I was a loyal fan of Tina Fey's 30 Rock, which was the reason that drew me to watch this show. I watched a few episodes, and was profoundly disappointed. Compared to the sharp wit and even emotional attachment Tina Fey was able to build in 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt feels like a stale pizza from a fast food restaurant.
It's definitely not the worst of comedies out there - the show is a light hearted, warm, and family friendly comedy. I, however, came in with expectations that this will be on 30 Rock's calibre, and was disappointed.
The characters here lacked depth. Kimmy Schmidt didn't feel at all like a real person - every 5 minutes or so she would squint her eyes and pout her mouth in an over dramatic expression of victory, and the plastered on theme of female power. She is framed as the strong independently woman, but in the short 13 episode of the first season, 3 men were romantically involved with her character. Cyndee is at best a non-descript friend of Kimmy's - at the end of a season, I don't know how to describe the character.
There's no developed storyline. Other than the main premise that Kimmy had been kidnapped and cut off from the world for 15 years, there's not much else to go on. The three on and off men of the first season made no sense to me. Titus's career transformations from robot to singer (or at least tried to be) to waiter to internet sensation, mixed with quite a few initiatives that led to nowhere felt like a circus show.
The show went for cheap jokes. I don't know how many times the show suggested Kimmy's anachronisms were suppose to be funny. Kimmy's stepfather plays dumb to a level where I am more annoyed than amused. All the way up to the last episode of season 1, there's a let me check my horoscope app joke. The wit in 30 Rock had very much been dumbed down.
The show, however, is not without its stars. Jane's performance as Jacqueline Voorhees is eerily similar to her character in 30 Rock, but regardless, maintains the same quality. Titus's character genuinely made me laugh, and certainly had a distinct personality.
Overall, I think the show was a let down. I referred to reviews here when I reached episode 6, and was encouraged to watch to the end for the pick-up in quality that never came. I finished the 1st season, and have no desire to go through the second.
It's definitely not the worst of comedies out there - the show is a light hearted, warm, and family friendly comedy. I, however, came in with expectations that this will be on 30 Rock's calibre, and was disappointed.
The characters here lacked depth. Kimmy Schmidt didn't feel at all like a real person - every 5 minutes or so she would squint her eyes and pout her mouth in an over dramatic expression of victory, and the plastered on theme of female power. She is framed as the strong independently woman, but in the short 13 episode of the first season, 3 men were romantically involved with her character. Cyndee is at best a non-descript friend of Kimmy's - at the end of a season, I don't know how to describe the character.
There's no developed storyline. Other than the main premise that Kimmy had been kidnapped and cut off from the world for 15 years, there's not much else to go on. The three on and off men of the first season made no sense to me. Titus's career transformations from robot to singer (or at least tried to be) to waiter to internet sensation, mixed with quite a few initiatives that led to nowhere felt like a circus show.
The show went for cheap jokes. I don't know how many times the show suggested Kimmy's anachronisms were suppose to be funny. Kimmy's stepfather plays dumb to a level where I am more annoyed than amused. All the way up to the last episode of season 1, there's a let me check my horoscope app joke. The wit in 30 Rock had very much been dumbed down.
The show, however, is not without its stars. Jane's performance as Jacqueline Voorhees is eerily similar to her character in 30 Rock, but regardless, maintains the same quality. Titus's character genuinely made me laugh, and certainly had a distinct personality.
Overall, I think the show was a let down. I referred to reviews here when I reached episode 6, and was encouraged to watch to the end for the pick-up in quality that never came. I finished the 1st season, and have no desire to go through the second.