The latest season of "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" is probably not the first place you would turn for moral guidance, but after spending my Saturday binge watching season 3, I realized that there are some lessons to be taken away from the usual nonsense. Below are the most important themes from each episode that kept me thinking (when I was done peeing my pants from laughing).
1. Holding onto the past only prevents you from moving forward
In this first episode, both Kimmy and Lillian are having a bit of trouble moving on. They become stuck in the past and are afraid of embracing their future. Only when they let go of the people tying them to their past can they truly move on. Kimmy teaches us to leave the past in the past and to look ahead to our bright futures.
2. If you love someone, sometimes you need to let them go (only after reenacting Beyoncé's visual album, Lemonade).
After a brush with a Beyoncé-esque cheating scandal, Titus decides to express his hurt by creating a lower budget version of Beyoncé´s Lemonade. He discovers that his boyfriend has not been in fact cheating on him, but something still isn’t right. Titus realizes that Mikey needed to see what other men are out there for him. Sometimes, no matter how much you love someone, you have to let them go and be free to discover who else is out there.
3. Sometimes you have to give up what you want to help someone else.
As much as Kimmy would love a divorce from the reverend, she realizes that stopping another woman from marrying Richard Wayne Gary Wayne is probably more important. Sure, we all have things we want, but Kimmy teaches us to keep an eye out for our fellow women.
4. “If you don’t give up and think positive, things will work out.”
Kimmy encourages Xanthippy Vorhees to continue her studies at Columbia University even though she would like nothing better than to leave. I know I could use a little bit more of Kimmy’s optimism in my life.
5. “Not giving up is the female orca.”
Of course any devout Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt lover will remember fellow mole woman, Gretchen Chalker, who joined the reverends cult willingly. Kimmy finds out that Gretchen has tried to start her own cult the same way a man would. In order to talk Gretchen out of blowing up her cabin cult, she tells her that women can do things better than men can. Kimmy compares her to a female orca leading her young. While few of us may be trying to start our own cult, Kimmy’s advice can empower all of us women. Remember, females are strong as hell.
6. White privilege is real, especially in the university system
Kimmy accidentally receives a scholarship to attend Columbia University as well as a spot on the rowing team. A black classmate of Kimmy’s had been working his butt off for years just to get in, and Kimmy was simply handed the spot. He was rightfully a bit angry. It’s important that we check our privilege and remember that a lot of people don’t have the opportunity to attend college or have to overcome a lot more difficulties to attend.7. Change doesn’t always have to be scary.
Good old Lillian continues to fight to prevent the gentrification of her beloved neighborhood after a natural grocery store begins being built on the corner. Her boyfriend and owner of the organic grocery teaches her that she does not have to be afraid of change and sometimes progress is necessary. The unknown can be intimidating, but we can’t live our lives stuck in the past.
8. It's important to own up to your mistakes
Titus Andromedon is no perfect human. In episode 8 he begins to open up about some of his faults, and he becomes a better person because of it. This season is a great time of growth for Titus, and we can all learn a little from his evolution. If we can’t be honest with ourselves and others about our faults, then we can’t move forward.
9. Church people aren’t always what you think they are.
Kimmy decides to give real religion a chance. Though she becomes convinced that all church people are hypocrites, she is proved wrong and realizes that maybe they're not so bad. Sure, there are plenty of wishy-washy conservative Christians (*cough* Mike Pence), but there are plenty of kind Christians who accept people as they are.
10. Greed is part of human nature.
Jacqueline's quest to change the name of the Washington Redskins remains a focus in season 3. After failing to convince the owners, her parent's give her some sage advice. As long as people exist, greed will exist. Greed drives people to do some pretty terrible things, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still ways to fight it.
11. Don’t force a relationship that isn’t working.
Titus tries his hand at a new relationship after breaking up with Mikey. Unfortunately, things aren’t quite right. Titus realizes that he shouldn’t force a relationship that isn’t meant to be. We all want to make relationships work, but sometimes it’s better for both parties to give it up.
12. Taking care of yourself is part of being a good person.
Kimmy takes a philosophy class and learns all about utilitarianism, she takes the lesson a little too far and decides that it is for the greater good that she share her story about her time in the bunker even though she doesn’t feel comfortable talking about it. Her teacher later reveals to her that it is also important to take care of yourself and do what feels right for you. Sure we should all go out of our way to contribute something good to society, but you shouldn't have to completely break yourself in the process. You’re important too.
13. The world is not always like a “Vidalia onion”
In the final episode of the season Kimmy goes through a lot of crap. After being kicked out of Columbia and her dreams of being a crossing guard are crushed, she declares that the world is like a Vidalia onion, “a lie, smelly, and makes you cry.” While yes, sometimes this can be true, Kimmy also learns that sometimes the world isn’t so bad. When one door closes, another door opens. We aren’t limited to just one dream, and sometimes the world can throw us opportunities we could never imagine.
I can’t wait to see what lessons we learn from Kimmy next season!