Kimmy Schmidt is the indomitable comedy heroine of Netflix, bringing contagious positivity and laughter to the new original series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock.
After 15 years of living in an underground bunker designed as a shelter bracing for the pending apocalypse, four Indiana women nicknamed “mole women” are finally rescued.
Starring The Office’s Ellie Kemper, this 13-episode series follows mole woman Kimmy’s challenging transition from religious cult life, to bustling New York City life. Unlike the other three girls’ choice to bask in their newfound Mole fame, which is mostly contingent on being a victim, Kimmy takes a chance with the Big Apple and pledges to start anew.
Her roommate Titus Andromedan, portrayed by Tituss Burgess, is a gay, aspiring performer who helps Kimmy adjust to her new life, all the while pursuing his dream of being on Broadway. His shenanigans often get Kimmy in trouble, but with the help of their landlady Lillian Kaushtupper, played by the wonderful Carol Kane, Kimmy learns how things work.
Jane Krakowski returns to her second Tina Fey production as Jacqueline Voorhees, a wealthy socialite who hires Kimmy as a nanny to watch her bratty son and spoiled step-daughter. Krakowski brings a similar kind of neurotic humor she trademarked as Jenna Maroney on 30 Rock. Jacqueline’s obsessive, vain behavior teaches Kimmy a lot about self-worth, plastic surgery and selfies.
Although the series can be reminiscent of the absurd, satirical humor used in 30 Rock, Ellie Kemper steals the show and transforms it into something entirely different.
Because Kimmy hasn’t seen the sun since the ’90s, she isn’t caught up on pop culture and phrases (“What in the ham sandwich?”). Kimmy’s cluelessness isn’t so bad that you feel sorry for her. You’ll find yourself rooting for her in every episode; especially when the time comes to take Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne to court for lying about the apocalypse and locking the women up.
The show is also filled with special guests # Jon Hamm as the charming Reverend, Martin Short as a botox-obsessed plastic surgeon, Dean Norris as a straight coach, and Tina Fey as the mole women’s incompetent lawyer, just to name a few.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is definitely something to binge-watch. Unlike some sitcoms, it’s something you can watch more than once. You’re guaranteed to catch a joke you missed the first time. Plus, the opening music is super catchy.
Get watching soon, because it’s been said that Netflix ordered two seasons of the show, which means we may be seeing much more of Kimmy in the future.
