I never heard of this TV show before. And I certainly never heard of long time comedian Maria Bamford as it seems most people haven't either. But as it turns out, I was pleasantly surprised by her new Netflix show, "Lady Dynamite," when I stumbled upon it this summer.
The beginning of episode one grabbed my attention with Maria cheerfully selling "Lotrisse Duvois" Hair Products. And then the rest of the show was so different in every sense of the word. So be warned; you may feel inclined to turn it off halfway through the first episode because it truly is that different from anything else. But if you give it a chance, you just might find it's uniquely hilarious like I did.
It's loosely based on the life of Maria Bamford including her relationships with people, her show "Lady Dynamite," and glimpses of her past. And while the show has many noteworthy characters, Bamford is the star and for good reason too.
The show is ironically named "Lady Dynamite" because Maria Bamford's personality is something quite less than that. She's quirky, friendly, at times timid, and shines in a way that is unlike any comedian I know. Her humor nestles in a place between self-deprecation and a wonderful absurdity. She also gives a much needed and friendly spotlight to mental illness on her show and that's not something you see often on TV today, let alone comedy. In addition, her many hidden voices will make you love her even more. In fact, her real voice is the one you'll claim to be fake and maybe a little off-putting, but you get used to it, I swear.
With other hysterical characters, the show gains a lot of natural and diverse humors. Bruce is Maria's agent who strongly believes in her talent and show. Grisham is Maria's loud and bold representative who makes Maria hilariously uncomfortable. And lastly, Larissa and Dagmar are Maria's close friends who you'll most likely love when side by side.
I think the reason Bamford hasn't been too popular is because she hasn't been on the right platform in front of the right audience. But now I think she has finally and deservedly found that with "Lady Dynamite.
So, if you're looking to watch something truly original and quirky, look no further. And if you believe that things don't need to make sense to be funny and that even darker topics can be joked about, then this show is for you. Give "Lady Dynamite" a chance and see what you think. You may find it's your new favorite show and find yourself smiling and laughing a lot more than you expected.
