Master of None

:

Season 3
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Nov 6, 2015
Season #: 3, 2, 1
User Score
5.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 53 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 53
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 53
  3. Negative: 17 out of 53

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User Reviews

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  1. StevenX
    Jun 6, 2021
    6
    The focus isn't on Dev this season, which may be strategic (as Aziz Ansari wisely lets his near-MeToo moment drift off into the ether), but as the story shifts to his BFF's marriage and it's dissolution, the pace also shifts to glacial. The story's good, the acting and emotions top-notch and relatable... so why so much padding? In this age of instant gratification, a 30-second shot of anThe focus isn't on Dev this season, which may be strategic (as Aziz Ansari wisely lets his near-MeToo moment drift off into the ether), but as the story shifts to his BFF's marriage and it's dissolution, the pace also shifts to glacial. The story's good, the acting and emotions top-notch and relatable... so why so much padding? In this age of instant gratification, a 30-second shot of an empty bathroom is practically treason. Next time let only a character or two spend all day smoking weed instead of the writers and crew.… Expand
  2. radulle
    May 23, 2021
    6
    Not The Master of None I had hoped for. Instead of uplifting witty comedy that we are used to from Aziz we've gotten a draining politically correct drama. Only things that kept me going were love for characters built in previous seasons and Aziz's directing. Each episode I was hoping this storyline would be over and that real Master of None would start, but that never happened, in a way INot The Master of None I had hoped for. Instead of uplifting witty comedy that we are used to from Aziz we've gotten a draining politically correct drama. Only things that kept me going were love for characters built in previous seasons and Aziz's directing. Each episode I was hoping this storyline would be over and that real Master of None would start, but that never happened, in a way I feel cheated. This would have made much more sense as a spin-off.… Expand
  3. NobodyYouKnow
    May 29, 2021
    6
    Season 3 is almost nothing like the previous seasons. Ansari is hardly seen at all, and there is equally little comedy here. I can't help but think that Ansari's #MeToo experience had almost everything to do with the direction he went here. I'm perfectly fine with the change in tone. The problem for me is that it's soooo slice-of-life that it feels like I'm being beaten over the head withSeason 3 is almost nothing like the previous seasons. Ansari is hardly seen at all, and there is equally little comedy here. I can't help but think that Ansari's #MeToo experience had almost everything to do with the direction he went here. I'm perfectly fine with the change in tone. The problem for me is that it's soooo slice-of-life that it feels like I'm being beaten over the head with how (presumably) well Denise and Alicia get along. The seemingly endless scenes of them just hanging out feel like Ansari is trying *really* hard to show us that the couple have an easy rapport. Thing is, they talk mostly about nothing... at least not anything that moves the narrative forward. It's just more chit chat that shows Denise is occasionally kinda humorous and that Alicia will chuckle/grin easily. Honestly, I felt like I was watching a film student practicing his scene setting.

    (MILD SPOILER FOLLOWS)
    The strongest part was when Alicia decided to pursue fertility treatment on her own. Naomi Ackie is a good actress, and this part of the story gave her plenty to work with. It still felt more drawn out than necessary, but I didn't have the urge to fast-forward like I did in the scenes of extreme mundanity with her and Denise.

    Though I didn't love season 3, I still think it's worth watching. Just be prepared for a very different experience from the previous two seasons.    … Expand
  4. nathmarks
    May 24, 2021
    4
    Beautifully shot, but dull and doesn't really tell any story that hasn't been told a dozen times in recent years. If you like the original master of none, and want satisfaction from how the story develops, just don't watch this. It completely destroys Dev's character and puts the focus on Denise who just sucks the life out any scene she is in.

    I get that you are trying to be clever and    Beautifully shot, but dull and doesn't really tell any story that hasn't been told a dozen times in recent years. If you like the original master of none, and want satisfaction from how the story develops, just don't watch this. It completely destroys Dev's character and puts the focus on Denise who just sucks the life out any scene she is in.

    I get that you are trying to be clever and arthouse, but i dont need like a 90 second scene of someone taking sheets off a bed in silence.

    dull, depressing, disappointing    … Expand
  5. 998817268
    May 28, 2021
    6
    It's a poor excuse in defense of this season of the show to say people dislike it because they are racists or homophobes. The show has had a multi-racial cast and non-hetero characters (including Denise) in it since the start, and people apparently liked it a lot more then. That indicates that there is some other aspect(s) of the season that may be offputting to some fans of previousIt's a poor excuse in defense of this season of the show to say people dislike it because they are racists or homophobes. The show has had a multi-racial cast and non-hetero characters (including Denise) in it since the start, and people apparently liked it a lot more then. That indicates that there is some other aspect(s) of the season that may be offputting to some fans of previous seasons. For me, it was the rural setting of the first episodes, the pacing with the consistency of molasses, and the idea that the season might drag on in that setting. Had the season not opened the way it did, I wouldn't have minded watching it; but I'd prefer to see more about characters from previous seasons, and/or to be able to experience Denise's story unfolding in an environment where it could move along at a bit of a quicker pace.… Expand
  6. Flipje
    May 25, 2021
    4
    I am very certain if Ansari's picadillos weren't the subject of public scrutiny, fans of Master of None would not be subject to this slow, painful take on modern love. A comedian charged in the public eye with being a bad boy/miscreant. Fine, he wants to become an auteur and by way of art, find redemption. Fine. Yet, what happened to the moments of humor? The joyful and awkward insightsI am very certain if Ansari's picadillos weren't the subject of public scrutiny, fans of Master of None would not be subject to this slow, painful take on modern love. A comedian charged in the public eye with being a bad boy/miscreant. Fine, he wants to become an auteur and by way of art, find redemption. Fine. Yet, what happened to the moments of humor? The joyful and awkward insights into human relationships are neglected. In fact, I felt like I was watching Ingmar Bergman by way of Brooklyn, twenty-first century style. On a positive note, the cinematography is gorgeous. There are tender and breathtaking painterly scenes and tender montages. Yet I kept thinking, this is lovely but more filler than actual substance with little adding to the narrative. Bergman worked with Gunnar Fischer and Sven Nykvist, both capable of capturing celluloid moments of beauty but beauty that supported the narrative. Moreover, Bergman could write fantastic dialogue, philosophical and nuanced with great psychological insight. Ansari, a guy who worships rap stars and celebrity culture (listen to his comedy shows) and co-writer, Lena Waithe give us only plain surface here. Where Bergman could be excruciating in his honesty about human attraction, Ansari/Waithe bring up the pain without offering any further insight. Regarding the actors and acting, all fine. There is a genuine chemistry between the leads (Waithe/Acke) and you genuinely want them to be happy but once the agony begins, you long for some levity - the childlike moments between them, shown in the first episode, never return. There is no jovial dancing or late night, spontaneous chats. Once the first episode ends, it all feels dour, mired in misery and so it continues. The other sad truth about this show is that a fan, like myself, that wants to know more about Devi and his relationship with his Italian love interest, Francesca, you are left more confused. When Devi is introduced in the first episode, as a viewer, I wondered: where are we in Devi's timeline? Who is this new girl? Is this after Francesca? Before? When you disorient a viewer, you can create a bump and the viewer remains focused on the questions. It was distracting. If you are going to create a spin-off, give your audience some bearings, please. Yet this seems to be a trend as of late, disappointing and/or confusing fans for the sake of experimentation. All in all, I admire the efforts of a show like this yet there are two main things working against the finished product. 1) Expectations - many of us were prepared for Francesca to return and 2) lack of humor. The sad further result of criticizing a show like this, and from what I have seen from other reviewers, is that should you, for your own peril, actually dislike the show, you may be construed as a bigot. This is immature yet often enough, people cannot have intelligent dialogues without the ghost of 'woke' rearing its head in some fashion. That or people having to defend themselves. I will state I admire Ansari, his humor and his writing (I also recommend his book Modern Romance, co-written with Eric Klinenberg) while also feeling he has perplexed his fans unnecessarily in the hopes of public atonement. He and his co-writer, Lena Waithe (playing Denise) have given us memorable characters and perhaps if they had better oriented and prepared the fans and given us at least some more information regarding Devi - and let's face it, the main reason we first got into the show - not to mention something mildly more comedic, this interesting and unique departure would be garnering more praise from fans. Critics, of course, will have to like it or face scrutiny.… Expand
  7. drlowdon
    Jun 6, 2022
    5
    Four years after it’s second season Master of None returns, and with Aziz Ansari only appearing briefly in front of the camera, the focus is instead on the marriage of Denise (a supporting character in the first two seasons) and a new character named Alicia.

    Master of None was never a laugh-a-minute comedy, but there was always a decent amount of humour mixed into the social commentary.    Four years after it’s second season Master of None returns, and with Aziz Ansari only appearing briefly in front of the camera, the focus is instead on the marriage of Denise (a supporting character in the first two seasons) and a new character named Alicia.

    Master of None was never a laugh-a-minute comedy, but there was always a decent amount of humour mixed into the social commentary. Not only is the third season almost totally devoid of humour it also skates along at an almost glacial pace. As a result, despite strong performances from the two leads, I frankly found it all rather dull.    … Expand
  8. frozenpinky
    Jun 5, 2021
    4
    This is not the same show. It doesn’t have the same characters. It’s not even in the same genre. Maybe Aziz did this on purpose after the allegations (to steer the attention away from him) because this was the first season written and filmed after said allegations...etc. But whatever the reason, it’s not the same show. It’s a spin-off.

Awards & Rankings

76
#76 Best TV Season of 2021
19
#19 Most Discussed TV Season of 2021

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Consequence
    Reviewed by: Clint Worthington
    Jul 20, 2021
    58
    The slowness of Moments in Love is likely to frustrate a lot of viewers, especially those more attuned to the breezier, more life-affirming seasons that preceded it. But by paying such adoring attention to the mundane, Ansari and Waithe argue that it’s those small moments of connection, however fleeting, that matter more than the big, sweeping gestures we associate with romance.
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  2. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Ed Gonzalez
    May 26, 2021
    88
    Waithe and Ansari ruefully ponder everything from complacency to the inevitable fate of all things. Which is to say that the third season of Master of None is consistent with its predecessors for so easily entwining us in what feels like a free-floating polyphony of life.
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  3. The Atlantic
    Reviewed by: Hannah Giorgis
    May 24, 2021
    50
    The new season of Master of None is so committed to exploring every element of Denise and Alicia’s distance that it moves at a glacial pace—most of its five episodes come in at around 30 minutes; two are nearly an hour long. Much of the dialogue is stilted and heavy-handed. ... The season is strongest when subtly communicating the betrayals that can present uniquely in queer relationships.
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