Acclaimed by critics, Master of None was widely acclaimed across the Atlantic when it was released in 2015. This is evidenced by the many nominations and awards that the sitcom can boast. Passed more or less unnoticed in France, this drama of a new kind deserves that we dwell on it for a moment. If only to evoke the accuracy with which Ansari describes the daily life of young adults in the 21st century. Focus on a series that is not afraid to see things in small.
Fans of Parks and Recreation will enjoy the happy frimousse of Aziz Ansari. The comedian and stand-upper returns this time with an original series of his own composition, Master of None. But beware, no absurd humor or character outside of reality this time. Here, we are talking about life, the real life. The one of every day, banal and tasteless. The one that usually does not interest many people. Especially not the writers. And that's a shame. Because behind the seemingly uninteresting stories lie deep reflections on our way of life.
Interested in everything, expert in nothing
Fortunately for us, it seems that Ansari is an exception to this rule. The title Master of None comes from the English expression "Jack of all trades, master of none". Literally: "Valet of all trades, master of none". Either a person who excels in a multitude of disciplines without being able to boast of being an expert in one of them. Basically, a generalist, not a specialist.
With a name like that, we get right away that there won't be a Marvel-like superhero or anything like that. The main character of his own series, Ansari plays Dev, a thirty-year-old New Yorker of Indian origin, a modest actor for commercials here and there. A role not very far from his personal life in the end, and whose interests are clearly the same…
A barely fictional alter ego
As in his stand-ups, both available on Netflix and that we invite you very seriously to mater, Ansari focuses on themes that are dear to him. Taking advantage of his own life experiences or the testimonies of his entourage, the actor accurately depicts the questions of his time.
What to do when you are a great lover of food in all its diversity and you are both sensitive to the fate of animals? Because our ancestors fought for our freedoms, is it fair to lock them up in a hospital the day they are no longer able to take care of themselves? Can we quantify how much the person in front of us is the love of our life? Why do men behave so creepy with women? Don't they realize how much a simple night trip, after a drunken evening, can be very different when you wear a uterus rather than a phallus? We give you a few minutes to meditate on that.
Yet promised, Master of None does not give a headache. This is where the series draws all its strength. No need to dive back into his philosophy classes to answer all these existential questions. We've all asked ourselves these kinds of questions, and Ansari reminds us that it's normal to look for some answers.
Master of None or the disease of the century
The focus of Master of None rests for a few moments on insignificant details of our contemporary lives. Texting, elderly, rude people cutting your line at the ice cream shop… These kinds of experiences that we have all lived but on which we rarely dwell. Yet, these small, seemingly unimportant details may well hide an underlying phenomenon that is much more important than it seems.
There is this scene screaming truth for who has already tried flirting in the 2010s. Dev crushes a +1 for a concert and as a seasoned bachelor, intends to invite a girl! But the charming waitress to whom he offers to accompany him declines at the last moment after several days of radio silence… So what do we do? Send several messages at the same time to avoid going alone? Focusing on another girl in the hope that she won't refuse? Let anyone who has never experienced a similar uncomfortable situation cast the first stone!
This phenomenon has a name: FOMO. Or Fear of Missing Out, for the English LV1. That constant fear of missing out on something better. Mainly in social interactions. A prettier girl for a date, a nicer evening, or even a simple Facebook notification. It can go a long way. Who has never answered "I will keep you informed" to an invitation instead of confirming his presence, all for fear of missing a more cheerful prospect? Master of None candidly and accurately describes this evolving social anxiety since the rise of the Internet. A fear shared by most of us, and always in the background in the series.
When detail prevails over history
Ansari therefore plays with this kind of anecdote in which we easily recognize ourselves. Thus, the series is not story-oriented, although Dev is quickly made in search of Love or some ephemeral romance (and again). Rather, it is an exploration of modern adulthood, at a time when the quest for meaning and happiness has become the spearhead of millennials. Moreover, the actor himself says of his time:
"We can behave like bastards, and that's a fact accepted by people! This is one of the coolest reasons to be alive today! »
Ok Aziz. Why not. We are dealing with a big child who absolutely wants to enjoy all the happiness that his life can give him while wondering about the world around him. A balance not so easy to find between stupid yolo moments and meditations on deeper topics.
An Indian in the city
The ten episodes of the season each revolve around a theme. We have already talked about the hassle of texting in flirting mode and the poor fate reserved for the elderly. The denunciation of sexism also plays an important role in Master of None. Very well exposed by the actor, he has also widely embraced the #MeToo movement (and has squarely given it a new twist with a controversy that now bears his name…). A recurring subject also punctuates the series in several forms. This is Dev's Indian origins.
His parents (played by Aziz Ansari's real parents) emigrated from Asia to settle in the United States shortly after their arranged marriage. Their union and experience as immigrants give Dev food for thought.He will never have to go through what they have endured. It is perfectly "integrated". He has the possibility to marry (or not) with whomever he wants. And at the same time, he knows so little about his parents' culture… It's not easy to find your place in the middle of all this.
And then there's ordinary racism. The difficulty of finding a role because it is "too typical". Even Indian characters are sometimes played by white people wearing makeup! And then two Indians on the same poster, it's a "community film"! Ansari perfectly shows the racist attacks he can be subjected to, especially in his profession. The actor is also the first Asian to win the Golden Globes for Best Actor… Proof of the invisibility of Asians in the media even today. Fortunately, Ansari manages to open the viewer's eyes to the injustices of his daily life. All this while making us laugh. And for once, hats off.
We could also tell you about his extraordinary friends, including the beautiful Denise (love on you Lena Waithe). Or his unconditional love and a creepy hair for cooking, especially pasta. Or this way of placing his idols in the series without playing it re-sta. Not to mention this perfectly neat realization and a discretion rare in Hollywood (so much it blends into each episode). And then there's this soundtrack, so well mastered that it almost looks like Lou Reed's Walk On the Wilde Side or Toto's Africa were created for the needs of the series… But we find ourselves running out of arguments and we say that it is high time for you to launch the first episode. Just to make your own opinion about this little gem of inventiveness. Hoping to have convinced you!
Master of None trailer:
