Master of None
Courtesy of Netflix, Alan Yang Pictures, 3 Arts Television, and Universal Television
Like last year’s innovative television miracle “Transparent,” each episode of Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang’s Netflix show “Master of None,” is a small, delightful vignette styled indie film. Threaded throughout each episode’s apparent artistic distinction are thoughtful moments of social commentary and comedy about people in their early thirties, in New York City. Each episode looks crisp and gorgeous, like an Art Deco set in a white telephone film from the thirties. The characters in each episode are often liberal, successful Manhattanites who either are complete hot messes or cool parents, complete with Brooklyn style lofts. Everyone is well educated, talented, and funny in an edgy, thoughtful way, with a true knowledge of social media’s landscape and youth culture.
Aziz Ansari plays Dev, a second generation man of Indian descent, who acts in commercials, as well as a bit part in a movie about a zombie-like plague. He has three close friends, who are each complex, riveting characters that have some of the best one liners of the show. Ansari’s parents are actually played by his real life parents, and they’re really quite funny. Noel Wells plays his mid-season love interest, Rachel, who plays off Ansari especially well. The episode “Nashville” was one of my favorites, because it felt like a Linklater influenced indie film about a new couple in the throes of an emerging romance. Wells was previously a featured player on SNL, who’s’ talents are more apparent in this great role.
Episodes often have a single theme that’s tied to issues in our society. One episode deals with relationships that second generation kids have with their first generation parents. Another deals with feminism, and another deals with the lack of diversity in network television. Ansari’s show does a great job of dealing with these issues in thoughtful, earnest ways without being preachy. It helps that every character is affected by racism, sexism, and classism and are shaped by these instances, and yet often joke about their presence in our society.
There are great cameos from everyone from “Bob’s Burger’s” H. Jon Benjamin to Claire Danes as a metropolitan food critic. Most of the episodes were written by Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang who created the show, as well as Joe Mande from “Parks and Rec.” A large amount of the crew from that show actually trekked over to Ansari’s new venture, with the end of P&R this past year. I’m not sure what I was expecting out of the stand-up, but it was not the highly polished, auteur level project that was released last weekend. There’s a personal touch to this show that is unlike his specials or past roles in film and television. It’s great that Netflix proved a great platform for the performer.
“Master of None,” is a great new addition to a new long line of shows that shed a light on the absurd, the beautiful, and the prejudicial aspects of our society. This feels so new, the way “Louie,” and “Girls,” and “Transparent” have seemed in recent years. People seriously love this new Netflix show, another great addition to streaming services’ other programming. Currently I am rewatching the entire series, possible because it’s a tight ten episode season. Watch them out of order if you wish, because each deals with a succinct theme, and it’s all streaming on Netflix.
