‘Russian Dolls’ season 2 review: Natasha Lyonne spends time at her own game

Each scene, sequence and episode of the show is fraught with many social and philosophical questions, all of which are important and carry a certain weight.

Each scene, sequence and episode of the show is fraught with many social and philosophical questions, all of which are important and carry a certain weight.

Season two comes four years after Nadia Vulvokov (Natasha Lyonne) and Alan Zaveri (Charlie Barnett) figure out a way to escape the never-ending time loop, just days before Nadia’s 40th birthday. After four years of relative normalcy (the experience of time as a linear concept) the two are pulled back over time for another tango.

While season one dealt with the protagonist saving themselves from dying over and over again, they now deal with the meaning of living. In the latest season, Nadia and Alan are often seen looking within, looking at themselves, and exploring themselves… making it all the more personal.

Surrounded by existential questions, the characters try to close with some of the traumas that were hinted at in the first season. Over the course of seven episodes, the show, true to its nature, grapples with questions surrounding the futility of life. russian doll Children also offer a wise commentary on the relationship with their parents, and quietly wonder if we choose to love the people we love.

The protagonists, in their quest to live, are seen delving into their past to better understand themselves, and the show, successfully closing the time loop, opens a portal to observe time from a different perspective. Is: Time Travel.

While the idea of ​​time travel is tempting, the show doesn’t let viewers get bogged down in figuring out the logistics of it all; It directly serves to decode the affairs of the heart and mind which troubles both. We see the characters deal with issues such as generational trauma, and grief – something they inherit like a prized inheritance. It involves swapping characters, falling into voids and getting a chance to be a part of history that will ultimately decide a life of its own.

Each scene, sequence and episode of the show is fraught with many social and philosophical questions, all of which are important and carry a certain weight. The treatment of women through time is beneficial to the audience, and its study of the human psyche, the philosophical questions that have plagued people for generations, and the incomprehensible nature of time is cleverly dealt with, while drawing its own interpretations. leave room for and conclusion

The author also brings subtle commentary about the dangers of greed and materialism—which, like everything else, are neither overdone nor undercooked.

like time, russian doll There is also a morbid sense of humor and Leone’s comical timing on screen adds more sparkle to the dialogue.

The conversation between Nadia and Maxine (Greta Lee) where Maxine stares loudly, “Do the dead men get all the plaques?” And Nadia replied, “Where are the monuments to us living women?” Deserves a plaque of its own. The visual language of the show, especially when showing female friendships, deserves mention.

The allegory, consisting mainly of mirrors and travel, fits perfectly into the chaos that continues until the final episode. Also, the use of precise historical events with the personal lives of the characters is a brilliant commentary on the politics of existence. Meanwhile, references to classic plays and great cinema are easily placed in the scenes; by Samuel Beckett waiting for Godot For the filmography of Robert Altman.

As the show progresses, the plot gets weirder and the twists become more real. But it all ties in nicely at the end, albeit not like a loop. Questions raised about fate, closure, and generational trauma remain with audiences well into the seven episodes… withstanding the test of time.

Season 2 of Russian Dolls is currently streaming on Netflix