I am a little late to the train, but I have been watching the netflix original series, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. The first episode had me laughing out loud almost the entire time. I adore Ellie Kemper, she does an amazing job playing the role of a 29 year old rescued out of a cult, trying to make it in NYC. Along the way, we meet other characters. Kimmy takes a nanny job for a woman named Jacqueline, who we find out in episode 3 is of Native American origin, which is funny because she is played by Jane Krakowski who is blonde hair and blue-eyed.
This surprising subplot can either be interpreted as clever satire, a social commentary on cultural assimilation or it could be construed as unnecessary offense—cheap shots taken at a minority stereotype for a laugh. The point is, the producers didn’t play it safe, they are walking the tightrope of respectability, one misstep could mean death for their humor and the show.
Good art requires that gutsy risk-taking. Not reckless, but smart rule-breaking.
