Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is not sparing in its delivery of jokes. If you glance at your phone while watching an episode, you may miss a half-dozen quips. This Netflix comedy about a young woman starting over in New York after being rescued from a cult isn’t just a joke machine, though. Ellie Kemper is perfectly cast as the naïve but kind-hearted Kimmy and the writers surround her with other endearing outsiders, including a struggling gay actor and a burnt-out landlady.
The show is also a treat for the eyes. New York is presented in kaleidoscopic color, in stark contrast to the muddy-hued flashbacks to Kimmy’s time in the cult’s bunker. Even Kimmy’s outfits are clever visual plays on her surroundings. There’s so much going on in the first season that it demands a second viewing. And if you haven’t seen it yet, it’s perfect binge material for a rainy weekend.