If you’re one of two readers who regularly read my column, you’ll know that I had a strong and negative reaction to the Master of None pilot that debuted, along with the rest of the series, on Netflix earlier this month.
I found the introductory episode stiff, the humour anything but funny, and the execution stylistically in contrast to what the episode was going for in terms of its tone. It felt like a mismatched and haphazard offering that left me confused as to how this show was earning such rave reviews across the board.
Despite my pessimistic review, I tried to remind myself that pilot episodes are rarely indicative of a show’s true and full potential. With that said, I made it my mission to watch the rest of the first season to see if my opinions held true or if my view of the show would change over time.
Boy, what a difference another nine episodes can make…
Those who enjoy Louie, The Mindy Project, and the films of Woody Allen will find much to love in the first season of Master of None. Though the first episode is a stumble in the wrong direction, the rest of the episodes shine as a hilarious critique on race, family, sex, and relationships.
Created by and staring Aziz Ansari as Dev, a 30-something actor who wanders through life in New York, Master of None supports its narrative with ten episodes, each based on a particular subject that is addressed in combination with a loose narrative weaved throughout.
Depending on the subject, each episode may play with various editing techniques or narrative styles that not only keep the show fresh, but experiments with different doses of humour. Some are subtler than others, but overall I was laughing throughout.
I must admit, I am not usually a fan of Aziz Ansari’s stand-up routine, but his humour is far more relaxed and at home in this medium and form.
The scenes are usually conversational, and most of the actors do a great job of contributing to the mood. The camera work remains stiff and oddly cinematic despite this, but after a few episodes, I forgot that it was an issue.
Maybe it changed and the humour kept me distracted. After all, I can only binge so many TV shows with my schedule that is dependent on binge-watching anything and everything. Give me a break.
What’s great about a lot of the episodes is that there is a lesson learned, but it doesn’t feel like it’s forced down your throat or preached in a Republican sermon.
The realizations Dev makes are subtle, but the ripples they make throughout the episodes are potent. Now, these aren’t lessons that are particularly life changing, but they represent the small steps that we take in life in the pursuit of becoming a better and more experienced individual. It makes Dev more human, more relatable, especially since the lesson is learned, meaning that mistakes are made along the way.
As of recent, I have found that a lot of comedy is bogged down by a heavy dose of seriousness, a key moment that the writers feel is important to the character before the film or season ends.
I understand why they do it, I understand why they think it’s right, but we all watch comedy because we want an escape from the serious; we want an escape from life and the stresses that it brings. We want to laugh.
Master of None seems to recognize this. When the show takes a serious turn, which is rare, it pairs with humour like fine wine. Though not a sitcom or a similar style of ha-ha, Master of None controls this rapid-fire change of pace like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, a show that can focus on a serious discussion of race that brings us down-to-earth, but quickly turns a corner to reveal a joke that lifts us up again.
Say what you will about the sitcom format, say what you will about these two shows, but you must recognize and acknowledge the talent required to write such short episodes and create both a potent dose of humour and control it from start to finish.
You’ve got just over 20 minutes to tell a story, include a small subplot, give each character a memorable moment of screen time, make your audience laugh, and leave them with something to think about. Go ahead, give it a try.
If you can stick around after the pilot, which I still see as an immense disservice to the rest of the amazing and hilarious episodes, your loyalty will be rewarded. If anything, Master of None’s title may be misleading. The show is indeed a jack-of-all-trades, but it is also a master at most.