Master of None season 3 review: a slow, dramatic build to a stunning finish

Returning 4 years after its critically lauded second season, Netflix’s Grasp of None wager its shortened third season on a whole plot and format shake-up. Season 3, subtitled Moments in Love, is 5 episodes of various lengths targeted on the married lifetime of character Denise, performed by Lena Waithe. Having discovered success after publishing her first novel, Denise and her spouse Alicia (Naomi Ackie) dwell in upstate New York in a stunning home, the place nearly all of the season takes place. (Probably a COVID-19 workaround.) Creators Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang yield the present to Waithe and Ackie, with Ansari directing the complete season. Whereas the season conjures some stunning moments by going deep on Denise and Alicia’s relationship, it additionally loses a big a part of the earlier seasons’ appeal, which got here from the eclectic forged of supporting characters.

The season begins with Denise and Alicia residing in home bliss of their home. Denise is a bestselling creator slowly engaged on her second guide. She’s a extra mature model of the character from Grasp of None’s Emmy-winning solo episode, “Thanksgiving,” having discovered profession success exterior of journal jobs. Alicia is a former chemist who now works in inside design. The primary episode, which units up their relationship dynamic, lingers on snug moments between them, with minutes-long photographs of them folding laundry and dancing to outdated R&B. The present’s ahead movement relies on the couple’s fertility journey, as Alicia tries to conceive. It’s notable that such a celebrated present is specializing in a queer Black relationship.

Season 3 can also be way more of a drama than the earlier two seasons, which leaned towards observational comedy. There are nonetheless jokes, however they really feel like a feather faucet to ease the stress from critical conversations and scenes about marriage and fertility. A part of the dramatic flip works with the shift within the present’s theme from courting to marriage, and it reveals a sure maturity that Ansari and Waithe are so snug with the characters. Their writing (the 2 wrote all 5 episodes) and Ansari’s path is elegant and unafraid to linger within the area between the early seasons and the brand new path.

Photograph: Netflix

In locations, it’s apparent the place the skin world affected the present. Centering the brand new season on Denise and Alicia falls in keeping with Ansari’s alternative to put low after he was accused of coercing sexual acts from an nameless girl in an article from the defunct Babe.internet. He later launched an announcement saying he “took her phrases to coronary heart,” and has mentioned publicly that he took time to mirror on the incident. Whereas yielding the present to 2 queer Black characters might be seen as development, it is also seen as a means for him to keep away from scrutiny, and dodge the previous.

It’s additionally unusual that, in a present that used to always reference itself, the fast-forward to Denise’s married life contains comparatively few allusions to previous seasons. Ansari’s Dev solely reveals up in a number of scenes, which gracefully discover the pure distance that grows between friendships as they age. Moreover Dev’s appearances, life earlier than Denise and Alicia’s marriage solely reveals up in small references. Followers of the primary two seasons could also be dissatisfied that they appear to have been forgotten. (Although there’s a cellphone cameo that ought to appeal followers of the “Thanksgiving” episode.)

Though 5 episodes is a superb size for the general story arc, the pacing is awkward at factors, particularly in scenes the place soundtracked breaks within the motion go on for a bit too lengthy. One episode begins with Denise consuming a burger alone in a parked automotive for a minute and a half, listening to opera on the radio. The place a number of the earlier dialogue-free lengthy takes are easy and poignant, this one simply feels prefer it’s filling time. That’s a part of the wrestle of the primary three episodes of this season: Whereas the alternatives made and the items constructed are great, the complete image doesn’t fall collectively completely. It’s a bit sluggish and ill-fitting; a metaphor may very well be made about long-term relationships feeling sluggish and ill-fitting, however that’s extra of a season 1 joke.

The ultimate two episodes are glorious, and greater than make up for the sluggish tempo of the entrance finish of the season. Episode 4 showcases Naomi Ackie (The Finish of the F***ing World), the star of the season, and it’s a must-watch simply to see her efficiency. The installment follows Alicia as she pursues in-vitro fertilization (IVF), exhibiting every a part of the method intricately whereas additionally empathizing deeply with the emotional highs and lows Alicia experiences. It’s an episode carried out and directed with nice care, and one of many nice examples of why Grasp of None shines most when it takes the highlight off of Dev.

Photograph: Netflix

The collection has all the time been surprisingly insightful about depicting the hypocrisies of American society, and that ability reveals most strongly in episode 4. An incredible instance is a scene from season 1’s “Girls and Gents,” the place a lady, performed by Condola Rashad, is adopted dwelling by a person and has to name the police, which is juxtaposed with Dev strolling dwelling along with his good friend Arnold (Eric Wareheim, who’s fully lacking this season). The brand new model of that dynamic is a scene in a fertility clinic the place the physician tells Alicia examples of absurd insurance coverage codes that exist in American healthcare, evaluating these to the heteronormative requirements insurance coverage has for IVF. Beats like which have all the time been the hidden gem of the present, and it’s a disgrace that there’s much less concerning the absurdities and inequities of the nation on this season.

In principle, season 3 ought to have as a lot emotional impression as earlier seasons’ non-Dev episodes, reminiscent of season 3’s “New York, I Love You” and “Thanksgiving.” Whereas it falls in need of perfection, it’s a formidable feat that’s definitely worth the slower tempo. Its flaws are notable, together with the pacing points and absence of nice observational moments. However they’re outweighed by its success at presenting a extra mature depiction of affection, and showcasing Ackie’s exemplary efficiency. It isn’t the identical as previous seasons, and it isn’t essentially higher, but it surely’s positively definitely worth the watch.

All 5 episodes of Grasp of None season 3 are actually streaming on Netflix.