What I’m Watching: Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Season Finale)

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Season 4, Episode 6 “Kimmy Meets an Old Friend!” (B-)

And just like that, we’ve reached the end of what ranks as the shortened television season ever to be nominated for a best series award at the Emmys. Though it’s technically only the midseason finale, I think these six episodes will stand on their own as compared with the remaining six installments that won’t be available to stream until late January 2019. Just one of these half-hours actually impressed me and showed me the best of what this show is capable of, and this final installment didn’t leave a particularly good taste in my mouth. I didn’t need an entire episode devoted to Kimmy saying goodbye to her talking backpack, and I often wonder why it is that this show is so juvenile when it’s capable of much grander things that still speak to Kimmy’s simplistic, naïve outlook on the world. The highlight of this episode to me was Jacqueline helping Xanthippe get some deserved revenge on the boys who made fun of her, cementing her place after she realized that she just wasn’t doing much as Titus’ agent and couldn’t stand not being rich. Titus stealing Kimmy’s manuscript seems to have worked out since he wowed the son of the executive who has to be in the room to prevent sexual harassment, so we’ll see if that goes anywhere. While I do think that Busy Phillips is funny, I’m not too sold on the introduction of her as Artie’s daughter from hell who Lillian now has to babysit. The Jewish humor employed was questionable, and ending the episode with a mysterious Israeli assassin (?) taking photos of Kimmy just felt weird and unnecessary. I’ve enjoyed this show on occasion and do laugh (and roll my eyes) at least a few times every episode, but I’d hope for better in the final slate of episodes coming in January.

Season grade: B
Season MVP: Ellie Kemper as Kimmy