Review: Russian Doll Season 1-- Directed by Amy Poehler, Leslye Headland, and Natasha Lyonne

Russian Doll is a Netflix original series that follows Nadia, a Russian-Hungarian Jewish woman who in the first season turns 36. On the night of her birthday, Nadia attends a birthday party that is being thrown by her friend, Maxine. Surrounded by friends and acquaintances who adore her, Nadia still feels greatly out-of-place. We learn that the woman is not exactly an easy one to learn about nor is she necessarily someone who people truly understand. While on the surface we see a woman with a smoking habit, a dark sense of humor, and an aversion for anything even remotely related to vulnerability...we quickly learn just how human she can get. When a car hits her while crossing the street, Nadia finds herself reliving the same night. She goes on a quest to discover why she keeps reliving her birthday night.

Russian Doll is a psychedelic drama/comedy that deals with themes of life, death, and purpose. Immediately, the story itself starts out with Nadia looking at herself in the mirror. She is at her friend Maxine's apartment...which is set in an apartment complex that was formerly a school for Yeshiva students. Rather than emphasizing a scientific approach to time loops, Russian Doll is an exploration into the cultural, mystical, and philosophical notions of time. Set in Long Island, NYC, the film has scenes in familiar places such as bodegas and the New York subway. While the main character is searching for the answer in how to stop reliving her death...she ultimately encounters the answers to other important life questions that she has been grappling with throughout her life.

For the record, yes, several characters on the show do smoke. There is mentions of drug use and there is implied sexual content. There is also thematic elements of violence and it would be best not to watch it with children.

One more thing to add, Natasha Lyonne really outdid herself. While she was mostly infamous for her role in Orange Is the New Black, this character was the one that really introduced me to the actress. She performed the character well. Nadia is certainly no saint by any stretch of the imagination...but you appreciate her for her genuine nature, her wit, and her intellect.

One of my favorite quotes from the first season of Russian Doll is actually an exchange between Nadia and her friend, Alan. It's important to watch the series to truly understand the impact of it.

"You promise me I’ll be happy?”

“No. But I can promise you you will never be alone.”

I will also be reviewing the second season of the show. The two are drastically different in their depth and scope, and the questions that they wrestle with. To not deal with them individually would not deal this show any justice. You can watch the trailer for the first season of the show here.