Russian Doll Review: The Netflix Show is a chicken soup for the existential soul

What about happens after your death?

It's one of the biggest mysteries that humans have been thinking about for ages and yet no one has a definitive answer to that. The Russian Netflix doll asks the same question and then drives you deep into the black hole. The trailer shows just enough to make us addicted. Nadia, played by Natasha Lyonne (of Orange is the new glory of the Blacks), celebrates its 36th birthday, then dies. After her death, she finds herself at her party to relive the same moments, but each time that happens, her choices in the timeline have different consequences. She continues to die and to relive the moments that preceded her "new death".

The Russian doll is the best of Netflix in 2019 so far. The show is a perfect mix of comedy, existentialism, mystery, with good music (Harry Nilsson's "Gotta Get Up" will get stuck in your head). The series of eight episodes is superimposed as a traditional Russian doll, each layer being disbadembled as the story unfolds in multiple chronologies.

(Spoilers ahead)

The first three episodes, like Nadia, are perplexed by the events that are happening to her. Methodically, she tries to tell why she is stuck in a death loop. She questions the seal that she smoked, the stairwell of the building is considered a deadly trap in her head and even Oatmeal, her cat, feels like an omen of death. But the tone changes drastically after his meeting with Alan (Charlie Barnett) at the end of episode three, also stuck in a deadly loop.

While Nadia's approach to solving the death loop is logical and scientific, the series attributing to her technical knowledge, Alan believes that this is morality. He sees this loop as a curse for being a bad person, but sees it as a bug that needs fixing. While they're trying to solve this mystery, the series presents us with their emotional baggage that has a mesmerizing meaning, especially the childhood scenes of Nadia.

Russian Doll asks the viewer to decipher the codes, but does not answer the mystery of life (or death). Instead, this allows you to interpret the signs. Alan is featured in the first episode himself, and this makes it a smart writing when the same moment is revisited in a later episode. The rotten fruits that are still ripe inside, the missing mirrors, the missing, the people who appear many times (grocery shoppers, party guests) are all Easter eggs that make you think of the puzzling nature of the show long after you arrive.

The Homeless Horse, Professor Mike, Deli Owner Farhan, Ruth Therapist, Alan's Ex-Girlfriend, Beatrice, Nadia's Ex-Boyfriend, John, change speed depending on the narrative but their basic traits remain intact. The overlapping stories of Nadia and Alan bring these two stories closer together and the series ends up in a new space as they both realize that they do not want to be alone in this loop that could last eternally.

Alan and Nadia approach the loop of death differently but come to the same conclusion.

Unlike many other series, the first season of Russian Doll is an independent unit. The last two episodes drive the viewer into the existential gap, but as the story ends, it gives you a sense of relief. Nadia and Alan revolve around thinking that even in the darkest times, we should be here to help. Stuck in the loop of death, they helped each other and continue to do so in alternative chronologies of the final in order to be able to come out "alive".

Co-created by Natasha Lyonne, Amy Poehler, and Leslye Headland, Russian doll of high rates in binge. With apt cliffhangers and a story that moves at the right pace, it's hard to stay away from Russian Doll. The series is currently streaming on Netflix.