Time to Leave the Bunker Again: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is Back ⋆

Kimmy Schmidt It’s a Friday night and you are running through Netflix trying to find a show to binge watch and you come across the following description:

A 14-year old girl is abducted and kept locked away in a underground bunker by a deranged religious leader only to be rescued 15 years later to the surprise of an entire country.

Sounds like the synopsis of a great crime drama, right? Not if that story comes from the minds of Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, instead you get the critically acclaimed Netflix original comedy The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which was originally written as a NBC midseason replacement and later sold to Netflix, follows Kimmy Schmidt (Ellie Kemper) as she adjusts to life after being rescued from an underground bunker where she had been kept for the past 15 years by Reverend Richard Wayne Gary (Jon Hamm). In the first episode, we witness the resuce of Kimmy and her fellow “Mole Women” from the bunker and watch as they immediately become media darlings, including a bystander interview that gains viral video fame. It is during this media blitz that, despite having only a 8^th grade education and no idea how the world around her has changed, Kimmy decides she is going to stay in New York rather than move back to Indiana. The rest of the first episode we are introduced to the majority of the rest of the cast as Kimmy first finds an apartment, and a roommate named Titus Andromedon (Tituss Burgess), in addition to a job as a nanny for self proclaimed trophy wife Jacqueline Voorhees (Jane Krakowski).

Early in the series, Kimmy decides that she does not want people to know about her past as one of the “Mole Women” so she works hard throughout trying to keep her secret hidden from those around her. While working for Jacqueline the goal of keeping her past a secret becomes more difficult as she runs afoul of Jacqueline’s step-daughter Xanthhippe (Dylan Gelula), who decides to find out all she can about Kimmys life before coming to work for them as their nanny. A running theme throughout the season is Kimmy’s search for a boyfriend. The first love interest that Kimmy finds is Charles (Andy Ridings), who after some awkward flirting back and forth become the first guy that Kimmy has ever kissed. When Kimmy decides to go back to school we are introduced to her next love interest in Dong Nguyen (Ki Hong Lee) who has a crush on her throughout his 5 episode stint, which ends when another love interest Logan (Adam Campbell) calls immigration to attempt to have Dong Nguyen deported. Shortly after finding out about Logan calling immigration to try and get rid of Dong Nguyen Kimmy ends that relationship also. In the final two episodes of the season, Kimmy is forced to face her past as Reverend Gary is put on trial for kidnapping the women and keeping them in the bunker for 15 years.

In addition to the secrets that Kimmy keeps there are several substories that include Titus and Jacqueline and their own secrets throughout the season. Titus goes from being a off brand character performer in Times Square to trying out for legitimate acting roles to becoming an internet sensation himself including making a song about Peeno Noir. Meanwhile we follow along as Jaquelines marriage falls apart and the truth of her Native American heritage is revealed. Other guest stars include Carol Kane as Lillian Kaushtupper, the hippie, untrusting of the government landlord. In what is probably my favorite guest star, show creator Tina Fey plays the role of Marcia Clark, of O.J. Simpson trial fame, who is tasked to prosecute Reverend Gary.

Fans have been waiting for over a year to see what new adventures lay ahead for Kimmy and her unique groups of friends. While trying not to give away to much information about the plans for the second season, Tina Fey has stated that despite the change in the distribution of the show the tone will remain the same. Fey said in a interview with Nerdist.com she does see some opportunities that became available by moving to Netflix, including giving them a chance to not have to worry about offending potential advertisers. While not much has been revealed season 2 Netflix did release a trailer on March 15^th to get fans ready for the new season. In the trailer we find out that Kimmy has a job at as a elf in year round Christmas store, still lives with Titus, and discovers cat and bunny videos on the internet.

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