Hello there, dear reader. You’re probably expecting to see a review for a movie on a website called Movie Buzzers, but we’ve decided to try something a little different. It’s fall, the season where we put on sweaters, massacre pumpkins and huddle close to our TVs (laptops and smartphones are also acceptable) in the hopes that our favorite weekly adventures may distract us from the looming Winter Solstice.
This is the first article in a new weekly series in which I will review an episode of one of the many television programs I consume each day, with the focus on a different series each week.
This week is, as you may have noticed, dedicated to the Season 1 of the Netflix Original, Master of None.
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ziz Ansari is truly a modern Romantic. In Master of None, Ansari and co-creator/co-writer Alan Yang present viewers an unmediated look into the life of Dev Shah (Aziz Ansari), a 30-year-old actor living in New York. Dev is by no means a struggling New Yorker, but that does not mean his life isn’t full of complex, emotional and engaging stories. In fact, it is Dev’s comfort that lend itself to the series’ most interesting conflicts, while still keeping a surprisingly optimistic tone.
Master of None’s supporting cast is outstanding. Thanks to Ansari, Yang and the rest of the writers, the cast don’t come off as characters, but as a group of real people. They float in and out of one another’s lives in the same way a real group of friends will. Some episodes will focus on Dev’s work life as an actor and in others he’s attending a party with friends, this keeps the cast on a constant rotation and avoids overcrowding scenes as, naturally, someone’s friends at work and friends at home are different.
In fact, most scenes are one-on-one interactions, a muscle the writers flex proudly. Dialogue feels real and still services the scene. In the latter half of the season, Dev begins dating Rachel (Noël Wells) and the scenes shared by the two are intimate, funny and full of heart. Wells’ performance stands out as she switches from light to intense, and every place in between all in the same scene.
Another stand out performer is Shoukath Ansari, Aziz’s real life father playing the role of Dev’s father. His delivery is passionate and sincere and his occasional appearances provide for some excellent father-son as well as cross-cultural moments.
Master of None is a cultural touchstone for the 21st century. In the vein of Woody Allen, Ansari vocalizes his opinions on relationships, careers, friends, food, growing old, race, sexuality, among a myriad of others and this series cements his position as an auteur. Anyone who is familiar with Ansari’s comedy, book, or his career will feel at home instantly. Master of None’s contents, tone and visuals embody Ansari’s tastes, which makes the series incredibly addicting.
Series directors Ansari, James Ponsoldt (The End of the Tour), Lynn Shelton (New Girl) and Eric Wareheim (Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!) create a unique visual style for the series that keeps Master of None from looking like any of contemporaries. Often-used wide shots allow the audience to be fully immersed in the real locations the show visits and their varying ambiences create a great sense of space. However, the camera isn’t afraid to go in close for the more intimate scenes.
Overall, Master of None is an incredibly genuine, emotionally resonant comedy that is confident in its strengths from the outset. It’s safe to say that Netflix knows they have a hit on their hands, and Aziz Ansari’s brilliance will return for a second season.
The 10-episode first season of Master of None is streaming now on Netflix
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