Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens

The show is intermittently funny but not consistently hilarious, too often going for the low-hanging fruit of old people saying dirty things.

A patchy but occasionally amusing melange of semi-autobiographical stories about the life of an even more awkward Awkwafina. It’s a glance back over her shoulder, with a nod to what might have been.

Her brash, screeching shamelessness is a good fit with Comedy Central's irreverence, and she makes the most of this gig. [20 Jan - 2 Feb 2020, p.9]

The thinness of the show’s plot thus puts a hefty burden on the shoulders of Awkwafina as the show’s star, and she demonstrates once again to be an energetic, compelling performer, especially when it comes to physical comedy.

Enough works in this season to make it feel like a smart next phase in Awkwafina’s acting career. But when Nora returns for a second season (it’s already been renewed), she and her fellow producers would do well to figure out exactly who this fictional Nora is, and whether she’s best out on her own, or as part of a buddy act.

The show’s presentation of itself from title on as an autobiographical look at a star about whom we’re curious elides so much of what’s pertinent about her story as to feel, episode-to-episode, somewhat monotonous. Nora’s floating approach to life has manifold real charms. It also means that the show doesn’t have any momentum, or anywhere to go. It does have Awkwafina.

Fans of Awkwafina will enjoy a handful of quality quips, and there are enough goofy montages to convey some of her joyful creativity, but even as a pure hit of this winning comedian’s personality, “Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens” burns out fast.

That shiny Golden Globe will buy her some time to find her voice but, right now, her show is only fitfully amusing.