Tina Fey, Josh Charles (Sports Night, The Good Wife), David Cross (Arrested Development, Todd Margaret), Fred Armisen (Portlandia, SNL, Documentary Now), Maya Rudolph (Bridesmaids, SNL, Idiocracy) and so many more…
Season 3 has so many awesomely crazy, topical subjects it covers, from Kimmy and Titus getting into the gig economy, and Titus’ parody of Beyonce’s Lemonade, to getting into the Netflix original series cross-over realm by becoming Orange Is the New Black for a couple minutes, and Lillian battles gentrification in their neighborhood.
Of course, I’m a big fan of Tina Fey, and this series is some of her best work. It’ s so refreshing to get Kimmy’s un-cynical take on issues and to see her unshakably positive attitude despite all she’s been through. And it’s the perfect series to watch and get some laughs in while we wait for the dark political-drama House of Cards Season 5 to drop on May 30th.
-Morgan@1063RL