Netflix recently released Bo Burnham: Inside and the incredibly self-aware, lockdown-centered comedy special knows why the public binges everything. After over a year of dealing with the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic, most people are tired of hearing about the "unprecedented times" that the world has been enduring. But the aptly named Inside special chronicles the comedian's (among plenty of other titles) lockdown experience in a way that's refreshing, painfully relatable, and cuttingly witty.
Burnham stars in the project–which he also wrote, directed, and edited–tackling an array of topics like the sanity-corroding oversaturation of information on today's internet, living in an era where everyone broadcasts their personal commentary (while also acknowledging that's exactly what he's doing through his special), and poking fun at modern trends like Twitch streaming and YouTube reaction videos. Though all of this is done in a way that is quickly delivered, sarcastic, and fun, Bo Burnham's deeply emotional takes on the world simultaneously permeate through in a way that's reminiscent of his 2016 special, Make Happy.
In the beginning, he delivers the incredibly tongue-in-cheek line, "Open wide...Here comes some content. It’s a beautiful day to stay inside." It's layered sentiments like this that set the tone for the entire piece. Of course, this line and the special's title succinctly convey the year that most people have had. But it's clear that Burnham is also keenly aware of the roles that both artists and content consumers play in today's media landscape. Creators embed themselves in a microcosm of self-expression as they craft what they want to say to and show to the world. Bo Burnham seems to have done exactly this while making the Inside Netflix special–creating a form of healthy and productive escapism from distressing external (and often internal) events. And, in turn, now that his newest special has been released, others are now playing their role in the dynamic: devouring the content.
Of course, viewers, especially comedy fans or those who were already fans of Burnham's work, are eager to see his newest project. And it's well-executed from every angle. But, as both Burnham and Inside as a whole know, there's a lot more behind society's appetite for media than just conventional entertainment. As if a chronic need for escapism wasn't already prevalent, COVID-19 and last summer's ongoing social unrest in the U.S. drastically upped the ante. For months on end, all most people had to do (besides work, if they still had the ability to do that) was binge-watch content, from videos on YouTube to shows and movies on streaming giants like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon.
By acknowledging all of this, Burnham is also commenting on the pressure that's subsequently placed on creators. As if it isn't stressful enough to share your carefully crafted art with everyone, entertainers like him also have a sense of duty to hold the attention of those transfixed by their work as the world seemingly falls apart in new ways every day. Consuming content, such as comedy specials, is an intriguing and fun use of time, but Bo Burnham: Inside also acknowledges an underlying sense of urgency and anxiety that lurks beneath the wide array of readily available entertainment choices.