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Russian Doll (2019)

2019 · Comedy,Drama,Mystery · sci-fi-speculative, contemporary-realistic

Russian Doll poster

Russian Doll is a darkly comic, emotionally precise prestige drama that weaponizes a time-loop conceit to excavate trauma, depression, and the roots of self-destructive behavior. Season 1 is widely regarded as a near-perfect single-season arc — Natasha Lyonne's abrasive, wounded Nadia slowly peeling back the layers of her own dysfunction like a matryoshka doll. Tone is simultaneously bleak and funny, Kafkaesque and tender, with a New York downtown-bohemian texture and unusually thoughtful lighting and sound design. The show rewards patient viewers who push past its deliberately off-putting opening episodes. Season 2 is broadly considered a significant drop in quality and is best treated as optional.

From the reviewers

The time loop. Such a great metaphor for the ongoing fight against this feeling of being stuck with one's own feelings and feeling powerless against them.
The lighting reminds me of classic Mario Bava movies (I think this is intentional), and the music is very well sought.
please do not expect laugh out loud comedy. This is a very dark and sometimes very unpleasant series. Yet, it is sometimes hilarious in its own way.
there are so many twists and turns in the development section of the 8 episodes, you will be glued to the screen.
In the end, I promise you, you will have watched a cathartic experience that will leave you very happy.

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