Review: "Russian Doll" on Netflix

Russian Doll is about drugs.

Okay, it's not totally about drugs, but it's somewhat about drugs, and I really wanted to write "Russian Doll is about drugs" so I did. Okay, so that's out of the way now.

Actually, Russian Doll is about a woman who, while supposedly celebrating her 36th birthday, keeps dying in bizarre ways and then keeps reliving the same day over-and-over Groundhog Day style. Frustrated by this eternal recurrence, she ventures to figure out why -- dying again and again in the process -- eventually meeting a mysterious man condemned to the same fate. (And sometimes she does drugs.) 

I'm about half-way through this 8-part series and greatly enjoying it -- it's very funny, and I have no idea where it's going. That's a good thing -- it's completely unpredictable, very original storytelling. Natasha Lyonne plays the lead, and she's great -- fast-talking, wise-cracking, kind when she wants to be, tough when she needs to be, smart as hell, sexy in a dirty kind of way, no nonsense, unfiltered in her opinions, the ultimate NYC broad. The fact that she keeps dying is her only vulnerability. This is Lyonne's show in every way (she co-created it), and she's extremely watchable in every way.  

Obviously, Russian Doll set in NYC -- specifically the East Village, and the show rarely strays from the neighborhood. The show is a murder mystery, social satire, magical realist comedy/horror mash up and, something that is very hard to be these days, a great NYC show. 

Russian Doll is a great ride (especially, at one point, in an elevator but I won't give anything away).