I did not watch Master of None straight through. It’s as if I had to take in and digest every episode for the individual work of art that it was. Season one was great, season two is next level. It was so good that I had to write this article. It exceeded expectations and added to the colorful patchwork of the new golden age of television. From daring directing to resounding embodiments of the untold American story, Master of None has carved its place in TV history. Every episode was a work of art that should be studied in film school for years to come.

On June 1st, I was lucky enough to attend a Q&A with Aziz Ansari, Aniz Ansari, (yes, they are brothers!) Alan Yang and Eric Wareheim. It was amazing—like being 10 feet from the sun! Until some crazy women took the microphone and insisted she was the true creator of Master of None, and should get credit (#wypeople). But despite that horrid individual, it was an amazing night and I felt so privileged to be in the room.

Here are four reasons why Master of None has changed the way I thought television had to be made.

1. Family and Friends

When the presentation started, Aziz came out and then Aniz came out. As soon as they said hello, you could tell they were related. These brothers are working together to share their family story.

I had no idea Aniz was involved in the show, but it makes so much sense. To have such a truthful and fun narrative of Aziz’s family, of course, Aniz should be part of it. “The show is so great because I get to work with my brother and of my best friends,“ Aziz told an aww-ing crowd of LA’s biggest Master of None fans.

It was so great to see the close bond of these creators. They laughed and joked as the described their creative process. It seemed like such a great time. I immediately wanted to move back home and force my brother and two childhood friends into a room and start writing a TV Show.

Aziz and friends are not after rubbing elbows with the top execs and getting into that inner circle. They have created their own inner circle. They laugh, text and eat their way to an awesome TV show, and somehow, knowing that makes me like the show even more.

2. It’s a hard knock life, but people are just people.

The truth is, no matter how hard Shonda Rhimes tries there is a huge lack of diversity on prime time TV.

It is getting better. But we are not there yet. It was beautiful to see all of these outliers in such a non-patronizing light.

It made me wish for a reboot of Seinfeld starring people of color. It made me stand up straight and clap my hands as I saw the episode that included the deaf young women, the doormen and the cab drivers. These are the stories I want to see on TV.

Though I am sure their lives are tough, Master of None shows these hidden figures in such a universal light that everyone can relate to. You may not be deaf, but you probably know about being sexually frustrated with your significant other. You may not drive a cab, but you probably know what it's like to have an inconsiderate roommate.

The stories of these people are out there, but usually, we only see the most dramatic versions of their lives. We see them escaping war-torn lands or fighting catastrophic injustice on a national scale.

“Cab drivers watch movies too!”

3. The Lemonade Theory

While watching season two, I realized something. I was having a truly physical and spiritual response to the series. It was almost the same feeling that I had when Lemonade came out.

When watching Master of None, I can go back to that feeling of wonder, curiosity and complete awareness, in the same way I watched Beyoncé celebrate women of color through her visual album, Lemonade. I thought “Oh my God, Oh My GOD. How beautiful, how interesting.” I almost cried, and I realized it was because I never get to see multiple women of color on screen being celebrated for their beauty and their strength. And I watch a lot of TV. It was an indescribable feeling that I doubted I would have again.

Master of None gave me back that feeling of excitement, intrigue and pure joy to see the stories of underrepresented groups shine in a light we have never seen before.

4. Fearless Directing

Master of None masters a modern, yet classic approach to directing.

The bold directing choices really raise the bar for Master of None, Netflix series all-around and comedies in general.

Every intro is different and stylized to a different film era or genre. It sets up the fact that each episode can stand alone as its own work of art. This modern comedy makes daring choices that you would only see in an artistic foreign film.

A favorite moment of mine is when Dev takes an Uber with a girl he loves, but does not reveal his feelings. She leaves and we watch Dev ride home silently in the back of that Uber…for like, 10 minutes. The traditional move would be to cut after the girl gets out. However, they make you sit with Dev in his defeat, with his confusion, and uncertainty.

We have all been there.

So in short, Master of None is exactly what I want TV to be. It is what I want to watch and the kind of thing I want to create.

Shannon O'Connor

Writing since December 2016 · 1 story contributed