I had planned to review a different TV show today, but we just finished Netflix's Russian Doll on Sunday, and I couldn't wait to tell you all about this outstanding, twisty show with a unique premise.
It's
Nadia's birthday, and her best friend, Maxine (played by Greta Lee), is
hosting a blow-out birthday party for her in her funky New York
apartment. Nadia, played by Natasha Lyonne who played Nicky on Orange Is the New Black,
drinks a lot, chain smokes, and takes home a stranger. Later in the
night, though, out on the streets again, Nadia gets hit by a car and
dies. The next moment, she is alive again, in her friend's wildly-lit
bathroom, looking in the mirror. Confused, she walks out to find that
she is back where she was hours ago, at the beginning of the party, with
Maxine greeting her for the first time again. She keeps reliving that
same birthday night (slightly different each time, since she is now
freaking out), and she keeps dying in different ways and restarting back
in the bathroom again. She is going crazy trying to figure out what's
going on, why, and how to stop this unending loop. Then, in one of her
re-lifes (when she actually makes it to the next morning), she meets
someone else who is going through the same thing, a handsome guy named
Alan, played by Charlie Barnett. Nadia and Alan team up to try to get to
the bottom of this crazy cycle they are both stuck in.
Ever since its release last year, I've been hearing people rave about Russian Doll,
so it's been on our (very long) list of shows to try. Why didn't anyone
tell me it was about someone trapped in a time loop?? I love
this kind of brain-twisting plot! Seriously, this is my favorite kind of
fiction: time travel, time jumping, time loops, you name it, I'm there
for it. Besides that, though, even if you're not into time-twisting like
me, the show is just as good as everyone's been saying. It's smart,
clever, intriguing, dark, and very funny. Natasha is outstanding in her
bizarre lead role, and the supporting cast is a lot of fun, too. Each
episode has new developments, as Nadia and Alan investigate this weird
phenomenon and come up with new theories. We absolutely loved this show
and blew through its eight short episodes in a week (which is rare for
us--we're not usually bingers). And, though the ending was just about
perfect, Russian Doll has just announced that it will be back for a second season. We can't wait to see what's in store next!
NOTE: As you will see in the trailer, there is ample foul language and some sexual content, just in case that's not your thing.
Russian Doll
is a Netflix original program, so it is available exclusively on
Netflix. Season one is available now and is just eight 30-minute
episodes, so it is perfect for a quick binge!
Check out this awesome trailer that both shows the basic plot of the show and its dark but hilarious tone:
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