Still want Arrested Development Season 5?
Try Lady Dynamite Season 1.
The other comedian replies Look at that brick wall, Louies gonna shit.
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Meta and self-referential humor is nothing new to the television landscape at this point.
The first is how relentless and damn near reckless it is with its meta humor.
To watchLady Dynamiteis to almost passively participate in its creation.
Characters constantly break the fourth wall.
The commitment to the meta as both a comedic gadget and even sometimes dramatic gadget is just staggering.
The other way in whichLady Dynamites meta nature goes the extra mile is that it is so frequently compassion-based.
Reference the two comedians advising Maria to not include stand up on her show.
Theyre saying that not just because its a funny joke.
Theyre saying it because they actuallycare.
Comedians love Maria Bamford because shes hilarious.
Maria Bamford is enthusiastic, unusual, charismatic and just downright hilarious.
but also due to Bamfords own struggles with her mental health.
Bamford revealed a few years ago that she had been diagnosed as Bipolar II.
The first episode is the longest, strangest, and most inaccessible.
Its the exact opposite of a traditional pilot which usually tries to be as accessible and broad as possible.
Episodes two through four are shorter and more traditionally structured but dont abandon the shows frequent meta flourishes.
The plot, inasmuch as there is a plot essentially follows Maria Bamfords current life.
Fred Melamed co-stars as her flagrantly incompetent but completely lovable and loyal manager, Bruce.
Bamford as herself is phenomenal.
Shes believably wide-eyed and vulnerable while still maintaining her tremendous sense of humor.
The unseen MVPs here are undoubtedly series co-creators and showrunners Mitchell Hurtwitz and Pam Brady.
Bamford even appeared as one of the better aspects of the much-maligned season four.
In a way,Lady Dynamiteis a return to form for Hurwitz as much as it is for Bamford.
And good for him!
Good for everybody, really!Lady Dynamitebrings to the table two crucial Hs Its honest and its happy.
The fact that its also funny doesnt hurt either.
Season 1 ofLady Dynamitedebuts May 20.
Rating:
4.5 out of 5
