Russian Doll
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New elevator (pffft, elevator) pitch:Russian DollisGroundhog DaymeetsLost.And Alan (Charlie Barnett) is aTailie!
What Alans been up to is very different compared to what Nadias been up to.
As she might say, these two are such polar opposites theyre like oil and vinegar.
She gravitates towards chaos with her tossed-aside relationships and panoply of mind-altering substances.
What he wants to impose order on most is his doomed, nine-year romance with Beatrice.
(Hey, its Dascha Polanco!
AnOrange Is the New Blackreunion!
More on that in a sec.)
Alans fastidious itinerary is as precise and intense as the classical music its scored to.
(Side question: Why the bathroom, folks?
Cleansing of original sin?
Or just because a bathroom is usually a private place?)
The first reset we see is the 10th one hes been through.
He puts his toothbrush down.
(He brushes his teeth every time?
What a detail!)
He swats a fly on the wall and kills it.
He feeds his lone betta fish.
He kindly holds the door for his elderly neighbor.
He recites his affirmations: I am beautiful.
I am loved and deserve love.
I am in control.
I am loved and deserve love.
I am in control.
We become what we repeatedly do.
Granted, none of this appears to make Alan happy.
It does seem to make him… somewhat content?
Like hes out for revenge and the pursuit of that revenge offers some degree of satisfaction?
Is Alan so obsessed with being in control because he used to be out of control?
Shes concerned he might be skipping work again.
I cannot picture Alan as the pop in of guy whod gain a reputation for skipping work.
(Thanks for nothing, Mom.)
I like him, but why doesnt anyone else seem to?
Like his neighbor, who admits she wouldnt talk to him if he didnt pay her to fish-sit?
This is the problem.
Youre always trying to fix every little thing, Bea says after he wipes up his spilled drink.
I can fix things.
I just did, he insists, almost as if hes surprised to realize it.
Then theres that mini-montage where he binges video games (obvious Nadia connection) and cake.
the delivery person asks him about all the cake slices.
Birthday, Alan says.
(He doesnt know it, but itisNadias birthday.)
Solely as a character study of Alan, this episode is outstanding, and also, Charlie Barnett isfreakingmagnificent.
He meets Fahran for coffee.
Fahran is his old college buddy!
Wait, that means Alan is Fahrans drunk friend from the pilot!!
Alan looks up the guy Beatrice cheated on him with and its Nadias hookup from the pilot!!
Nadia and Alan literally crossed paths in Tompkins Square park at least once.
Alan dies at the same spot along the East River where Nadia did in episode 1.
And speaking of overlap, lets also pause here to discussRussian Dolls use of music.
Its jangly and a bit disheveled-sounding and funny, just like she is.
When Alan is introduced, his theme is classical music thats, as I mentioned above, orderly.
The episodes score then starts overlapping their themes as they begin to affect each others lives.
I see why they trust you with all these jewels.)
Alan changes because of Nadia.
He throws the engagement ring into the East River.
After his freak electrocution a moment later, thering is goneon his next reset.
Its not in that box hed been fidgeting with since the elevator.
Alans fish is gone, too.
WHERE DID HIS FISH GO?
Are he and Nadia the fish?
Are he and Mike the fish?
Did his neighbor kill the fish as she feared she might?
And one final line of questioning for you all: Whats Alans timeline like compared to Nadias?
Was the night Beatrice originally broke up with him also the night Nadia saw him at the bodega?
Getting shitfaced certainly seems like something Alan would do after getting dumped the first time.
