Preston Smith
Netflix’s newest comedy series, Russian Doll, has just released on February 1, 2019, and we were naturally quick to binge-watch it.
This eight-episode series hails from Orange Is the New Black veteran Natasha Lyonne, where she portrays Nicky Nichols. Here, though, she plays Nadia Vulvokov, a prominent software engineer who dies on her thirty-sixth birthday – repeatedly. Other collaborators for the series include Amy Poehler and Leslye Headland.
Lyonne shines as the series’ protagonist, which is made even more incredible with the fact that she both aided in the series’ conception and executive produces for the show. Her acting is witty as ever, and Nadia’s quips make each episode funny and ever entertaining.
In addition to Nadia, the introduction of Charlie Barnett’s Alan Zaveri was natural and even funny. More than that, though, the characters bounce off of each other naturally and beautifully, which further showcases the talent of these two actors. They are not the only brilliant talents in the series, though; the series thrives off of a recurring cast that are all fascinating in their own ways. Additional cast members include Greta Lee, Yul Vazquez, Elizabeth Ashley, Rebecca Henderson, and fellow Orange Is the New Black veteran Dascha Polanco.
Ultimately, Russian Doll proves to be a series perfect for today’s young adults. More than ever, young adults are contemplating mortality and the meaning of life (which is in part thanks to social media), and having a comedic series addressing this while also maintaining comedy throughout is actually cathartic on some levels.
In short, the series is timely and witty while expressing real concerns and emotions. It layers these aspects together succinctly, allowing for a really enjoyable eight episodes of television.
If you’re maybe not yet convinced to watch the show after this review, be sure to check out the show’s trailer below for a peek at what it has to offer:
Are you loving this breakout series as much as we are? Comment below and tweet us @Fuzzable with all of your love and opinions for Russian Doll!
