Truly special. I want to carry it with me.

It took me longer than I’d like to admit to really appreciate this show for what it is (2 and a half seasons and then a re-listen of season 1). But once I finally came around, it became one of my all time favorites. The story is unique, the setting surreal and whimsical, the format fresh and constantly changing. The characters are complex and messy in a way you can’t help but love, the questions it asks about community are important and thought-provoking, and all of the writing is impeccable, from the twisting structure of the countless plot and character arcs intertwining with each other, down to the rhythm of the narration and scenes.

I appreciate the way the show addresses more sensitive themes, such as grief, addiction, misogyny, racism, and systematic oppression. It delves into all of these topics respectfully and artfully, while keeping an uplifting and hopeful tone. It is not a show that’s interested in making its characters suffer, only in showing the problems that exist in their lives, and how they confront them.

The action picks up a lot in season two, and I love all of the twists and turns that brings, but I will always have a soft spot for the season one monologues. They are breathtaking. I am about two days of quarantine away from starting to memorize some of them. I don’t even have anyone I want to recite them to—it’s just a way to keep them with me.

This show is special to me. It intrigues me, and it comforts me, and most of all it inspires me to be better—a better friend, a better community member, and a better person.