‘Master of None’ a new definition of Netflix-and-chill

  • By Hank Stuever The Washington Post
  • Friday, November 13, 2015 3:48pm
  • LifeGo-See-Do

“Master of None,” Aziz Ansari’s refreshingly optimistic Netflix comedy about yet another emotionally tentative, occasionally lovelorn New Yorker, bears at least a passing resemblance to FX’s “Louie,” the ingenious quasi-comedy starring Louis C.K. as a divorced father and comedian who also endures a series of strange personal encounters in the city, seen from the downhill slope that begins in the mid-40s.

Adhering to a Woody Allen aesthetic, both men write and star in shows that are about a version of themselves and their worldviews. But halfway through “Master of None’s” 10 episodes (which began streaming Friday), I realized that I was bingeing — and straight-up enjoying — a show that could just as easily be called “Millennial Louie.” The differences are as striking as the similarities.

As Dev, a 30-year-old Indian-American actor who works mainly in TV commercials, Ansari (who is 32) seems physically and psychologically incapable of summoning the neurotic sadness of a character who experiences anything like the banal inhumanity that accompanies one of Louie’s rainy days. Ansari just isn’t Gen-X enough for the deeply dyspeptic — and I mean that as a compliment, not only to him, but also to his ilk. They’re just happier.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Sunshine practically bursts out of Dev’s eyes and ears. The weather in his world is always cloudless and bright; Dev is happy-go-lucky even when his character experiences a momentary setback, whether he’s realizing (for a big example) that his role as an infected immunologist in a mediocre disaster movie called “The Sickening” is not the big break he hopes it will be, or discovering (for a small example) that the taco truck he’s spent hours researching online has run out of tortillas just as he’s arrived.

He’s a child of immigrants who brushes all bummers aside, whether he is experiencing racist attitudes at a sitcom casting call or waiting too long for a bartender to finish assembling an artisanal cocktail. Yet, despite his positivity, Dev seems to think his life requires ennui or existential fretting in order to be worthwhile.

Dev and his friends (played by Eric Wareheim, Kelvin Yu and Lena Waithe as Arnold, Brian and Denise, or, categorically, a big white dude, an Asian guy and a black lesbian) are highly skilled at conversational sarcasm and hipster indifference. They were brought up in a world drenched in irony and crankiness, but they’re just too darn fuzzy and warm to sustain a negative outlook. The word we landed on when the subject was Zooey Deschanel (of Fox’s “New Girl”) was “adorkable.” “Master of None” is deeply, unabashedly adorkable.

At the same time, “Master of None” partakes in Dev’s generation’s obsession with identity politics. Our satirists and joke-tellers have become the new pundits — and in “Master of None,” that role can sometimes feel obligatory.

Dev and his friends also have a habit of discovering truisms that aren’t so profound: Immigrant parents deserve respect. Old people used to be young and interesting. Discrimination is real. Marriage is difficult.

Still, the studiously easygoing aspect of “Master of None” (even the opening and closing song choices seem scientifically determined to elicit a smile) comes across as an almost revolutionary concept. We watch so much television in which we expect bad things to happen to self-absorbed characters who are subjected to excruciating awkwardness and heartache (“Girls,” “Shameless” “You’re the Worst,” “Orange Is the New Black” — all billed at one time or another as comedies), that it takes several episodes to recognize that those disastrous, humiliating moments aren’t in store here. Even tense scenes in “Master of None” lack a certain anguish, as when Dev’s brief affair with a married woman (“Homeland’s” Claire Danes) is discovered by the woman’s husband (Noah Emmerich of “The Americans”).

As such, the overall effect of “Master of None” is one of fullness and fun. It doesn’t amount to any meaningful hill of beans, but, as I understand it, that’s no longer the point. This seems like a long way of invoking the Seinfeldian concept that “Master of None” is another show about nothing, minus all traces of Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David’s inherent distrust and disdain.

“Master of None”

10 episodes, streaming on Netflix.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Auston James / Village Theatre
“Jersey Boys” plays at Village Theatre in Everett through May 25.
A&E Calendar for May 15

Send calendar submissions for print and online to features@heraldnet.com. To ensure your… Continue reading

Kyle Parker paddles his canoe along the Snohomish River next to Langus Riverfront Park on Thursday, May 8, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tip to Tip: Kyle Parker begins his canoe journey across the country

The 24-year-old canoe fanatic started in Neah Bay and is making his way up the Skykomish River.

Photo courtesy of Historic Everett Theatre
The Elvis Challenge takes place Saturday at the Historic Everett Theatre.
A&E Calendar for May 8

Send calendar submissions to features@heraldnet.com. To ensure your item is seen by… Continue reading

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e plug-in hybrid compact luxury SUV, shown here in the European version (Provided by Mercedes-Benz).
2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e PHEV has a 54-mile range

The plug-in hybrid compact luxury SUV goes a class-leading distance in full electric mode.

RAV4 Hybrid XSE AWD photo provided by Toyota USA Newsroom
2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Provides 39 MPG And 566-Mile Range

Versatile And Functional Compact SUV A Family Pleaser

Photo provided by Subaru U.S. Media Center
Subaru Adds Bronze And Onyx Trims to 2025 Ascent

Three-Row Family SUV Delivers Equal Parts Safety And Comfort

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid SUV (Provided by Hyundai).
2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid evokes outdoor adventure

Boxy styling leaves lots of room for gear. A refined ride ensures comfort around town.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna minivan in the top-level Platinum grade (Provided by Toyota).
2025 Toyota Sienna maintains reputation for fuel efficiency

Every model in the minivan’s lineup has a hybrid powertrain.

An autumn-themed display at Wagner Jewelers in Marysville. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Shine bright with Snohomish County’s top jewelry finds

Three dazzling shops where elegance, craft, and sparkle come together.

The 2025 Lexus TX 350 is a three-row luxury SUV. It’s offered in Base, Premium, Luxury, and F Sport Handling grades (Provided by Lexus).
2025 Lexus TX 350 welcomes new F Sport Handling model

Unique exterior highlights, a glass roof and sport-tuned suspension are among the attractions.

Hybrid Touring Photo Provided by Subaru U.S. Media Center
2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid Increases Fuel Economy And Range

Sixth-Generation Model Receives Complete Refresh

Image from Pexels.com
Top 3 Cannabis Shops You’ll Love in Snohomish County

Looking for quality products and good energy? Let’s discover the top spots.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.