Some days just seem never-ending: missed alarms, late starts, irritable interactions. You just want for it to be over. But what if it never ends?
That’s the premise of 8-episode Netflix series, Russian Doll, co-created by and starring Natasha Lyonne, about a woman stuck in a time loop as she repeatedly dies and reliving the night of her 36th birthday.
Natasha’s Nadia Vulvokov is a caustic, intelligent character. A chain-smoking, promiscuous software engineer with a penchant for doing every kind of drug – as she exclaims at one point “who likes drugs more than me? No one” – Nadia’s dark, lonely childhood in the company of seemingly schizophrenic mother is hinted right from the beginning of the series, before becoming more important later on.
The time loop begins as Nadia gets hit by a car after her birthday party as she looks for her beloved cat, Oatmeal. The first episode introduces characters that are important to Nadia – from best friends Maxine and Lizzy, to therapist and maternal figure Ruth to real estate agent ex-boyfriend John – and sets the scene for the pivotal moment of the accident at the end of the episode which triggers the loop.
The next few episodes go by in a series of humorous and sometimes dark deaths from falling down the stairs over and over again to freezing to death in the company of a homeless man, as Nadia tries to figure out how to get down the stairs without breaking her neck, and more importantly find out the reason for her never-ending misery.
Towards the halfway mark of the show comes a more serious, yet poignant turning point as we are introduced to Alan Zaveri (Charlie Barnett). A young man stuck in a similar loop which sees him methodically live a life that he seems completely comfortable with; in contrast to Nadia’s frazzled reaction.
Nadia and Alan – who died at the exact same time at every single turn – form an unconventional friendship, as they attempt to navigate their predicament and get themselves out of it.
The narrative of time loops is nothing new in the film-verse, popularised with the classic ‘Groundhog Day’, but Russian Doll brings a fresh perspective to the sometimes-overused plot point. The show is about taking that step to follow your gut instinct to help someone in need when you see them needing it.
Alan rejected by his long-time girlfriend killed himself on the night that began the loop. Nadia who saw him struggling at the convenience store she frequents thinks of helping but doesn’t. And she’s given that chance again- to see if she succeeds.
The show is not about time loops at all, despite it being central to the plot. It is about friendship, and how much a small act of kindness can change the course of someone else’s life.
A short show that can be binged in a night, Russian Doll is a clever, heartfelt show that shines from beginning to end for its message, and also leaves you with the question – what would you change if you had a chance to repeat today?
By Malvika Padin