'Master Of None' Is Critics' Choice Best Comedy

It was an evening full of wonderful moments and richly deserved awards, but one of the highlights was undoubtedly when Master of None won the Best Comedy Critics' Choice Award on Jan. 17. Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang's hilarious and thought-provoking Netflix series has been binge-watched by many of us, and it tackles everything from problematic racial stereotypes to complicated family relationships with both wit and sensitivity. Plus, Ansari and Yang deserve major props for making Master of None a decidedly feminist show and proving that men can, indeed, be amazing allies for women's rights.

It was the perfect choice for Best Comedy Series, because it successfully manages to achieve plenty of laughs without sacrificing depth. And, in a span of just ten episodes, Master of None dealt with a diverse array of important subject matter. The relationships, both romantic and familial, are depicted in a touching and realistic manner. Meanwhile, it challenges us to think about our own preconceived notions about race and gender roles and what we can all be doing to combat prejudices and harmful stereotypes. It achieves all this without being cloying or condescending, and the show is so watchable that I'm angry with myself for devouring the entire series so quickly — because now I have an unbearably long wait until I get to see new episodes. (But, in my defense, can you really blame me?)

Upon its release, The New York Times described Master of None as "the year's best comedy straight out of the gate" and praised it for being deeply relevant and important:

It’s an idea-packed bulletin on technology and social mores. It’s a showbiz satire. It’s a casually multicultural, multiracial comedy that’s also acutely conscious of how identity still matters. But above all it is about the tyranny of choice: how being blessed with every option that youth, technology and privilege offer can be paralyzing.

And that's the core of it — Master of None challanges us to think about the common ground we share as we struggle to navigate adulthood and define our own identities. The acting, writing, and soundtrack are all top-notch and the show was so deserving of the accolades it earned at the Critics' Choice Awards. It really helped end an already great evening on a high note. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to re-watch a few of my favorite episodes.