Master of None is a dry comedy that looks at life as a millennial (or at least living in the 21st Century), from the social conventions that surround the characters, to questioning them, and deciding whether to fit with everyone else’s mould or break away, and in this it’s also a contemporary drama. The jokes are at times more poignant than laugh out loud, though there are a multitude of great scenes that will leave you smiling and nodding along with the show, whilst looking at those around you and asking, did you get that? It was clever wasn’t it?
The series’ creators being Alan Young, and Aziz Ansari the highly successful comedian/actor, who also stars as the leading role of Dev in Master of None. The series revolving around Dev’s adventures into dating, friendships, whether he wants children, the story of immigration and prejudice, religion, stereotypes and all the while following his transition from commercials to acting in TV/film – the jokes here being that much funnier. The dialogue is clear and to the point, though the storylines and relationships are better when Dev is talking to his friends/dates in a one-to-one setting, rather than in a group format where the script tends to fall a little flatter.
Well-acted with thought-provoking dialogue, Master of None subtly provides a more truthful portrayal of modern day living. The narrative for each episode containing so much that it’s like a wealthy series in itself, while some of the best episodes have had either flashbacks – which I usually can’t stand (but here it’s done with great humour and intermixed with moments of today so that neither dominates) – or the episodes have referenced other mediums such as TV and film clips, for example in the portrayal of ethnicity in the media.
Dev’s friends and family meanwhile are vastly different from one another; with some being more mature, cooler, stranger, funnier and in the case of Dev’s mum – whose played by his actual mother, Fatima Ansari, (the role of his dad also being played his father) – is direct, blunt and beyond straight faced, and it’s just sheer brilliance. Leaving me with just one question; how much do they crack up behind the scenes?
After a gap of four years, Master of None returned with a new style in season three, its humour drier, while the drama takes more of a centre stage, even if it’s late in getting there – prepare for the pace to be slow. It also turns away from focusing on Dev and instead follows one of the supporting characters; Denise, a novelist, and her new bride Alicia, who longs for a baby. The change in leading characters works well, and the relationship between the two seems effortless in its flow, at least at first, as the show follows the day-to-day unperfect world of life, both at home, and at work, but in this it verges dangerously close to being dull, despite excellent performances from Lena Waithe (Denise) and Naomi Ackie (Alicia). Perhaps a spin-off might have been a better decision than a new season (even if it has the subtitle ‘Moments in Love’), for it struggles to follow its predecessor’s brighter atmosphere, and replaces it instead with more realism. Even the quality of filming is different, with the show going for a grainy, colour-reduced, home cinema setting – in what I guess is an attempt to become more intimate. Although all of this may sound harsh, the season does progress nicely, and you come to feel more involved than just a mere fly on the wall as you watch the ups and downs of Denise and Alicia’s lives, and their relationship.
A jack of all trades a master of none – the last part summarises Dev’s character, and the lives of both his friends and family; for no one has that all-seeing wisdom and mastery of life, and in seeing Dev’s pursuits I’m not sure anyone does. Master of None shows that life is complicated, messy, kind, selfish and just one big hypocrisy, so why not join Dev at least in having some fun.
Creator: Aziz Ansari
Other notable works:
- Parks and Recreation 2009-2020
Creator: Alan Yang
Other notable works:
- Little America 2020 –
- Parks and Recreation 2009-2020
Season three co-writer: Lena Waithe
Other notable works:
- The One and Only Dick Gregory 2021
- Them 2021 –
- Queen & Slim 2019
- The Chi 2018 –
