After spending a rather large amount of time watching the NBC series, 30 Rock, I was sure that I would never find another TV show with the same fantastically obscure energy. That was until I recently discovered the new Netflix original series, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. This brand new show, produced and written by the hilarious Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, is as funny, bright, and weird as anyone could ever want.

The show centers on Kimmy Schmidt, an optimistic 29-year-old who has been kept underground in a bunker for the past fifteen years of her life and told that there has been a nuclear apocalypse. Kimmy must learn to live in present day New York City, which proves to be an immense challenge given her lack of knowledge on any matters in the twenty-first century. Kimmy has an incredibly difficult time adjusting to modern culture, but she gets by with the help of her unconventional friends and her slightly crazy employer.

I have found everything about this series to be absolutely perfect, but the most perfect part of all would have to be Ellie Kemper’s performance as Kimmy Schmidt. Kemper has captured the unbreakable energy of Kimmy perfectly, with her childishly upbeat views on the world and her surprisingly optimistic spirit. Kemper is not afraid to be bold in her acting, which becomes increasingly clear when she dances with abandon to The Circle of Life in Times Square and ecstatically runs through Central Park to untie a horse, claiming that he “deserves to be free”. Even when the situation seems dark for Kimmy, Kemper always seems to lighten the mood with a bright-eyed smile, which other actresses certainly would not be able to do with the same authentic cheer.

Another fantastic performance in the show is given by 30 Rock veteran, Jane Krakowski. Jane plays Kimmy’s employer, Jaqueline Voorhees, who is hugely rich and unbelievably self-absorbed, but somehow still a likeable character. Kimmy goes to help Jaqueline under the impression that she is also being kept captive, only to find that she is only refusing to go outdoors because of a recent face peel. Kimmy teaches Jaqueline to take control of her life, her kids, and her unhappy marriage. Jaqueline’s character may seem to be a boring or overdone role, but Jane Krakowski somehow manages to turn Jaqueline into a very atypical character. From the moment she claims that she cannot punish her teenage stepdaughter because they are “practically the same age” (Jane is 46) to her proclaiming “USA” after finally signing her divorce papers, Jane keeps the role fresh and new, becoming one of the absolutely integral aspects of the show.

Kimmy and Jaqueline may be a couple of the few main characters who appear on the show, but this is certainly not to say that there aren’t hysterical guest appearances. One of the best by far is Tina Fey, who plays Kimmy’s thoroughly incompetent lawyer during the prosecution case of Kimmy’s kidnapper, Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne. Fey plays the role with a ridiculous curly wig and mole, and the role only becomes more wonderfully absurd from here. Though Tina’s voice has been obvious in prior episodes through her writing, the show is much improved with Tina as an actress, as well. Another fabulous guest appearance is given by John Hamm as Kimmy’s kidnapper, Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne. The trial seems as a clear-cut win for Kimmy in the beginning, but the jury is easily swayed by the reverend’s charm and charisma. Hamm is a perfect fit for this role, playing guitar and making Mellencamp references throughout the trial. All in all, the acting in Kimmy Schmidt is perfectly top-notch, making Fey and Carlock’s already-great scripts even better.

Overall, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is a fantastic show that is rarely clichéd and always hilarious. This series turns life after abduction, which would be expected to be a darkly dramatic topic, into a funny, bright, and optimistic experience. Kimmy is a uniquely upbeat character who is never dull to watch, and I expect that she will continue to be a success for years to come. I know that I look forward to the show’s next season, which will be streamed to Netflix in the spring of 2016. Make sure to watch it!