Aziz Ansari’s new show – the first season of Master of None came out all at once on Netflix recently – is great. I highly recommend it. It’s all about a diverse group of young friends in New York City – he is an actor, his girlfriend has some kind of job in the music business. He treats some complex and tender issues with a really light touch – things like ageism and old folks’ loneliness . . . race and diversity . . . sexism . . . marriage and children and how we never really know what’s going on inside someone else’s lives . . . immigration and parental love and relationships with adult children. These are heavy topics, but they’re treated gently. There are no bang-you-over-the-head messages – he shows rather than tells. He has a goofy kind of comedy (to be honest, although I loved him in Parks and Rec and in this show, I’ve never really enjoyed his stand up routines). His goofiness and levity suits this setting. He and the actress who plays his girlfriend are luminous – they have a great chemistry. His goofy band of friends are perfect as well. It feels really developed – some shows require at least an episode or two for the main characters to get into their groove, but these folks all seem fully formed. He cast his writers in a lot of the roles – a nice touch. Their acting isn’t super polished, but I don’t mind – they are clearly clever, and endearing. Anyway, I recommend it. Give it a watch if you have Netflix.
Growing old gracelessly.
