I adore "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt." The series is on a wonderful schedule of bringing out new episodes towards the end of spring semester, when finals are decimating my self esteem, and my social life is best exemplified by my relationship with my Netflix account.
Comedic shows are never expected to observe and work with trauma. Despite the fact that in this show, yes, the central character's origin story is largely set in the bunker she was kidnapped and trapped in for fifteen years, the show could have easily glossed over the aftereffects of an early life like that. Many comedic shows would do that, simply focusing on her silly antics in the city, and her goofy and fun loving personality which so offsets the energy of her New York City counterparts. Shows like this are by no means of poor quality, but they choose to let go of material that can deepen their character, cause it to grow and make its screen presence all the more exciting. "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" chose to honor their comedic influence while also addressing issues pertaining to mental health, self worth, and closure, and it's stunning to watch.
"It's not your fault that people leave, dummy."
Of all the lines that Tina Fey's zany drunk of a therapist uttered, this was my personal favorite. At her most unrestricted, filter-less state, she arguably told Kimmy what she most needed to hear. For the constant cheer that Kimmy wields is a coping mechanism for the many crushing doubts she has about herself and the people she loves. Not only does she feel the need to grin and bear it as a way of making it through, but also, she feels responsible for when someone else is making mistakes, unstable, or just flawed. She works to put a smile on every face she sees because perhaps joy in others can make her worthy of experiencing the same.
In unveiling the pain she feels, Kimmy is made stronger and more powerful by understanding herself to a greater extent. To be truly unbreakable is to have the wisdom to know when your needs have not been met, your dreams diminished, and to have the chutzpah to pick up the pieces and start anew
When she left the bunker for New York City, Kimmy was determined to live her life differently than the other bunker women. Victims though they were, Kimmy did not want to live her life as a victim alone, to simply profit from something that happened to her, rather than discovering what her passions are and creating something for herself.
Having spent her formative years locked away, Kimmy was not enabled to grow in the way that most do. She was not taught the pivotal lessons of teenage and young adult years, and now must quickly acclimate to the world that surrounds her and its expectations for the person she must be. At times, her lack of adjustment causes her to view the world in a very clear-cut, absolute way, but as she is starting to realize, that can be a dangerous way of seeing things.
The most valuable lesson that one can learn from this season is that embracing vulnerability does not make someone the kind of person that things only happen to, and it certainly does not prevent them from being strong, smart, and capable. As the people who surround her adjust to the same lesson, Kimmy learns that even for those of us who have not spent the majority of our years locked away from civilization, life is still messy, confusing, and worth working on... but laughter can always be found.
