The story of this show's creation is fairly unique - after the success of '30 Rock' Tina Fey and Robert Carlock came up with another idea for a show for NBC: a woman who was kept in a doomsday bunker for 15 years is finally released back into the world, but instead of being the seeds of a grim drama, the woman, Kimmy Schmidt, is relentlessly upbeat, optimistic, and just plain happy to be alive and free. Before a single episode aired, NBC decided they'd pass on the series and Netflix not only picked it up, but signed everyone to a two season deal right off the bat. And season one was a smash success. Constantly laugh-out-loud hilarious, and at times poignant and touching, Kimmy developed a very devoted following who anxiously awaited season 2's premiere.
And what happens in season 2 is truly amazing. 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' moves far beyond its origin, into something that is still insanely and absurdly funny (watching Lillian fight gentrification in the name of a non-existent gang, Kimmy and Dong's misadventures in the Poconos, and Jacqueline's madcap attempts to maintain her billionaire lifestyle on her millionaire budget) but even in between the laughs, the show hints at something much more emotionally honest and even painful. Titus stages a one-man show that shuts down his haters and showcases his actual stunning talent. He enters a heartwarming relationship with a young man who is just starting to come out of the closet and we get glimpses of the painful life Titus once led before he came out. Jacqueline transforms herself into a genuinely nice and considerate person. And in a surprising turn for what is undeniably a comedy show, Kimmy enters therapy, and for the first time, we see that despite her constant smile and whimsical nature, she's a woman who is hiding from the true horror of her past. It makes your heart ache intensely for Kimmy when you realize certain things (especially one thing made clear by the final line of the season). So when I say it is transcendent, I mean it in the most literal sense of the word - this is a show that has moved far above and beyond it's start as the zany misadventures of a girl out of her time and moving to Manhattan, and has become something much more moving and emotionally real. Season 2 is perfect.
FINAL SCORE 10/10
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