Netflix users were surprised to find updates regarding Master of None's much-awaited Season 3. Finally, with the recent trailer, fans got a glimpse of the new direction the show will be taking with five episodes dedicated to Denise (Lena Waithe) instead of creator Aziz Ansari's character Dev Shah.
Ansari would still be serving as writer and director, and the internet rejoiced with this news as Master of None was dormant to the point that many started thinking that the show will never come back. After four years, Master of None: Moments in Love will premiere on Netflix on May 23.
Serotonin
Even though the trailer seemed to have a more dramatic tone rather than a comedic one, the general aura of it still felt very wholesome. What made the first two seasons comforting for many was the warmth and earnestness present in every episode.
While some episodes dealt with Dev's hilarious misadventures, a few others focused on more heart-touching aspects of its characters. Episodes like Parents, Religion, and Thanksgiving are prime examples in this regard. So, whatever be the case, Master of None seems to be a serotonin-inducing show and the third season doesn't seem like an exception either.
Gratitude From The Fans
With the new season's plot focusing on Denise, showrunners Alan Yang and Aziz Ansari have proven their willingness to fully explore their characters rather than just focusing on one protagonist.
Hence, the Netflix original is ready to treat its fans well with some formulaic goodness while also experimenting with different creative directions. Even if Season 3 will be a different experience, many fans are just thankful for the show to come back in the first place.
Rewatching The Trailer
Within four days, the Season 3 trailer has racked up 190k views on Netflix's YouTube channel. The hype makes sense considering that fans were not only excited for a new season but also amused by the cinematic quality of the clip.
Shot in a square format and set against the backdrop of minimalistic set design and classical music, the trailer promises to offer an introspective and intimate portrayal of Denise that viewers have never seen before. No wonder fans are rewatching the trailer and are in awe of its aesthetic visuals and soothing background music.
Catching Up On The Previous Seasons
Considering that the last season debuted in May 2017, viewers might want to jog down memory lane by rewatching the first two seasons before getting ready for Moments in Love.
Even if one doesn't plan to rewatch the twenty episodes, the Season 2 episode Thanksgiving would still make for essential viewing considering that it was the first Denise-centric episode in the show. The Emmy-winning episode explored Denise's romantic relationships and her mother's dilemmas in accepting her sexuality. In the new season, Denise is shown to have matured further while being married to Alicia (Naomi Ackie).
Reinvention
As put aptly by this tweet, Master of None has always been a show that loves to challenge itself. Both Yang and Ansari had been associated with the beloved sitcom Parks and Recreation. However, Master of None aimed to subvert the sitcom tropes and blend drama and comedy in a less structured manner.
This opens the possibility to explore more styles and narratives, whether it be the Fellini-inspired black-and-white Season 2 premiere or the anthology episode New York, I Love You that just featured the lives of ordinary New Yorkers rather than the main characters. Similarly, the change in location and plot in the new season might have come as a surprise but this transient nature has been the very essence of Master of None right from the start.
Emotional Reactions
Denise's character arc is definitely getting more emotional, as is evident from the trailer. Be it Denise or Dev, viewers were just aware of their dating history so far. But in Moments in Love, Denise is married and settled in London with her new partner.
The mellow trailer seems to be exploring the highs and lows of this marriage, doubling down on the overall seriousness of her storyline. Hence, there are high chances that the five upcoming episodes would draw in some teary-eyed reactions.
Delayed Third Seasons
If there's any other Season 3 that is being as anticipated as Master of None, it has to be Atlanta. The hip-hop-themed comedy-drama series last aired in 2018. Since then, its lead cast went on to appear in several films and creator/lead actor Donald Glover continued his music career but there was no news for Season 3.
It was only in early April that Glover announced that the production for the FX series' next two seasons has commenced. This, coupled with other updates like the release dates of Master of None and The Kominsky Method's new seasons meant good news for all aficionados of the 'dramedy' genre.
Cottagecore Vibes
Master of None's first season featured a typical New York setting with the city's flats, cafes, and skyscrapers serving as a backdrop for Dev Shah's professional and romantic endeavors. The sophomore season implied a change in setting with a more panoramic and nature-friendly view of Italy. Now, for the third season, the trailer offers a glimpse at a less chaotic urban lifestyle in favor of a more rural-style cottagecore aesthetic.
For the unacquainted, cottagecore is a Gen-Z trend and visual subculture that seeks to romanticize the simplicity of rural living, laying focus on furniture that predates technology and modernist architecture. Denise and Alicia's cozy home in the English countryside indeed gives off a strong cottagecore atmosphere.
'All Is Well In The World'
As the global coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath still remain, people are turning towards streaming platforms to obtain some much-needed escapism at home.
In these troubled times, news like Master of None dropping a new season offers some positivity to people. Master of None has already been a win for Indian representation with Ansari's leading turn as Dev Shah. Now, with Denise, Season 3 is bound to improve Black and queer representation on American TV.
A Change In Narrative
While some viewers were polarized regarding the shift in tone and storyline for the new season, others heavily praised the inclusion of Denise as a lead. As mentioned above, Thanksgiving was easily one of the best and most emotional episodes from the series as a whole.
To see more development in her character would be interesting to witness. As Denise's actress Lena Waithe herself also shares writing credits, a more personal and honest narrative is bound to be explored.