Aziz Ansari made his mark on TV as the outsize Tom Haverford, a materialistic city employee on Parks and Recreation. Writing for himself, Ansari has toned things down with the new sitcom Master of None, now streaming on Netflix. It’s an endearingly earnest look at the state of modern love that still fits in plenty of big ideas.
The show, co-created by Ansari and Alan Yang, stars Ansari as Dev, an aspiring actor looking for love and really good tacos. Over the 10 episodes, Dev goes on dates (including a memorable fling with a food critic played by Claire Danes) and falls, gradually, in love with a music publicist (Noël Wells).
These characters’ jobs, along with their apartments and nights out, situate this in a fantasy New York City, one that’s as pleasant as Rachel Green’s or Carrie Bradshaw’s. Otherwise, Master of None keeps things real, about the painful aspects of seeking love and life as a South Asian actor in a prejudiced industry. That Ansari has, yes, mastered both in a single series elevates him from gifted comic to the first great millennial showrunner.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- Coco Gauff Is Playing for Herself Now
- Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com