Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Season Three

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt has released its third season, and is still pretty popular with Netflix users. Between Ellie Kemper’s affable innocence, Titus Burgess’ strong bravado and pipes, Jane Krakowski’s indomitable wit and presence, and the talented supporting cast of Carol Kane, Peter Riegert, Amy Sedaris, David Cross, Billy Magnussen, and Laura Dern, it’s quite a comedy powerhouse. Though the show is still eccentric and funny in the best of ways, its seasonal arc completely falls apart by episode two and never picks up again.

There’s just way too much plot this season. There are so many interweaving storylines and changes in the narrative that it becomes ultimately distracting and takes away from the character development and humor of the show. There’s a reason that many classic comedies stick with a formula in almost every episode: simplicity begets creativity. Because the characters are so insane and the setting is so big the show often zooms between small and big ideas without planning how it will all pay off. The cliffhanger from the second season finale isn’t really dealt with, Kimmy races between different interests, jobs, schools, and challenges every single episode, making it impossible to keep up or care. Jacqueline’s storyline has completely devolved into uninteresting drivel as she battles her in-laws to change the name of the Washington Redskins, though in various pathetically unrelatable ways.

The first season was so insanely perfect because it actually dealt with its set-up throughout the season and ended on a high note. The second season also dealt with its plot well, but this season it’s just a lot of white noise. Still, it remains a very funny show. I laughed at least twice during every episode. I can also say that though Kimmy zooms between too many interests, she does learn a lot throughout the season, and seeing her become that much closer to fulfillment post-bunker is incredibly ingratiating. Titus Burgess also gets much more screen time and he gets to sing a lot more, showcasing his comedic aptitude and raw musical talent. The show also tackles important subjects like morality in organized religion, gay culture, forms of intelligence, gentrification, and how people get in their own way. More often than not I thought deeply about many of the issues covered in this show, and that in itself is truly interesting.

Of course I will watch the fourth season, not just for more 30 Rock cameos (there were a ton this season) but because this is a well-written if formless show. Perhaps Fey and her writing team needed the sitcom format to rein them in, in the past, and the show needs more structure going forward. In any case this show is still funny, still eccentric in the best of ways, and stars great people.