Lady Dynamite

:

Season 1
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: May 20, 2016
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
6.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 94 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 58 out of 94
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 94
  3. Negative: 22 out of 94
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User Reviews

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  1. brockcheese
    Dec 30, 2016
    9
    This show is absolutely brilliant and experimental. Although sometimes it's a bit to experimental and weird for its own good. Maria Bamford has found a unique voice amongst her cast.
  2. PoeticDumpling
    May 30, 2016
    7
    It took about three episodes to get into its comic rhythm though I found the concept interesting and intriguing from the get-go. I didn't really get out strong laughs until episode 4 and 5... currently working my way through the second half of the season. I agree with the reviewer who says it is not always lol funny, but there is something about the unique nature of the show and the mainIt took about three episodes to get into its comic rhythm though I found the concept interesting and intriguing from the get-go. I didn't really get out strong laughs until episode 4 and 5... currently working my way through the second half of the season. I agree with the reviewer who says it is not always lol funny, but there is something about the unique nature of the show and the main character that keeps me watching. When she is on... she is really on... but sadly not always consistent. I'm going with 7 for the innovative feel of the execution and for the peaks. If the second half doesn't deliver as strongly I could see wanting to decrease it to a 5. Currently feels like a 5-7 show. The series has a lot of room to become an 8-10 though. I do love the echo of Arrested Development flowing beneath it all.… Expand
  3. cherold
    May 28, 2016
    6
    Considering it's created by Hurwitz and has gotten rave reviews, I found the pilot episode disappointing. The jumping in and out of character is clever and I liked the way the show poked fun at doing standup in series, I appreciated the attempt to find alternative ways to move through layers of time, there was a great bit by a sharky agent who just wants to "be best friends" and theConsidering it's created by Hurwitz and has gotten rave reviews, I found the pilot episode disappointing. The jumping in and out of character is clever and I liked the way the show poked fun at doing standup in series, I appreciated the attempt to find alternative ways to move through layers of time, there was a great bit by a sharky agent who just wants to "be best friends" and the opening ad parody was pretty amusing. The cast is first rate.

    But overall, I just didn't laugh that much, and the show felt like it was trying to hard to be clever but was willing to do so at the expense of making the story (such as it was) work. Overall, it felt jumpy and episodic and a bit uncomfortable. It wasn't bad, but it didn't make me want to watch any more episodes.    … Expand
  4. mynameisjonas
    May 22, 2016
    10
    I think this show is a brilliant and hilarious portrayal of bipolar disorder and depression. It has the offbeat pacing of Arrested Development with time travel and 4th wall breaks mixed in. It gives the show a manic feel that is hard to keep up with at times, but is definitely worth it. I've never seen anything like it.
  5. jamess
    May 22, 2016
    9
    Netflix has given a platform for comedians that has opened up the possibilities for what television comedy can be in the non network age. Aziz Ansari's Master of None and even Bill Burr's F is for Family retained the voice and attitude of the creators, and now Maria Bamford has upped the ante with a comedy that, God bless her, feels as bipolar as she is. Lady Dynamite, with the greatNetflix has given a platform for comedians that has opened up the possibilities for what television comedy can be in the non network age. Aziz Ansari's Master of None and even Bill Burr's F is for Family retained the voice and attitude of the creators, and now Maria Bamford has upped the ante with a comedy that, God bless her, feels as bipolar as she is. Lady Dynamite, with the great Superbad/ 70's style opening, is such an appropriate title, as Maria can, and will explode, with joy, or doubt, or confusion, at any given moment. The supporting cast is phenomenal. Any show that can make Brandon Routh hilarious (he gives a throw away line about Andy Kindler that is priceless), is doing something right.… Expand
  6. NavyBean
    May 23, 2016
    10
    the opening of this series made me howl like a wolf who just drank a 2-liter bottle of Mountain Code Red. I can't believer I'd never heard of Maria Bamford before this show. She is exactly the type of woman I like: good looks and low self esteem. I love it with my heart and my mind and my mouth.
  7. weirdcryo
    Aug 9, 2016
    5
    I saw a couple of review saying this remind them to Arrested Development (which I love) and the true is that after 10 min I didn't want to keep watching.
    The first bit was funny after that it just went no where with really bad jokes, a couple of smart moment, it definitely have something interesting but it's not for everyone.
  8. Shihabzhere
    Jul 12, 2016
    0
    You folks have good stuff to say about this particular show ? I don't understand how that is possible at all. I don't mean to be critical or rude. How could anyone sit through any episode of this. It isn't 1995 anymore where there's a lack of variety in TV shows. Why would anyone produce this keeping what audience in mind ? And again why would you all promote this show ? That's the mostYou folks have good stuff to say about this particular show ? I don't understand how that is possible at all. I don't mean to be critical or rude. How could anyone sit through any episode of this. It isn't 1995 anymore where there's a lack of variety in TV shows. Why would anyone produce this keeping what audience in mind ? And again why would you all promote this show ? That's the most baffling part for me to digest.
    This is my first review on Metacritic. I come here for solid advice for over a year so that I get proper guidance for how I want to spend my precious TV watching moments of my very busy life just like most common people. I couldn't stand and not say anything about how oddly this show has been rated. This is really alarming.    … Expand
  9. Skeletor71
    May 23, 2016
    1
    I don't get the rave reviews AT ALL! I couldn't even finish the episode, because of all the cringeworthy, unfunny bits. Maybe I just don't get what they're trying to accomplish here.
  10. Rtheom
    May 22, 2016
    6
    It is very stream of consciousness which is, inherently, very jumpy and jarring. It doesn't help that it jumps out of the show and into "real life" randomly. Some might really like this, but it's definitely not for everyone, including me. That being said, if you're already a fan of Maria Bamford's comedy, I'm sure you'll enjoy this.
  11. Scraper
    May 30, 2016
    6
    If it's Maria Bamford, it has to be funny and it is sometimes. I think she just took some missteps in direction for the sake of wackiness like when they break the fourth wall and the show goes meta. Many characters are shuffled around in all different places. Everybody is zany or loony. I think it's pretty funny but its too complicated for it's own good.
  12. shoulderoforion
    May 22, 2016
    5
    It's alright, some laugh out loud funny moments, some really cool mixed media **** going on, but mostly I'm caught up in the realization that Maria Bamford was & still is a relatively sick lady who could relapse back into her Bipolar (2) at any time in real life. It made me self conscious while watching. I feel great for her personally, that she got this show, that she's highly regardedIt's alright, some laugh out loud funny moments, some really cool mixed media **** going on, but mostly I'm caught up in the realization that Maria Bamford was & still is a relatively sick lady who could relapse back into her Bipolar (2) at any time in real life. It made me self conscious while watching. I feel great for her personally, that she got this show, that she's highly regarded in the comedy community who pretty much all turned out to support this effort, but her crazy, made me feel a bit crazy watching it, and that was a bit of a drag.… Expand
  13. erolsabadosh
    May 30, 2016
    5
    I can't tell if I like this show or if I find it annoying, but I've watched about 5 episodes and I'd watch more just to see where it's going. I don't really understand what it's supposed to be but I find Maria Bamford quite intriguing. Even though I only laugh a few times an episode I'm drawn in by how strange it is.
  14. Girl_Limitless
    Jun 8, 2018
    10
    Maria Bamford is realistic about her mental health issues. Her character on the show is an exaggeration of how she really feels. She feels isolated, alone, different, crazy, and awkward. She really feels like that in real life. This show is important because she's able to show her imperfect self to others and it lets others know that it's okay. This show is funny, and it has dark moments,Maria Bamford is realistic about her mental health issues. Her character on the show is an exaggeration of how she really feels. She feels isolated, alone, different, crazy, and awkward. She really feels like that in real life. This show is important because she's able to show her imperfect self to others and it lets others know that it's okay. This show is funny, and it has dark moments, but all of our lives have dark moments. I can't believe NETFLIX canceled it! We need Maria and her show more than EVER! People have issues and need to learn how to cope with them! Maria helps people do that. Corporations that make all the decisions with their money hungry ways sicken me.… Expand
  15. geewah
    Jan 24, 2021
    8
    One of 2016's real hidden gems.
    Maria Bamford is a tour de force in this surreal, courageous, and deeply funny look at mental health.

Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Best TV Season of 2016
82
#82 Most Discussed TV Season of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Yahoo TV
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    May 25, 2016
    80
    I didn’t laugh very frequently watching Lady Dynamite, but I was never less than absorbed by it.
    Read full review
  2. Vox.com
    Reviewed by: Caroline Framke
    May 23, 2016
    80
    With the confidence of a show that knows exactly what it wants to be--and with the titanic Bamford anchoring every scene with incredible empathy and generosity, Lady Dynamite manages to stand out amid the constantly churning fray of television by being entirely, proudly itself.
    Read full review
  3. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Lloyd
    May 20, 2016
    100
    It is cheerful, dark, surreal, profane, aspirational, meta-fictional and packed with people playing versions of themselves or other people entirely (or playing versions of themselves playing other people entirely); it plays with visual and verbal puns, with moods and acting styles and moves around in time and dimension. And while these are elements of many modern comedies--it owes something to "It's Garry Shandling's Show," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "30 Rock," "The Sarah Silverman Program," Hurwitz's "Arrested Development" and the cracked spirit of Adult Swim--I have never seen them assembled in quite this way, or with quite so much gusto.
    Read full review
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