Review: Master of None

At its best, Master of None is more groundbreaking, funny, sad, and modern that most of the other shows on TV these days. At its worst, the show is a tad self-indulgent and on-the-nose about the ideas it tries to explore, but because they are ideas and stories so little explored or skipped over, this is easily forgiven.

Master of None is, in some ways, an interesting companion piece to Girls, Lena Dunham’s comedy-drama series that had a similar tone and revolved around its characters in modern day New York City. Much like Girls, which was written, directed, produced, starring, and created by Dunahm, Aziz takes over all these same roles for his own respective show. Where the two really deviate is while Girls was a satirical look at self-absorbed millennial white women, Master of None is less satirical (at times), more grounded, and much more diverse.

Season 2 of the hit Netflix show brings about more personal and professional ups and downs for Dev (Aziz Ansari), as he tries to get over his past tarnished relationship by going to Italy, with the first episode picking up as Dev finds himself working a pasta making apprenticeship in Modena. The episode is a black and white

Season 2 of Aziz Ansari’s hit Netflix show shines by focusing on the stories not often told.

homage to Italian Cinema, specifically The Bicycle Thief, as Dev’s bike is stolen and he tries to retrieve it (There is also a copy of The Bicycle Thief, among other titles on his bedside table). It is while in Italy at his apprenticeship that Dev meets Francesca (Alessandra Mastronardi).

Soon Dev returns to New York where he gets a gig hosting a show called Clash of the Cupcakes (think Cutthroat Kitchen, but, ya know, with cupcakes). Soon Francesca comes to New York to stay for a month while her fiancé is in town on business. The two begin an emotional affair, with Dev seeing her as his chance at finding happiness. The romance is the biggest plot point of the show, and provides some of the show’s best, most touching, and beautifully crafted moments, though the show’s greatest strengths are elsewhere.

It is episodes like “First Date,” which explores dating apps, and especially “New York, I Love You,” which centers around the intersecting lives of different New Yorkers on an average summer day, in which Master of None demonstrates the “Jack of all trades” part of the expression the show gets its name from; the music choices, the cinematography, and some great acting, not to mention laughs. Master of None season 2 is a great 5ish hours of Woody Allen-esque humor and drama.