Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - Season 1 Review
This review of Season 1 of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is spoiler-free!
In media of all kinds lately, darkness has taken over as a primary theme in story and world building. Drama or dark storytelling is huge because people like to fear and like to see serious dramatizations. That's simply just how it is today. The truth of the matter though, with all of this darkness in television, you can really see the difference you view something with a completely positive and upbeat nature. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is just this, taking what could sound like a truly dark premise, and turning it into a happy story. Let's get started though with a quick discussion of the overall story.
The background story of the season begins with the realization that Kimmy and three other women were trapped in an underground apocalypse vault for 15 years by a deceiving reverend. When she returns from her captivity, Kimmy doesn't know what has happened in the world for the time she was gone. She quickly realizes that being who she was would mean she would be pitied by many and given free rides to things she doesn't feel she deserves. This results in her making the ultimate trip: to New York City. Having been free of her past, she seeks to create a new life for herself in this new world that she now knows. This is how she encounters some of her friends and creates the upbeat story that plays out throughout the season. In my opinion, this story is exactly what is necessary for the season. Kimmy is simply making her way in the world and this is about her adventures in New York and with those around her. Nothing is too dark and depressing, everything has an upbeat spin, which is something I love.
In the end, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is all about Kimmy (Ellie Kemper) and her friends in New York City. Ellie Kemper plays Kimmy with such a joyful and upbeat nature that I truly believe that she as a person is just as happy-go-lucky as Kimmy. She's a perfect fit for this role and has an aura of joy. But, Kimmy isn't the only great character in this story. She has a few different people around her who all play off her and have her own stories. Titus (Tituss Burgess), her gay best friend; Lillian (Carol Kane), her landlord and elder; and Jacqueline (Jane Krakowski), her employer and friend all have their own pieces to the puzzle. Each of these people plays their roles fantastically, and I have come to love each of their stories. Titus has to worry about being a gay actor in New York, and his arc is so much fun. I believe he is the best character in the show besides Kimmy but each of the three previously mentioned people are simply fantastic.
The comedy in this show is simply through the roof. After watching something like Big Mouth or even a darker show such as Glitch, it's so refreshing to see a new show like this. Tina Fey and the writing team know how to create a fun and enjoyable world. The characters in this world, while dealing with serious issues, know how to handle them without looking too far into the dark. This ability to see the light at the end of the tunnel makes all of their misadventures so exciting. You just know that no matter what happens to these people, there won't be a story that goes too far into the dark. I can't praise the team behind this show enough for someone making a joyful comedy in this world with adult stories and dramatic media.
Ellie Kemper's presence in this story is simply excellent and she helps to create a world in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt that anyone can smile at. I've never felt happier watching a show than when watching this one. Tina Fey continues to hit her shows out of the park, and I look forward to jumping back into this excellently crafted world. Recommending this show, in my mind, is extremely simple. Anyone who likes an upbeat and joyous story would really find something to love in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. While I can't say anything about future seasons, Season 1 is quick and full of great moments. If you're coming off a show like The Office and hungering for more of Ellie Kemper, this is all the perfect place for you as well. Let's put it this way: after watching all the dark content out there, take a break with Kimmy and her lovable friends.
