Review: Broad City

broad_city_comedy_centralBroad City has not missed a beat as its new season premiered on Comedy Channel in January this year. With the same quality of production and colourful visual style, we are reunited with the awkward and bizarre best friends Abbi (Abbi Jacobson) and Ilana (Ilana Glazer), who struggle with adulthood, responsibility and general civilised behaviour.

Every episode is packed with the same absurd, inappropriate, borderline offensive, but nevertheless deeply endearing and real characters. We see some unexpected sides of their personality in this new season as we are exposed to the capitalist hunger for power in Ilana’s work ethic, the sexual liberation and adventure of the previously ‘vanilla’ Abbi, and Jaime’s (Arturo Castro) Kafkaesque existential crisis with frozen yoghurt, as the asphyxiating limitations of the human condition oppress his yoghurt choice.

Unlike many other similar series (think HBO’s Girls or NBC’s Community), the characters of Broad City are not neglected and never retreat into one-sidedness. Ilana, the sex-positive social justice warrior, continues to charm with the way in which she often has absolutely no idea what she is talking about, reflecting the comic and tragic irony of social justice. Her motherly instincts and irresponsible consumption and prescription of drugs, however, only draws us closer to the bright personality she embodies. On the other hand, Abbi emerges from her cocoon, starring in a music video of Lady Gaga’s The Edge of Glory. Completely nude and dancing furiously in her living room, she is symbolic of the exultant bursting of life and affirmation of humanity when liberated from the suffocating presence of a repulsive roommate (John Gemberling).

Among their adventures this season include accidental overdose on ibuprofen, nude modelling, a green dildo, counterfeit handbags, unpaid internships, and stolen air conditioners.

In short – more drugs, more nudity.

 

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