There is an immeasurable amount of joy that comes with the first “ahhh” of Netflix’s “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” theme song. And that’s just what the second season of “Kimmy Schmidt” is: episode after episode of pure, immeasurable joy.
The season kicks off at a party at least three months after the end of the first season, but quickly flashes back to explain how the main characters got to this point: Kimmy (Ellie Kemper) is still pining for Dong (Ki Hong Lee), Titus (Tituss Burgess) is doing his Titus things and even finds love, Jacqueline (Jane Krakowski) is divorced and as terrible as ever, and Lillian (Carol Kane) is fighting gentrification one hipster at a time.
With the Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne (Jon Hamm) in jail, the second season begs the question: Can Kimmy Schmidt exist without the bunker? A resounding yes. There’s a lot of joy in watching Kimmy adjust to a normal life again. While we saw glimpses of that in the first season, it’s right out front in its sophomore effort. The show flashes back to the bunker because without it, we wouldn’t have the Kimmy Schmidt we’ve grown to love. But while it serves as great comedy, the bunker is no longer necessary to Kimmy’s life in New York.
And despite the title, it’s not only about Kimmy. She has a rat-pack of bandits at her side.
The first season entered strange territory when it came to Jacqueline Voorhees and her heritage, with the show getting flack for its storyline regarding Jacqueline’s Native American family history (Refresher: Krakowski is white). The show brings back that plot in the first episode of the second season, but drops it immediately and doesn’t bring it up again in the six episodes provided to the media. And to much delight but no surprise, Krakowski’s character shines brightest when she’s emulating her infamous character on “30 Rock.” (At one point she quips, “If I can see New Jersey, that means it can see me.”)
But the real highlight here is Burgess, who plays Titus Andromedon. He’s as self-centered as ever, but what’s special about his character is how much he can learn from Kimmy, whose naivete drives most of the show’s comedic moments. What can Titus learn from Kimmy that he doesn’t already know? A lot, actually. Titus finds love and happiness (and a one-man show titled “Kimono You Didn’t” about his Japanese heritage in a past life) while also growing as a person, whether or not he’s aware of it.
These characters can’t exist without each other. And that’s one reason to truly be thankful for something like the bunker.
The comedy, already renewed for a third season, clicks from the very first scene. Whereas “30 Rock” took a few seasons to find its groove, creators Tina Fey and Rob Carlock (both of “30 Rock”) know exactly who these characters are. They alive, damnit. And it’s no miracle that they’re better than ever.
Sara Amato is a RedEye designer.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
2:01 a.m. April 15
Netflix
Four out of four stars
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