Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs The Reverend’: TV Review
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt has always been one of the most creative gems in Netflix’s stable of brilliant original comedies, but the show has outdone itself. The show’s new interactive special, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend is the best episode in the comedy’s entire run. Using technology in its most playful way, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend doesn’t just tap into the underlying glee of its central character. Every single different outcome highlights the cast’s elasticity as comic performers and the show’s impeccably sharp writing. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend is Kimmy Schmidt at its finest.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt first hit Netflix in 2015 and immediately became a critical darling and comedy nerd obsession. The series was Tina Fey and Robert Carlock’s follow-up to 30 Rock, and although it was originally developed for NBC, the network passed, giving Netflix an opportunity to pounce. For four seasons, the show followed the adventures of the impossibly cheerful Kimmy Schmidt (Ellie Kemper), a young woman who has discovered a new lease on life after being trapped in a bunker for 15 years by a nefarious huckster who calls himself “The Reverend” (Jon Hamm). Kimmy tries to find herself against the dangerous and wacky backdrop of New York City. There she is befriended by her quirky landlord Lillian (Carol Kane), her over-the-top actor roommate Titus (Tituss Burgess), and her employer-turned-pal Jacqueline (Jane Krakowski)
This interactive special is able to iron out other creases that didn’t quite work the first time around. Those 10–15 second pauses in which the viewer gets to choose an option felt a tad awkward in Bandersnatch, while here they’re easily filled with one liners or visual gags. There are still early pathways that essentially go nowhere, but their presence can also be justified thanks to some enjoyable meta humour. Impressively, many choices do have a meaningful influence over how things unfold.
It took me two viewings to get to the happiest ending in Kimmy vs the Reverend, but both felt like markedly different experiences. It was surprising to see just how many unseen jokes cropped up during my second attempt, while the repeated lines were sharp enough to not lose any of their charm. Again, this is another instance where comedy just feels better suited to this format than drama, as the genre is arguably far more rewatchable. After all, most people revisit Friends or The Office more regularly than Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones.
Admittedly, the niggling feeling that you’ve missed out on certain jokes or storylines can still be a little frustrating, but it never seriously detracts from how enjoyable the episode is. In fact, this could well be considered one of the best yet, especially for longtime fans.
