Now that Russian Doll Season 2 has finally been released in full on Netflix after making its audience wait for about 4 years because of obstructions and delays in filming and production due to the pandemic. The first season of this American comedy-drama series was received as one of the best comedies of 2019 because of its unapologetic, spontaneous, and organic sense of humor. The second season still keeps the viewers impatient with a lot of unanswered questions making us expect a potential return of the show with a third season.
Russian Doll Season 3 Plot
The show follows the troublesome routines of of Nadia, a video game designer with a self-destructive streak, who kept dying after her 36th birthday party, only to constantly be reincarnated at the same party and live in this endless loop of going through her death day again and again with its one of a kind varieties and convolutions. She finds a fellow sufferer, Alan, who is going through a similar repetitive loop with no end for a different event in his life.
In the second season, the show doesn’t deal with the similar concepts of the former show although it does continue to work around the matter of time as Nadia advances towards her 40th birthday and learning from her past experiences wishes to celebrate it in a low-key manner with Alan to avoid any possible mishaps. But of course, things don’t go according to plan and to keep it spoiler-free let’s just say Nadia realizes if she can find something worse than death?
Russian Doll Season 3 Renewal Status Update
On official grounds, there has been no such confirmation about the show being renewed for the third season yet. However, in an interview in 2019 (via The Hollywood Reporter) it was stated that the plan was for Russian Doll to be a 3-season show. According to the positive reception, we can anticipate the show to return with the third season and end the series as a trilogy.
What Would Happen in Russian Doll Season 3?
Season 2 still lingers behind many unanswered questions leaving us inquisitive and curious about a lot of things still. Nadia and Alan’s strange experiences have never been explained, but Horse and Agnes’ roles in the MTA and their knowledge about time and The Void suggest that there is a bigger picture and the mystery behind this is yet to unfold. And if we follow the time trend of season 1, where Nadia and Alan were trapped in the present, in season 2 they delve into their past events it would be logical to expect a season 3 where Alan and Nadia explore their futures through time.
When Can We Expect A Russian Doll Season 3?
Based on initial plans for season 2, it is reasonable to think that Russian Doll season 3 will arrive in mid to late 2023. However, it will not be clear when the show will return until there is a solid confirmation that the Russian Doll has been renewed for season 3.
Russian Doll Season 3 Cast
The core cast stars Natasha Lyonne as Nadia Vulvokov, a software engineer who finds herself reliving her 36th birthday party in an ongoing time loop wherein she repeatedly dies and the process continues.
Brooke Timber portrays Nadia as a child. Greta Lee plays Maxine, Nadia’s friend, who throws her 36th birthday party. Yul Vazquez is cast as John Reyes in season 1, a real estate agent and Nadia’s ex-boyfriend who is currently in the process of divorcing his wife. Elizabeth Ashley portrays the role of Ruth Brenner, a therapist and close family friend of Nadia and her mother.
Kate Jennings Grant (guest in season 1) and Annie Murphy (recurring in season 2) portray a young Ruth. Charlie Barnett plays Alan Zaveri, a man who is also stuck in a time loop like Nadia. Chloë Sevigny takes the role of Lenora Vulvokov mostly in season 2 and as a guest in season 1, Nadia’s mother with whom she had a difficult childhood.
The show has a wide recurring cast as well
- Jeremy Bobb as Mike Kershaw, a college literature professor with whom Beatrice is having an affair
- Brendan Sexton III as Horse, a homeless man whom Nadia helps out
- Rebecca Henderson as Lizzy, an artist and friend of Nadia and Maxine
- Ritesh Rajan as Ferran, a friend of Alan’s who works at a deli
- Ken Beck as a paramedic (season 1)
- Dascha Polanco as Beatrice (season 1), Alan’s girlfriend, who he wishes to propose to
- Sharlto Copley as Chezare “Chez” Carrera (season 2), Lenora’s boyfriend in 1982
- Irén Bordán as Vera Peschauer (season 2), Lenora’s mother and Nadia’s grandmother, appears in 1982 and 1968
- Ilona McCrea portrays young Vera in 1944
- Athina Papadimitriu as Delia (season 2), Vera’s longtime friend and supporter, appears in 1982 and 1968
- Franciscka Farkas portrays young Delia in 1944
- Ephraim Sykes as Derek (season 2), a member of the Guardian Angels watching over the subway in 1982
- Rosie O’Donnell voices the subway announcer (season 2)
The show sees many guest stars like Lilias White, Burt Young, and many more throughout its two seasons.
Reception
The first season received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Lyonne. The first season received a lot of critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 97% approval rating with an average rating of 8.5/10, based on 98 reviews. Alicia Lutes of IGN gave the first season a 10/10.
Praising the series, she adds that it is “an inventive, unpredictable ride that will easily stand as one of the best shows of the year.” In a positive review, Rolling Stone’s Alan Sepinwall awarded the series 4+1⁄2 stars out of 5 and praised it saying, “That blend of tones, and the controlled mania of Lyonne’s brilliant performance, makes Russian Doll feel like something wholly new, even as it cops to its many influences.” It also has an IMDb rating of 7.8/10. The second season also has had a positive opening now. It has been nominated for a bunch of awards including the Primetime Emmy Awards as well as the Golden Globes.
Russian Doll is an extremely unique and creative show dealing with experimental themes and attracting us more because of it. With every episode it gets weirder and more mind-boggling keeping us hooked for the next episode with its own surreal twists and turns but at the same time bringing light to deep real-life issues revolving around grief and trauma.