"Russian Doll" is a step up on the "Groundhog Day" theme

If your problem with the film “Groundhog Day” was its lack of stair-related deaths and drug paraphernalia, this is the show for you. Netflix released the short series “Russian Doll” on Feb. 1, garnering fantastic critic reviews and a quick following online. With dark comedy at its finest and an increasingly creepy vibe, it’s an engaging experience from start to finish.At first glance, the plot seems like a rip-off of earlier models; Nadia (Natasha Lyonne) is hit by a car on the street outside her 36th birthday party, and suddenly wakes up back in the bathroom at the party, hours earlier. Confused, she slowly realizes she is caught in a time loop that brings her back to the same place whenever she dies. Spoiler alert: she dies a lot. In Nadia, Lyonne creates a lovable, self-destructive semi-drug-addict, handling her deaths with the indifference of a true New Yorker. While the show is entertaining from the first episode, “Russian Doll” truly hits its stride at the halfway point, with the official introduction of Alan (Charlie Barnett), a friend of a friend with whom Nadia has a chance encounter. Alan’s routine and stringency serve as a counterbalance to Nadia’s chaotic lifestyle. Both of them have much deeper traumas than meet the eye, and watching them slowly unwind proves to be a captivating experience. At the risk of spoiling the many fantastic plot twists this show provides, I’ll leave it there.The greatest strength “Russian Doll” has to offer is its characters. Although I would love to see full spinoffs dedicated to side characters like Nadia’s best friend Maxine (Greta Lee) and the local bodega owner Farran (Ritesh Rajan), they serve their purpose for the series well. Every character besides Nadia and Alan basically serves as set design, props to further the plot of the main characters’ stories. While this would be horrible in a cast ensemble, it works perfectly for “Russian Doll” because it allows the viewer to truly feel the experience of the time loop. They are caught in something only they experience, and trying to explain their predicament to others just makes them look and feel more crazy. Besides the amazing cast and characters, “Russian Doll” provides a catchy soundtrack and excellent cinematography. Everything blends together well to create a highly enjoyable four hours of viewing. Take my word for it: you gotta get up and watch this show.