No spoilers! I promise. So if you haven’t yet started the incredible “Lady Dynamite,” or you’re only a few episodes in, no fear.
Thank you, Netflix, for the gift of “Lady Dynamite,” because this show would not and could not have found a home anywhere else. With major broadcaster CBS passing on “Nancy Drew” for being “too female,” and then ABC axing the two female leads of “Castle” before ultimately cancelling it, mainstream broadcasting doesn’t seem like a happy home for women-driven shows.
And this show is complete in it’s uniqueness. But before I wax poetic on the art of this show — and I’ve got my poetry wax standing by and ready to buff — this show is great comedy. It’s steeped with genuine, clever humor and shouldn’t be missed for that reason alone.
But it is so much more than that.
About a fictionalized (?) version of comedian Maria Bamford, played by the actual comedian, Maria Bamford, this show is layered art. While you can watch it purely for the tart, satisfying comedy, you can tell, watching the first time, that a rewatch will yield even more.
Bamford has Bipolar II disorder, and the show explores the impact of that diagnosis on her life. And here’s its brilliance: it does it in a surreal way, leaving you pondering what is and isn’t real, what did and didn’t happen. This feeling expands in a meta direction, because you can’t help wondering, after watching, how much of it reflects Bamford’s journey.
And you just can’t know for sure. Giving those of us without experience with Bipolar 2 insight into what it’s like to live with the disorder, which can cause hallucinations.
As I said. It’s genius.
Yet it’s utterly relatable for anyone who has had trouble navigating the grown-up world of life. Which is pretty much everyone.
Netflix took a huge risk with this show, because it’s not like anything else. And just as I love it so much I want to make it wear doll clothes and have pretend tea with me every day, no doubt there are people who will have a visceral negative reaction.
There is nothing middle-of-the-road about it. Very little television strides boldly in the direction of its conviction; many things get watered down to appeal to as wide a swath as demographics will allow.
Not “Lady Dynamite.” It is entirely itself as television can be, and it’s beautiful.
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A Bit to Read 
I’ve never heard of this show. Not surprising, I’m just now getting into The Gilmore Girls! But will look for it because I enjoy women leads and I enjoy anything offbeat. Thanks for the heads up.
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It’s amazing! It just came out on Netflix, and it might have been targeted to me because it’s so up my strange alley. I can’t recommend it enough.
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You don’t hardly get real poetry wax no more. Only that cheap Sonnet Shine stuff, that runs out after fourteen lines.
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What about the Haiku Special? You only get 17 syllables!
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I’ll check it out next chance I get but wonder how you can make bipolar disorder funny. I’ve been thinking of cancelling my cable because there is nothing on to watch. They get rid of anything good. The last episode of Castle was so dark, I couldn’t watch the end. i loved Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars. I need light and fluffy and definitely funny!
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Oh, I’ve got you covered if you have Netflix! The humor comes from the naked truth of the show. At no point is mental illness a joke, and it doesn’t make fun of anyone with a mental disorder. It’s tough to explain, I’ve never seen anything like it, but I truly loved it.
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I’ll look for it. My son has Netflix but I don’t get much time to watch. When the temps hit 93, I won’t be moving a muscle next week. 😦
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ALREADY?! We were in the 80s, but wow. I hope you have air! Just let me know when you’re ready! But right off the bat, I suggest the Murdoch Mysteries. Fun, period mysteries. Slightly cheesy, but isn’t that the best part?
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Like the Murdoch Mysteries, Watching Midsomer Murders and enjoy them. Saw all of Rosemary and Thyme and the Miss Fisher Mysteries were my favorite. Dr. Blake on PBS is good and I hated to see Doc Martin end. Loved that series. I’m as odd a duck as they come. 🙂
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I haven’t tried Dr. Blake! How about Death in Paradise? Also a fun one. And I also loved Miss Fisher. They cancelled it, but have tried Mysteries of Laura? That’s a really fun one, as well.
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I think I saw some of Death in Paradise. Love Mysteries of Laura! I like anything with a bit of humor to it.
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I figured about the humor! If you enjoy a little quirky and offbeat, there’s Pushing Daisies (I loved that show!). I can’t think of more light mystery shows (the ones in my head right now are pretty dark).
On a non-mystery front, have you ever watched Miranda Hart? I love her.
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Saw Pushing Daisies. Liked it. Have not heard of Miranda Hart. Will look for it. We are insatiable beings, are we not?
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We are!! I saw something else on Netflix, and now I’ve forgotten what it was, darn it! This is a totally different thing,but have you tried Heartland? It’s a very wholesome show that doesn’t take a lot of thought. Or Eureka?! I love that show, if you can deal with a sci-fi theme.
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I remember Eureka. 🙂 Heartland sounds familiar but I’ll have to look. Won’t have much time for awhile anyway. Too much work to do. 🙂
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I hope it’s fun work!
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That’s it! I remember hearing about a TV show starring Maria Bamford. We are excited to start it – big fans of hers.
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You will LOVE it, I absolutely promise. It’s amazing, and I’m afraid it’s going to lose attention because of Bloodline coming back. I can’t wait to see what you think!
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I’m so glad this show is getting so much Love. Maria Bamford is friggin Awesome!
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Isn’t she?! I loved that show so much…I hope she gets another season.
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