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Broad City, Ep. 2.10, “St. Mark’s” ends the season strong

It has been an extremely strong season of Broad City, and though this is a somewhat strange episode to use as a finale, it ultimately feels like an inspired choice. We have no sense of closure with Ilana and Lincoln’s relationship, which I had been anticipating. No arc is particularly remarked upon or addressed. It is essentially just an episode of Abbi and Ilana walking down the street in New York City as they decide what to do for Ilana’s 23rd birthday. It feels as defiant as the beautiful moment before the title card when a man walks by and tells them to smile, so they turn around and force a fake smile with their middle fingers.

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Broad City, Ep. 2.09: “Coat Check” thinks you wore it best

As practically every one of these reviews mentions, the power of Broad City comes from the power of the bond between Abbi and Ilana. Their friendship is closer than most, stronger and more understanding and affectionate. It’s the kind of thing we should strive to achieve in our own lives. It’s strange, then, that one of the series’ best episodes is one where they replace each other with equally glorious guest stars.

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Broad City, Ep. 2.08, “Kirk Steele” rides the whale

Sometimes, Broad City doesn’t try to do anything more than be the funniest show on television, and it is at these moments when it becomes that and more. Wearing her dazzling Froot Loop pants, Ilana is responsible for a child this week. Abbi is trying to sell her artist’s rendering of Whoopi Goldberg’s favourite food (spaghetti). And Trey is a former pornstar. As wonderful guest star Amy Ryan says, “How very funky.

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Broad City, Ep. 2.06, “The Matrix”: Pull the plug

It is a common worry that we have become too dependant on the Internet and on our phones. We spend so much time plugged into the Matrix, as Ilana puts it, that we can’t handle any time separated from it. We can forcibly remove ourselves from its hold over us, but we inevitably begin to crave it and, in some ways, require it. We are helpless without it, and if this episode proves anything, it’s the the truth of that statement, at least for Abbi and Ilana.

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Broad City, Ep. 2.05: “Hashtag FOMO” is your main squeeze

Alter egos for characters in comedy television series is nothing new. Indeed, Abbi’s Val is a similar kind of double life persona as Ron Swanson’s Duke Silver on Parks and Recreation. There’s something special about Val, though. Maybe it’s because, as has been pointed out by many others online, that crazy lady back in the season premiere screeching, “VAL!”, on the subway wasn’t so nuts after all. Maybe it’s because it allows Abbi Jacobson to break out a ridiculous Prohibition-era accent, strutting around like an old-timey diva and swallowing diamonds with aplomb.

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Broad City, Ep. 2.03, “Wisdom Teeth” thinks you have boyfriend penis

Here’s some personal context: I spent most of my day before watching this episode in a health clinic, dealing with strep throat, waiting, waiting, waiting. It goes without saying that it was a less-than-ideal way to spend my day. I turned on “Wisdom Teeth”, and suddenly all was right in the world. The long day faded away. The pain in my throat faded away. It was almost as if I was high on four Vicodin and some strong weed.

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Broad City, Ep. 2.02, “Mochalatta Chills” wants to bring you to Abbi Dhabi

As many have already noted, 2015 (much like the previous year, really) looks to be the year of the half-hour comedy. As television becomes ever more saturated, it appears that the best work—comedic or dramatic—is happening in half-hour chunks. Transparent season one had more emotionally resonant, dramatic moments than any current drama series, but it’s typically classified as a comedy mostly because of the episodes’ 30-minute runtime. The fact is that television’s most remarkable work is being done in this format, and Broad City is certainly no exception.

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Broad City, Ep. 2.01, “In Heat” thinks your dad should’ve pulled out

Seconds into the second season premiere of Broad City, it’s unbelievably exciting to be back in the company of Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, two of the most wonderful and delightful people on our little planet. In the first season, this simple comedy seemed initially to not be much more than a funny hangout show. Quickly though, the intense friendship between these two characters developed into something truly beautiful, one of the very few female friendships on television of such strength, honesty, and mutual adoration. The exploration and celebration of that relationship is what makes Broad City so special outside of its consistent hilarity, and judging on the premiere, nothing’s changed.

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