Master Of None (Season 2)
Created by Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang, Master Of None is a comedy series unlike any other. With its premise being a look at the personal and professional life of 30 year old actor, Dev (Aziz Ansari), while he navigates life in New York City, the first season of Master Of None took a swipe at one specific issue per episode. For example, one focused on contraception, one focused on the challenge of dealing with parents when you’re first generation American, one looks at the challenges of being an actor of Indian descent while trying to find interesting roles in television, one deals with misogyny, and one deals with the impact co-habitation can have on a relationship.
Season 1 was exceptional television, with remarkable performances from all concerned. But, rather than dive straight back into production on a second season, Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang waited two years until they had a story they wanted to tell – and the result is something very special indeed. Instead of very specifically discussing one particular issue per episode, this second season follows Dev on something of a voyage of self-discovery, and takes small detours into philosophical and social observations along the way.
Episode one finds Dev living in Modena, Italy, where he’s been learning how to make pasta and connecting with the local residents. Shot in black and white, the episode pays homage to classic Italian cinema, while depicting Dev having something of an awakening when he meets a woman he’d like to date. As the season progresses, Dev hosts his best friend Arnold (Eric Wareheim), who’s on his way to a wedding, and the two face a number of personal truths as they take in the Italian countryside. Dev then returns to New York and attempts to resume his life there – working as the host of a TV show and dipping into internet dating.
In an excellent season, episode 8 (“Thanksgiving”) stands out, as it depicts a number of Thanksgiving celebrations shared by Dev and his best friend Denise (Lena Waithe) as they grew up. Beginning in the 1990s, the episode explores the family situations of Dev and Denise through childhood, bringing them right up to the present day – covering the years in which Denise was figuring out her sexuality, and trying to reconcile that with her family. The episode is notable for supporting performances from Angela Bassett and Kym Whitley – as well as direction from Melina Matsoukas, and a script by Lena Waithe and Aziz Ansari.
