Written by Juliana Ukiomogbe
Netflix’s new show Russian Doll is, in a nutshell, about mortality. Natasha Lyonne portrays Nadia Vulvokov who tragically dies and is then forced to repeatedly relive her 36th birthday party. This insane premise makes for a really fun, smart, and introspective show.
Consisting of eight 25-minute episodes, it’s very easy to binge and there are so many strengths with this show. First, Lyonne is co-creator and co-executive producer alongside Amy Poehler and Leslye Headland. To say that Lyonne is great in this show is an understatement as she’s captivating in every scene and keeps you engaged the entire time.
Every reset that Nadia has is underlaid by the song ‘Gotta Get Up’ by Harry Nilsson. It’s her cue (and ours) that she has to live through the entire night yet again. The main reason Nadia has to keep dying and “resurrecting” is to correct something from her childhood. The idea that you literally cannot move forward in life unless you get right with yourself is my favourite thing about the show. It also has the ability to take something as morbid as death and make it funny? Charming? There are several laughs that don’t make the subject matter come off as too contrived.
The cinematography is also remarkable. Most of the scenes take place at night in New York City and everything looks so beautiful and electric. The outfits are great as well and as a whole, it’s a really aesthetically pleasing show.
While Russian Doll is about mortality, it’s also about taking responsibility for yourself and your choices. It makes you look at your own life and examine the parts of it that are still holding you hostage. Is there something in your past that is inhibiting you from truly moving on and living a fulfilled life? Russian Doll wrestles with that.
Overall, Russian Doll is a truly brilliant show. The performances are great, and the message is phenomenal. It’s one of Netflix’s best original series, and season two can’t come fast enough.
