Matrjoschka

Wow. What a ride. This series compelled me to reactivate my account to write a review.

First of all - please do not expect laugh out loud comedy. This is a very dark and sometimes very unpleasant series. Yet, it is sometimes hilarious in its own way.

The story of Russian Doll is based on a now often used device, granted. But it is by no means formulaic. In fact, there are so many twists and turns in the development section of the 8 episodes, you will be glued to the screen.

Some people didn't like the main character, calling her nasty and unpleasant. But this is the point of the series! She is a deeply troubled person. But trust me, she will become likeable soon enough - and stay tuned for the arrival of another main character (played by Charlie Barnett), who totally makes up for everything cringeworthy the potty-mouthed character played by Natasha Lyonne did until this point.

In the end, I promise you, you will have watched a cathartic experience that will leave you very happy.

On the technical level, Russian Doll is unusually well shot. The lighting reminds me of classic Mario Bava movies (I think this is intentional), and the music is very well sought.

So, go watch this, and please watch beyond episode 3, you will thank me later.

If only all takes on old plot devices were this awesome! Netflix, you need to give us more like this, not that narcissistic crap that so often pops up lately (Girl Boss, Insatiable with TRULY unlikeable characters).

In semi-typical fashion it started a little slow in interest for me but I watched the first episode and said,"Ok, one more..." And then of course you get the obligatory, "Well, I HAVE to see what happens next.." which is followed by, "Well, who the hell is THIS character?" And then of course the reaction of, " Oh Hell Naw!" Which proceeds the ever popular, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?" But then you get the "Oh I got this" episode. Only to be smacked by the " Whoa.... didn't see THAT coming" show. Which all is summed up with "More please.."

bravo 👏🏾Netflix, Natasha Lyonne, Amy Poehler & Russian Doll 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

#BookOfJimmy

S1 seemed so perfect and contained that news of an S2 routinely perplexed people. I think people were right; there was nowhere really to go. Lots of back story filled out here - with the primary magic now being time travel, it's basically all about back story - but, somehow, it feels like we didn't need it terribly much. There are, I guess, good and dutiful points being made about understanding what previous generations went through and how that shaped us, especially our spiky bits, but in practice I just don't feel it all with the intensity and enjoyment that I did S1.

It's brilliant!

An extremely weird but captivating story, great acting, excellent script, natural dialogue, very good production values and a fantastic range of characters.

I did not know whether to laugh or cry. The funniest saddest weird thing ever. Kafkaesque and slapstick at the same time.

Do not ruin it with a second series.

Boy I hated this show so much at the beginning! It was awful, not funny, pretensious, pseudo intelectual! For the first 3 episodes boy I was almost giving up... And then it wasn't! Those first episodes are there for a reason and it pays off. Must watch TV. You will not regret giving it a chance past the first few episodes.