In just ten 30-minute episodes, "Master Of None" has declared itself one of the best new series this year. On the surface, it appears to be another quirky series following a group of young, struggling friends. But when you start to dig deeper you find that MON is clever, progressive, and incredibly relatable. It is so easy to sense how much thought and personal reflection has been put into each and every episode. Issues that most American millennials face are presented in a truthful and hilarious way. Topics such as immigrant parents, finding work as a person of color, sexual assault on women, and many more problems are shown in a fashion that only Aziz Ansari could wear.
Here are five of the standout moments from "Master of None," and let’s hope for many more to come.
1. Gender Inequality
Episode 7, titled “Ladies and Gentlemen”, kicks off with one of Dev’s actress friends being followed by a creepy man she turned down earlier that night. Although her scenario didn't end badly, that doesn't ring true for all women, some of who end up being followed or even stalked. The rest of the episode shows Denise and Arnold giving Dev a little lesson on just how unfairly women are treated in comparison to men. As a self-proclaimed feminist, Aziz Ansari did an incredible job of making some of the issues women face every day well known.
2. Finding Work As A Person Of Color
“Indians on TV” starts off with a montage of young Dev flipping through television channels to find a series of offensive and poorly portrayed Indian stereotypes. Flash forward and adult Dev shows up to a movie audition for the role of “Unnamed Cab Driver”, where he is asked to do an Indian accent, refuses, and then is turned down the part. The point is made clear very early in the episode: the way actors of color are treated in the film and television industry is unacceptable. This episode was probably one of the most important; not only does it address a huge issue but it actively works against it.
3. Falling In Love
In episode 9, “Mornings”, Dev and Rachel move in together. Which at first seems like an amazing idea for the two lovebirds, but it turns into a series of angry mornings and dirty floors. What makes this so great is how real it is. No television couple argument has ever made me feel uncomfortable, as if I was sitting in the same room as the couple, before this. The episode almost seems unscripted because it is so raw and truthful. In the finale episode, Dev and Rachel do an activity where they write on a sheet of paper what percent out of 100 they are sure they should be together. The results are unfavorable and it makes both of them question if they are the right people for each other, a common question many young couples face. Lastly, I LOVE how they portray sex as being completely human and normal. Not super sacred and not taboo, just sex. Kudos, Master of None, for sending across a realistic portrayal of love.
4. Immigrant Parents
The most heartwarming episode of the season was probably “Parents”. First generation children Dev and Brian attend a double dinner date with their immigrant parents who they unknowingly take for granted. The two slowly begin to realize just how much their parents had sacrificed in order to give their children incredible lives. Also, the fact that Aziz Ansari’s real life parents play his on-screen parents make this episode even more adorable.
5. Considering Having Children
Birth rates among people ages twenty to thirty has dropped a whopping 15% between 2007 and 2012. There are multiple reasons for today’s young adults not wanting to procreate, including larger career goals, not wanting to pass on mental illnesses, and the fear of living a life unfulfilled. Dev is another one of those young adults who doesn’t plan on having children until he attends a friend’s child’s birthday party. He considers the realities of having children throughout a few hours of babysitting two kids.
If that's not enough to convince you, there are some pretty bad-ass cameos (Claire Danes, Father John Misty, Danielle Brooks!!!), beautiful on-screen diversity, and a pretty good score to back up the series. Don't worry, I have compiled all the tracks from Master of None into a nice little playlist for you all. Enjoy!
