Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

I've never been a big binge watcher, but I was so grabbed by this show right from the first episode that I just couldn't stop.

This show is full of beautifully gleeful charm, with a central character who can't stop smiling and no mean-spirited jokes anywhere in sight. The whole thing is just consistently happy and can really cheer you up within seconds.

I admit that the story does get a little tiresome at some points, where there isn't as much joking, but the series manages to keep reinventing itself in new and fun ways that brings back your interest immediately.

It's also a very subtly clever satire. Whilst the majority of it may seem like silly fun, the back story of the doomsday cult, the theme song and a whole host of other stuff is actually very intelligent, and of course, a lot of fun too.

You've got to watch this series, whether you want to binge it or not, because it's such a refreshingly happy show that stands out amongst the crowd of idiotic sitcoms and burning dramas.

www.themadmovieman.com

2019 sees the end of the Netflix series that began with such fanfare and acclaim but ends with a whimper rather than a bang.

Ellie Kemper plays Kimmy Schmidt, held hostage in an underground bunker for much of her twenties, by a doomsday cult. She's given a new lease of life following her rescue, so moves to New York. She moves in with Titus Andromedon (Tituss Burgess) a struggling actor who dreams of Broadway and gets a job as a nanny for Jaqueline White (Jane Krakowski) an uptown divorcee whose husband has left her with a young son and teenage daughter to look after.

For the first couple of seasons, I felt like "Kimmy Schmidt" was essential viewing. Shorn of the restrictions of Network TV, Tina Fey created a warm but hilarious series with characters specifically written for most of the lead actors but also able to use her star power to pull in some dynamite guest stars. It's a touch sad then that I feel the show has dropped off a bit with each of his subsequent seasons. I'm not sure, because although her specific writing credits remain a couple per season, whether Fey's general involvement has waned as the show has run on, or if some other creative force moved on but although the style of humour stayed the same, it just didn't seem to land as well.

I think, on the whole, if asked whether or not to recommend the show to someone, I'd still say that I would. There are only 51 episodes and of those the vast majority are very good - it's just a little unfortunate that it couldn't maintain the high standards that the early seasons set.

What a brilliant, brilliant show. I'm surprised that I'm the first reviewer on here! Seriously though, I began streaming this show just about an hour ago, with netflix's system of 'single-day-season-releases' I've just kept streaming. I'm now up to the third episode and I'm blown away with how funny this show is. Tina fey has always been hilarious to me, and same with Ellie Kemper, so i've been intrigued by this show since it's announcement. This show is, at it's roots, a very funny show, chances are you will laugh a lot during this show. But it's not all about that, this show has several layers, it's got lots of heart and fantastic characters. As I mentioned before, I'm only up to the 3rd episode but this show is showing fantastic promise, I haven't been this invested in a show's pilot in a while. Hilarious story, fantastic acting, great writing, great direction. This looks like a good one, stream it when you get the chance! 9/10 (so far)

Firstly a heads up: I like Tina Fey. I like her way of seeing the world and her ability to make fun of very subtle things in a very blunt way. And I love 30 Rock. If you do too you'll appreciate Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. If you don't you'll fall in love with Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and watch all 7 seasons of 30 Rock in one sitting.

You'll know the story of Kimmy Schmidt by now, so I'll not get into that. What I'll rather talk about is the magnificent performance of Ellie Kemper as Kimmy. I've first seen and enjoyed her in The Office but that's the first time I've seen her as a lead actress. And I must say, she does a really good job as the girl who shields the cruelty of life with a big smile and an almost childish appreciation of the world.

As in 30 Rock there is no room for subtlety in the way the characters are portrayed. Apart form Kimmy, Jane Krakowski as Jacqueline plays the rich, pretentious snob (very similar to her role as Jenna Maroney in 30 Rock), Kimmy's room mate Titus is a giant singing gay man with an unfulfilled dream. It's not that the characters don't have depth, they do, but it's the almost comical exaggeration of character traits I've enjoyed so much in 30 Rock that carries this show as well.

But again, even if you weren't a great fan of 30 Rock, give this show a try. It's full of wit with a lot of social criticism between the lines. But what makes this show really fun is Kimmy's 90s humor and her naivety with which she approaches the world.

I've never felt so optimistic about a new sitcom since New Girl and it sure is one of the best new comedy shows in both 2014 and 2015 and after a whole lot of amazing drama series the first netflix comedy that is worth the watch.

Kimmy is cute, strong, and compassionate, a great blend. She is gullible, but she is also wise and vigilant. Tina Fey's touch of intelligent and strikingly blunt comedy shines through.