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Kimmy (Ellie Kemper) in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Screencap via Netflix

10. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Though it was first developed for television, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt was first rejected by executives, then found a new home on Netflix. The strength of the performances and writing, as well as showrunner Tina Fey, speak to the show’s popularity.

At first, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt sounds like an incredible downer. Kimmy Schmidt is kidnapped by the Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne, an insane cult leader. The Reverend captures young Kimmy, along with three other women, and holds them in an underground bunker for fifteen years. When she’s finally released, Kimmy makes her way to New York City and begins the process of reclaiming her life.

Sounds like a grim drama, right? While there’s plenty of dark humor, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is actually relentlessly upbeat, much like its title character. As a coping mechanism, Kimmy has learned to deny much of the evil she sees, and is instead a cheerful, if unhinged, character.

She quickly moves in with her roommate, struggling actor Titus (played by Tituss Burgess). Titus, by the way, is flamboyantly gay. That’s actually part of a storyline in the second season, with unexpected (though very positive) results. Their landlord, Lillian Kaushtupper, is played by veteran comedian and actor Carol Kane.

Much has been made of some of the racial humor of Kimmy Schmidt. Some feel that the jokes, many of which focus on Kimmy’s immigrant love interest, Dong, or her both, Jacqueline White, are mean-spirited. Others argue that they’re just edgy enough to be funny without becoming outright offensive. I’ll leave that up to you to decide, but there’s certainly a lot in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt that’s worth checking out otherwise.

Where to watch: Netflix