There are many different reasons to watch and love a TV show, be it drama, excitement, action, shocking twists, or more likely a combination of all these elements and more. But if you look at TV as being something fun, and the whole point is to truly just enjoy it, then no show better encapsulated that this year than Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Right from the theme tune - with the ridiculously catchy 'they alive, dammit!' - it had viewers hooked, and being on Netflix meant that all 13 episodes were available to watch in one go. Coming from the brains of Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, this was an absolute delight. Taken at its premise, it probably shouldn't work: 'Four Indiana women are rescued from a doomsday bunker, where they were held captive by an oppressive cult leader, and then one of these - oh, let's call them Mole Women - moves to New York for a fresh start'. But work it does, and then some. In a pretty dark year, both in TV and real life, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt was the ray of sunlight; a shockingly brightly-coloured, sickly-sweet, show that, while undoubtedly slightly odd, manages to be utterly hilarious and completely charming. From the more straightforward fish-out-of-water comedy, to the gags concerning her new roommate Titus and employer Jacqueline, and the dark jokes that hint at the abuse she and the other women suffered in the bunker (with some strong underlying messages about the treatment of women), there isn't a moment that doesn't feel whip-smart, nor a joke that fails to land. Ellie Kemper as the titular Kimmy is gloriously refreshing in the role, naive and innocent, but also resilient and armed with the most incredibly beaming smile you will see on television. With just 13 22-minute episodes, it doesn't take long to blast through the entire series. All that means is there's more time to watch it again. All together now: "Peeno noir..."
NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far.
A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.
