Round Two: The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Season 1, Episode 2 “Kimmy Gets a Job!” (B-)

I really want to like this show, and there are some things about it that really do work. The problem is that there is a certain infantile quality that defines it, and which reduces some of the plotlines that could be far funnier to less sophisticated, broader attempts at comedy. Titus in general fits that bill, and rallying all of the other mistreated costume renters to demand their $200 security deposits back wasn’t terribly worthwhile. It’s as if this show sees the world through Kimmy’s eyes, where Titus lives in relative luxury yet obsesses over $200 that he can’t get back because he spends his days in an Iron Man costume in Times Square. Kimmy, on the other hand, is enterprising no matter the situation, trying hard to be able to keep her job and show that she is dedicated. Grounding Xanthippe was a particularly triumphant moment, even if she too exemplifies the lack of depth of characters on this show. Mrs. Voorhees truly is a role created for Jane Krakowski, allowing her to be fully over the top and completely oblivious to the real world around her, dressing up to impress her absentee husband and staging a luxurious party so that he would be interested in her again. Kimmy’s heart is what saved the day, as it did in the pilot episode, coupled this time with a surprising willingness on Titus’ part to be attacked repeatedly by the birthday boy who wanted nothing more than to be a supervillain.