Interview with Abe: Master of None

As Emmy voting is underway, I’m delighted to share some of the interviews I’ve been able to conduct with contenders across all categories. 

For Netflix’s “Master of None,” here’s production designer Amy Williams. Click through to read the conversation we had for Awards Radar.

What I’m Watching: Master of None (Season Finale)

Master of None: Season 3, Episode 5 “Moments in Love, Chapter 5” (B)

It’s hard to know whether this is going to be the series finale or if this show will return in some other form years from now, but for now, this is the last we’re going to see of it. I’m not sure why I expected some sort of satisfying finish that brought everything together and included more than a few sparse exchanges of dialogue, but the episodes leading up to this one were pretty informative in terms of content and structure. I do have a greater appreciation for the physical surroundings of the characters after speaking with production designer Amy Williams, so a return to a poorly-renovated cottage wasn’t a bad thing. But there wasn’t too much context about what’s going on in Denise and Alicia’s lives other than the little they said to each other, with them instead spending more time just being intimate and in each other’s company. Denise’s speech about feeling like a sheep while they were looking at the literal sheep on the farm was more about her than about the two of them, and the acknowledgment that they were in their old house trading stories about kids they have with other people started to bring things back to reality. The suggestion that they should just keep going until they got caught confirmed that they both knew that this couldn’t last, and that this “moment in love” didn’t necessarily apply to how their real lives look. It’s an interesting concept but not one that was as riveting as this show’s style and pacing tried to make it. The comedy-drama fusion present in the first two seasons often felt more poignant than this season’s hands-off approach, which wasn’t bad but at times felt a bit dry and lacking, especially compared to what came before it and despite a very strong performance from Naomi Ackie as Alicia.

Season grade: B
Season MVP: Naomi Ackie as Alicia

What I’m Watching: Master of None

Master of None: Season 3, Episode 4 “Moments in Love, Chapter 4” (B)

I was able to screen the first episode of this season just ahead of its premiere and had the opportunity to watch this installment as well but opted not to since I’m a stickler for watching things in order, even if they don’t necessarily follow a narrative progression (like anthology series). But in this case, the two episodes that came in between one and four are crucial plot-wise, though the length and pacing of the premiere were more indicative of what was to come here. It’s strange to think of this show as a comedy and Naomi Ackie as a supporting actress in a comedy since she gets such an opportunity to shine here, carrying an entire episode in a way that feels much more involved and vibrant than the considerably less enthusiastic Denise, who doesn’t want to put nearly as much effort into anything as Alicia wants to put into trying to have a baby. Back in the city, she’s diving right in, and this slow-paced saga was all about the intensity of the process and the rollercoaster of emotions that come with good news about possibility and then less optimistic updates about actual viability. Calling her mom for encouragement when she had to inject herself was sweet, and it was good to see her try to keep up her positive attitude, and the doctor’s, through it all. I’m not sure that I would describe the contents of this episode as “moments in love,” aside from those of Alicia towards her future child, but I’m intrigued to see what the normal length finale will present in terms of any closure and more than one character on the screen at a time.

What I’m Watching: Master of None

Master of None: Season 2, Episode 3 “Moments in Love, Chapter 3” (B)

There was something distinctly cruel, however unintentional it may have been, about the realtor advertising one room as a nursery to the couple touring the house while Denise was within earshot. The general theme of this episode was that Denise isn’t taking all of this as seriously as Alicia is, likening it to a fight that they should be able to work through while continuing not to acknowledge just how much angrier Alicia was. She wasn’t interested in talking and just wanted Denise to sign, which she eventually did without much argument given how unhappy Alicia was with this entire progress. It seems that Denise has checked out of a lot of relationships, as indicated by her mother telling her that last year she had to talk to Denise’s assistant around her birthday. She was ultimately supportive of Denise, telling her that it would pass, something that probably isn’t all that comforting at the moment but should ultimately help. The new toned-down version of Dev was also a good fit for Denise in this moment, there to be casual as if things weren’t anywhere near as serious as they actually are. Seeing all these slow, motionless shots of the house, I kept thinking my Internet had gone out or my TV had frozen, but after talking to production designer Amy Williams, it’s so interesting to learn the true intention that went into crafting this house (which was actually built in a convention center in London) and how all those slow shots are a production designer’s dream.

What I’m Watching: Master of None

Master of None: Season 3, Episode 2 “Moments in Love, Chapter 2” (B+)

This episode was considerably shorter than the season premiere, and it’s hard to know how streaming shows like this will function since they can vary tremendously from installment to installment. We saw a good deal of the honeymoon phase of the relationship in the opener, and now we got a harsh return to reality, one that shows how Denise and Alicia have drifted so far apart that they’re not even aware that they’re both cheating on each other. Heather’s visit felt very intimate from the start, and their conversation about cookies without milk, Denise’s second book, and Alicia’s trip to Baltimore were second to their unspoken dynamic. Denise offering to drive her home took us immediately to the dark, winding road, and that car crash was so sudden. Alicia’s arrival to the hospital was dramatic and appropriately emotional, but they didn’t have much time to celebrate Denise being okay. There’s a real honesty to the way they speak to each other, even if Denise was reticent to answer at first, but it’s clear that they’ve both drifted apart and that neither of them is fulfilling the ideal of a partner. Alicia expressing that her “thing” wasn’t a fling but possibly something much more serious felt almost weaponized to describe how unenthused she was about what Denise was putting into the relationship. That parting shot of the coat hooks was appropriately melancholy, and it’s hard to know what positivity lies ahead after this solemn conclusion to a quiet and mostly somber episode.

What I’m Watching: Master of None (Season Premiere)

Master of None: Season 3, Episode 1 “Moments in Love, Chapter 1” (B+)

I really did not expect this show to return, and seeing the announcement about the upcoming premiere one month ago caught me by surprise. It’s been four years since season two dropped, and it’s an unexpected pleasure to experience more of this show. One thing I’ve always appreciated about Aziz Ansari is that he’s happy to share the spotlight, allowing his co-winners at both Emmy ceremonies, Alan Yang and Lena Waithe, to deliver speeches while he stood silently by. I, as I’m sure many others did, wondered whether him stepping back from the lead role was in response to the issues brought up about his conduct a few years ago which didn’t quite derail his career but led to a lengthy absence, and I didn’t think that he was going to appear in the show at all. But instead, like at the Emmys, he just pivoted focus to someone else he wanted to spotlight, and showed up again as a very unlikeable and unkind Dev who was unnecessarily brutal to his girlfriend when the truth came out in front of Denise and Alicia. Denise’s story is definitely different than Dev’s but it also works well, and just as the season two installments in Italy felt like a departure from reality, so too did this opening episode, which ran very long and covered a lot of ground. Naomi Ackie is a fantastic addition to the cast, and it makes me want to watch the second season of “The End of the F***ing World” since I somehow never managed to get around to it (I did see her in “The Bisexual”). There’s something so natural to their relationship, and while it’s not all happy, it’s very intimate in a way that doesn’t feel invasive or overly dramatized. It was nice to see Darius, played by Anthony Welsh, a standout supporting cast member from “Pure,” so eagerly volunteer to be their sperm donor and for that process, however unsuccessful, to be easy, familiarity, and only slightly humorous in nature.

What I’m Watching: Master of None (Season Finale)

Master of None: Season 2, Episode 10 “Buona Notte” (B+)

After last week’s terrific episode, this was a fitting finale, one that doesn’t provide the same closure a lot of other series do, especially since it’s unlikely that this show will return anytime soon given Aziz Ansari’s ambivalence towards continuing the show. Dev’s hot new show was all set to take off and be a huge hit, and then all of a sudden there were allegations from all over the place that Jeff was a womanizer with quite a history. Dev’s attempts to distance himself from a man purporting to be his best friend were horrendously awkward, and his exit from Raven’s talk show managed to be even worse than Jeff scoffing as he walked out in the middle. Jeff also took Dev’s acceptance of the allegations poorly, leaving him back at square one in terms of his career, probably at a disadvantage given the negative press and the fact that the show won’t even make it to air. All this led to Dev reacting very harshly to Francesca’s attempt to let him down easily, and, very unexpectedly, it was Arnold who was the voice of reason to tell Dev that things couldn’t have worked out the way he had imagined they would since life isn’t that uncomplicated. I was ecstatic when he ran into Rachel of all people on the street, but he didn’t even process that, ending up in bed instead with a very conflicted, though obviously not all that conflicted, Francesca. I’d love to see what happens next, and something tells me that we will since this show is very highly-regarded. While I didn’t love every single thing about this season, it did have some superb moments and definitely ranks as a highly recommendable show for me.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Ansari

What I’m Watching: Master of None

Master of None: Season 2, Episode 9 “Amarsi Un Po” (A-)

Now here’s another fantastic episode of this show, an extremely romantic extended installment with so many wonderful moments. Starting with Dev having to get into the sub for a photo shoot so that Jeff could take a bite highlighted the still banal nature of his work even though he was moving on from “Clash of the Cupcakes” to something more substantial, and it helped transition things to a much more poignant love story. Things got off to a superb start with someone on the street congratulating Dev for being an Indian who landed such a hot woman, and I like that it wasn’t a one-sided affair, with Francesca showing her unexpected love for big, variety-filled American pharmacies. Watching them yell at people to finish their food and pretend to be in a huge fight were some great snippets from the episode, as was their discussion of terms like “curry person” and “soy sauce people.” When she texted him while they were sitting with her fiancé and Arnold, that was a big sign that this was all in Dev’s head, despite his nightmare of having her literally rip his heart out. Her getting stranded at his house when the power was out and sleeping over – in the same bed – was another lost opportunity, especially because she noticed that a lot of the women on his celebrity list were Italian. Going for it at the club and then in the helicopter – on a non-private channel – were perfect instances of how even when things seem like they might work out, it’s not always so glamorous or easy. This episode is definitely one of the season’s best, and a sign that Ansari, who wrote and directed this episode, really knows what he’s doing and should be producing a whole lot more TV.

What I’m Watching: Master of None

Master of None: Season 2, Episode 8 “Thanksgiving” (B+)

Between when I watched this episode and when I sat down to write this review, this episode earned two Emmy nominations, one for guest actress Angela Bassett and the other for writing duo Aziz Ansari and Lena Waithe, who plays Denise. I’ve never found Denise to be one of the strongest characters on this show, though I did enjoy her “Stop what you’re doing, this is a citizen’s arrest” moment with Dev from season one. This episode was a very expository installment, one that started from a point in the past where Dev and Denise were just figuring out who they were. Casting Bassett as Denise’s mother was a strong choice, and it seems like it was a fun role to play. For however inappropriate Catherine was in how she reacted to her daughter’s sexuality, there was nothing more horrendously awkward than Nikki. Saying that she watched the news was a bad start, and Dev just made it even more unbearable by repeatedly asking her to say her Twitter handle over and over. Michelle was a much better fit, and it was sweet to see her offer to help with the cooking during Thanksgiving 2017, finally giving Catherine a sense of what it’s like to have her daughter find a great significant other. I didn’t love this episode as much as previous similar format installments, but it was still cleverly-done and a good showcase for the two writer-actors to pen their own lives and have a great time bringing it all to life.

What I’m Watching: Master of None

Master of None: Season 2, Episode 7 “Door #3” (B)

So at least now we have Dev and a few of his friends back, even if this episode didn’t feature any of the regular characters aside from Brian and both his and Dev’s fathers. I still didn’t find this installment to be all that poignant, hardly on par with some of this show’s better episodes. Dev’s cupcake-hosting gig doesn’t seem to be full of much depth, and therefore the offer of a seven-year contract gave him understandable pause. He does have a way with people, helping Cedric the Entertainer’s melancholy magician Magnificent Kenny get back on his feet and do a superb job guest-hosting the show when he was booked but shouldn’t have been. Jeff seems like he might not be a man of substance, yet he does appear to be open to the idea of entertaining Dev’s new show pitch. Hopefully finding out that Francesca is engaged won’t dampen it all too much and it could actually turn into something. Dev’s latest visit with his father was funny, particularly when he offered unsolicited commentary to his patients. We haven’t seen Brian in a long time, and now we got to see him walking in one of this show’s signature on-the-go life conversation, as he learned that his father was now dating not one but two different women. Both of them deciding that they shouldn’t be with them was an inevitability, and I like that he got a dog and named it Coco so that didn’t feel like a change was amusing.

What I’m Watching: Master of None

Master of None: Season 2, Episode 6 “New York, I Love You” (B-)

I remember hearing about this episode before I watched it, and I know that a lot of people loved it. It immediately reminded me of the 2009 film of the same name, which I thought I had enjoyed but upon returning to my review, I realized that I actually didn’t like, mainly because it was a pale imitation of the far superior “Paris, Je T’aime” from several years earlier. What disappointed me most about this episode was that it served as a break from the regularly-scheduled story of Dev and his life, with the main man appearing only in the episode’s closing moments to joke about how he didn’t know the plot of the movie that apparently everyone in New York City was well aware of thanks to its cross-cultural relatability/simplicity/stupidity. I appreciate the effort to be artsy and look at the melting pot of New York through a new lens, but I admire this show more when it does that but still centers on the same familiar characters who we love to watch in their natural habitats, albeit from a different perspective than we might be used to and see on a regular basis. Seeing how doormen are treated and expected to do things that are far beyond their job descriptions and then blamed when they fall short was mildly interesting, and the segment involving the deaf woman communicating with those around her had some value too. But I’m eager to spend the rest of the season with Dev, seeing New York through his very particular and perceptive eyes.

What I’m Watching: Master of None

Master of None: Season 2, Episode 5 “The Dinner Party” (B)

This show is certainly great, and I’m enjoying it a lot more than I was at the beginning of season one, but it’s also easy to identify the truly strong episodes from the much less engaging ones. In this episode we got the return of not one but two alluring women that we met earlier this season. Francesca was an important draw for Dev in Italy, and obviously coming to New York to see him with her boyfriend conveniently not in tow could have meant an open opportunity for him, as others tried to convince him it was. Yet the eager cupcake show host didn’t go for it, and instead ended up with quite the solitary ride home which served as the closing extended shot for the episode. He also had a date with Priya that didn’t go nearly as well as the first time and instead felt a whole lot like the end of their date when they ran into her ex who had just gotten back from Syria and Dev tried to one-up him with a story from his cupcake show. I’m glad that the series isn’t featured so prominently and that Dev just considers it a job. I liked the casting of the reliable Bobby Cannavale, who won an Emmy for chewing scenery as a pasta-loving Italian gangster on “Boardwalk Empire,” as a chef who had not one but four dinners in the first night we saw him and represented a certain kind of celebrity who lives a life of luxury and doesn’t gloat but instead just keeps on going and indulging, never stopping for even a second just to slow down a bit.

What I’m Watching: Master of None

Master of None: Season 2, Episode 4 “First Date” (A-)

This episode was terrific, returning to a format that worked very well in the season one episode “Mornings.” The only thing that could make up for the absence of Rachel is an endless parade of other women who may or may not be interested in Dev. I’ve never personally used a dating app, but I do think this was a hilarious and probably realistic portrait of what it’s like to do that. The opening with someone’s friend choosing Dev for her and Dev responding with excitement that someone matched with him was great, and it only got better from there. I think my favorite date was definitely Priya, played by Tiya Sircar, who I immediately recognized as Real Eleanor from “The Good Place.” Running into an ex who just got back from doing war photography in Syria was an unfortunate follow-up, but maybe they can make it work even if she wants to take it slow. I also liked seeing Condola Rashad from “Billions” as Dev’s friend Diana who was having a great time celebrating the afterglow of what I thought was a moment he had set up and staged but then shot down his attempt to turn it into a backseat makeout session. The ramen blogger who had a boyfriend and just wanted to make friends was a bizarre but entertaining addition, and I love that Dev decided to just go for it and help his clueless date pick out new matches on the app during their date. Pointing out the racist jar after still sleeping with his latest date wasn’t a very noble move, but it was a terrific way to end a fantastic episode.

What I’m Watching: Master of None

Master of None: Season 2, Episode 3 “Religion” (B+)

I liked this episode a lot more than the other installment that can be easily compared to this one, “Parents” from season one. I also found this extremely reminiscent of a forthcoming fantastic film, “The Big Sick,” which stars another famous Muslim-born comic featured on a regular TV show, Kumail Nanjiani of “Silicon Valley,” in his struggles with his family’s religious outlook differing from his own. I can’t remember Dev ever mentioning anything about being a Muslim, though I’m sure it came up in that season one episode, and here he did his very least to convince his more religious relatives that he was in fact a devout Muslim. Encouraging his cousin to try pork while they were out was one thing, but opting to order pork when they were out to dinner together with his aunt and uncle was a much more pointed move that probably wasn’t necessarily. Dev was obviously bothered by the notion that he had to put on a front that wasn’t representative of who he really is, but he crossed a line into disrespectful territory by putting that on display in a way that was evidently going to make them uncomfortable and upset. His father was most concerned with the fact that they weren’t going for seafood, which was his original choice, and less bothered by Dev doing something disrespectful than with his having messed up the calm and made his wife angry. It’s cool that this episode tackled this topic, and I like that one of Aziz Ansari’s inspirations was a “Curb Your Enthusiasm” installment where Larry pretended to be a religious Jew to get his friend a kidney.

What I’m Watching: Master of None

Master of None: Season 2, Episode 2 “Le Nozze” (B+)

I didn’t expect to like this episode all that much since I’ve never really been a fan of Arnold. Fortunately, this was his best appearance yet, and his presence in Italy helped Dev to realize what was actually important to him. Dev is his own man, but it was still a lot of fun to see him indulge in the excitement with a surprisingly less irritating than usual Arnold, who was polite enough to ask if they were allowed to have free samples without buying anything and who had Dev come along to the wedding with him so that he wouldn’t do anything he really regretted. He still tried his best, of course, and I’m glad that it was presented in a fashion that didn’t highlight it as the focus of the episode and instead just served as a humorous subplot. The car getting stuck and Arnold getting stuck trying to get out of it was funniest for Dev first taking a selfie for perspective, following up on Arnold’s use of a photo with him to show his size. Best of all, Dev kept walking away to text Rachel a picture of his food or what he was thinking, and knowing that she’s still on his mind and vice versa is truly wonderful. Dev departing Italy was also sentimental, mocking the English of his chef colleague, and I wonder whether we’ll see her again once Dev makes what’s sure to be a difficult transition back to living in New York.

What I’m Watching: Master of None (Season Premiere)

Master of None: Season 2, Episode 1 “The Thief” (B+)

This show has been off the air for a year and a half, and therefore it’s really great to have it back since I had completely forgotten about its existence. It’s also a show that I grew to like as it went on, so I’m so happy to be reunited with it now. I love the idea that Dev actually speaks Italian pretty well, getting fully into the accent before admitting that he’s actually missed a good deal of the advanced part of the conversation. He’s also still prone to things like throwing his alarm clock out the window, following it up with a hearty “allora,” a word whose meaning he doesn’t know. Trying to get “prego mile” to happen and triumphantly throwing a “mangiamo insieme” at the haughty woman behind the counter were two particularly amusing moments that I think I liked even more because of my familiarity with the Italian language from my own time spent there. Meeting a woman who made a reservation for the wrong month and sharing a great birthday dinner with her was wonderful, and not only did he decide not to kiss her, he then had to contend with his phone being stolen by a fast robber on a bike. “Come se dice, funny coincidence” was another great line. At least Rachel’s still e-mailing him from Japan, so I’m hopeful that she’ll come back into his life. The black-and-white was a nice touch that gives this episode an added feeling of immersion into something totally different.

What I’m Watching: Master of None (Season Finale)

Master of None: Season 1, Episode 10 “Finale” (B+)

And just like that, this show is over, though I’m hopeful that it will be brought back for a second season. I feel like because it took me a few episodes to get into it, I didn’t fully appreciate it, but there were definitely some great installments along the way. This was a good closing episode, one that brought back the supporting characters just enough and focused primarily on Dev and Rachel and how their relationship panned out. I would have liked for things to work out between the two of them, and it was sad to see them part ways. Dev imagining how they would say their vows in the most unromantic and matter-of-fact way was helpful in illustrating how he felt and how he thought she felt about the institution of marriage and what it means to take a relationship to the next step, and that was crucial for eliciting her negative reaction to his unfortunate percentage exercise. Seeing her with different hair and a sudden desire to move to Japan because she didn’t want to feel like she had missed out on the opportunity was strange, but the best part was that it caused Dev to take the plunge and fly to Italy to go to culinary school, which is seriously cool. This show didn’t have a specific focus but it managed to get at a lot of what happens in society these days, with a fantastic central performance from Aziz Ansari and a great turn from the wonderful Noel Wells, who I hope we’ll see again in season two. On that note, let’s hope for a season two!

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Aziz Ansari and Noel Wells

What I’m Watching: Master of None

Master of None: Season 1, Episode 9 “Mornings” (B+)

It caught me off guard when this episode ended that there’s just one more episode left in this season, and it hasn’t even been renewed for a second round yet. I suspect it will be, though, considering its critical success and the praise for star Aziz Ansari, and so I’m glad I can look forward to more installments of this show that has really grown on me since its first uneven episodes. This was a perfect installment in terms of a concept that many experience in life: how mornings change when you are in a relationship and then when you live together. Dev proposing a game to encourage Rachel to keep the place clean was fun, as was his attempt to make his eventual losing move too entertaining for her. The waning excitement over using their newly copossessed surroundings for sex and other things was also humorous to watch, but naturally there was some drama to be found too with the news of Rachel’s potential new job in Chicago. Dev using the pasta maker to cook for her upon her return was very sweet, and it seems like they really got to a good place together. The best part of all this is how Rachel reacts to almost every situation or impression with a fitting response of her own, just as goofy and committed to having fun as Dev is, making them an amazing pair who, like his story said, may not live happily ever after, but is certainly very happy right now.

What I’m Watching: Master of None

Master of None: Season 1, Episode 8 “Old People” (B+)

This episode returned to the kind of theme that this show used over the course of its first few episodes, but I think it was more effective here than in the “Parents” episode people seem to love so much. This episode earns extra points for a relatively positive use of Arnold, who at first was trying to help his grandfather get a clearer picture on his VHS tape of “Twins” and then found himself bonding with his doll after his grandfather passed away. Dev talking about his relationship with his grandparents who live in India and don’t speak English was the perfect impetus for Rachel to realize that she should really visit her grandmother, who lives in the Bronx, more. I love how truly excited Dev was to get to talk to a woman whose life experiences enabled her to see what New York City used to be like, and offering to stay to hang out with her when Rachel had a work emergency to deal with was especially sweet. Agreeing to sneak Grandma Carol out of the nursing home to grab a great Italian meal was a bit riskier, though seeing how happy she was singing at the club with a thankful smile on her face when Rachel and Dev showed up made it all worth it. This show does a good job of enabling its main characters to grow as a result of their interest, however minimal, in what others older than them have been through and have to share with them.

What I’m Watching: Master of None

Master of None: Season 1, Episode 7 “Ladies and Gentlemen” (B+)

At first, I wasn’t sure why the episode opened with a woman we didn’t know being followed home by a guy who just wouldn’t leave her alone, and I thought it was just to show that Dev’s problems aren’t nearly as serious as those experienced by people around him. But, as this show has demonstrated, its episodes are very specifically themed, and the notion of women having to deal with things men don’t was emphasized throughout the half-hour. Dev standing up for his female colleagues was a nice thing to do, and naturally that led to him being ousted from the commercial so that women could play the main parts with men in the background. The best part of the episode was when Denise and Dev decided to not let the masturbating man on the subway go unpunished and shouted out “Stop what you’re doing, this is a citizen’s arrest,” which, shockingly enough, worked. I also loved how Rachel responded to Dev asking for them to call it a draw by running off and bragging about how she just won the fight with her boyfriend. Even when Arnold threatened to bring down this episode with his unnecessary presence and his immediate reversion to uselessness when he went with Rachel to help bargain down the price of her new couch, Rachel stepped in to save the day, proving that Noel Wells is this show’s best asset aside from its lead actor. I didn’t realize quite how far into this show I was, with just three episodes left that I’m very much looking forward to watching.