Although it might not be the ideal situation right now, having to be confined to our houses and not really being able to see our friends, there is so much opportunity to try new things while you are social distancing. Whether it be reorganizing a space, painting a picture, taking up a new hobby, or if you’re like me, starting to binge a new TV show.
It started when I got back from an amazing spring break in Canada to the news that I was going to have to move out of my dorm as soon as possible and say goodbye to all of my friends for a whole 5 months while the world fights this pandemic. Now having a lot more time on my hands, I knew I wanted to start a new show that was on my Netflix list to watch, and it especially needed to be one that was fun and uplifting.
The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt proved to be the perfect remedy for this sudden change in my life. It is comedy, quirkiness, and heartfelt content-packed all into one. Also, what makes it even better is that Tina Fey is an executive producer on the show, so you know it will be great. In the first few episodes, we are introduced to Kimmy, who was just rescued from 15 years of being trapped in a bunker by the crazy doomsday cult leader, Reverend Richard, with a group of other women. Instead of returning to her life in Indiana, Kimmy chooses to leave everything behind and go to New York on a whim. She rents out a room from Titus, a gay aspiring Broadway performer, and they become an unlikely pair of friends. Titus soon helps Kimmy try to re-acclimate to the modern world and teach her how to live in the big city, while Kimmy shows to be a positive reinforcement in the lives of everyone she soon forms relationships with. It is an uplifting show with great supporting characters, like former socialite Jacqueline Vorhees (played by 30 Rock’s Jane Krakowski) and the crazy but endearing landlord of Kimmy and Titus’s apartment, Lillian.
I’m currently on the 3rd season out of the 4 they have made, and I look forward to every episode I watch. The writing is so well done, that you become so connected with the characters and want to root for them every step of the way as they undergo a journey of self-discovery. The one character that I have the most admiration for is Kimmy herself, who has proven to be a strong female character portrayed on TV without it coming across as trying too hard. Also, strangely enough, she reminds me of someone I went to high school with. Anyways, I have compiled a list below of why Kimmy is such a powerful female character on current television:
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Her Attitude
Although she lost 15 years of her life to being trapped in an underground cult, Kimmy did not let that ruin her spirit. Throughout her time there, which we are able to see through flashbacks, she serves as moral support for all the other women and was the only one that the Reverend wasn’t able to break. She refuses to waste any more of her life after being rescued and has the courage to move to New York with minimal possessions and knowing no one in the city. In the beginning, her actions can almost be viewed as cartoonish, but you soon learn to love and respect that part of her character.
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Her Independence
After choosing to stay in New York, Kimmy is able to start building a life for herself without relying on the fact that her story is famous nationwide and she could get by in life by just saying she was a “Mole Woman”. She chooses to push out that part of her life, manages to accidentally get herself a job as a nanny for the rich Jaqueline Vorhees, and makes so many friends along the way. One thing I really admired in the show is that Kimmy was able to experience love and relationships for the first time, but she was never defined by a love interest. She still was able to operate on her own and never felt that she had to change herself to be with someone.
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Her Ambition
Being in a bunker for 15 years meant that she missed out on the opportunity to graduate high school and learn so many things. Kimmy takes the initiative to get her GED and further her education, showing that it is never too late to go back to school. In the episodes I am currently on, Kimmy is starting college and is working to get into the elite Columbia University, never losing hope that she can get into college and build a career for herself, even being naive to how the process works.
Overall, I highly recommend that anyone with Netflix watch The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, as it shows just how powerful laughter, perseverance, and having a positive outlook on life can be during times of hardships. I think it is something that the world really needs right now.
