Good and candid and funny.
Maria Bamford is one of stand-up's most original voices, figuratively - she has spent her career dissecting her bipolar disorder and depression onstage - and literally, as in, she's really good at making funny voices. That dichotomy is what makes her Netflix show so great. She's so candid about her issues, but she's able to make them feel so relatable and warmly hilarious.
The semiautobiographical show, created by South Park alum Pam Brady and Arrested Development creator Mitchell Hurwitz, takes some getting used to. There are jumps in time and tone, and Bamford often breaks the fourth wall (in one scene, she gets advice from fellow comedian Patton Oswalt about the show they're acting in), but it's not a difficult rhythm to get used to, especially because Bamford is so earnest in her approach.
The real draw of Lady Dynamite is Bamford, whose voice is earnest and unique. She's not just showing us mental illness, she's letting us sit inside her mind and see the world as she wants us to see it.
Need one more reason to catch up with Lady Dynamite? It's produced by Lower Merion High School grad Dan Kaplow.
Where to stream it: Netflix.
Like this? Binge these: "Louie" (Netflix), "Master of None" (Netflix).