Netflix Unveils First Looks at ‘Russian Doll’ Season 2
It may have felt like an eternity but one of Netflix’s most acclaimed series is finally coming back
The streaming behemoth has unleashed the first details about the long delayed second season of the mystery dramedy ‘Russian Doll’. Natasha Lyonne is returning as lead actress and showrunner of the new season.
Created by Lyonne, Leslye Headland and Amy Poehler, Russian Doll is centered on Nadia Vulvokov, a middle aged software engineer who has just turned 36 that finds herself reliving her birthday party, dying and then starting the process over again. Along the way, Nadia meets Alan (Charlie Barnett), a young man who is going through the exact same thing in his life, leading the two to try and solve the time loop problem together. Having done so at the end of the first season, season 2 finds Nadia and Alan four years later going even deeper into their pasts as they discover a time portal in New York City that will not only take them through multiple eras but also add a sense of danger of which they must find a way out.
As you can see from the premise, the series is very much inspired by films like ‘Groundhog Day’ and ‘Edge of Tomorrow’ which deal with time travel and repetition in fantastical and humorous ways and this series is no different. It deals with mature themes and complicated storylines with the characters but it also has a unique sense of humor about it as well. When the show premiered in February 2019, it was an immediate critical and commercial success earning praise for its writing, directing, performances and wit. It was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards including Outstanding Comedy Series and won the Outstanding New Program trophy from the Television Critics Association Awards.
With all of that prestige and success, it’s no wonder Netflix wanted more picking the series up for another season. Filming was supposed to commence in March 2020 but thanks to COVID-19, it was delayed by a year. alongside returning cast members, new cast members for this season include Annie Murphy of ‘Schitt’s Creek’ and ‘District 9’ actor Sharlto Copley in undisclosed roles.
It will be interesting to see how Lyonne and her team can top their work in Season 1 and what kind of direction the characters can go in. The three year wait between seasons will increase excitement among fans and critics but it could also make expectations all the more higher given the extra time the writers have had to craft this new season. Although the show has clearly done well, it hasn’t quite had the water cooler effect that Netflix shows like ‘Stranger Things’ and ‘The Crown’ carry meaning it is possible fans could easily move on and forget about Nadia’s adventures. However, Netflix still has plenty of time and all the marketing to let fans know about its return.