Russian Doll (TV series)
Russian Doll is an American comedy-drama television series, created by Natasha Lyonne, Leslye Headland, and Amy Poehler, that premiered on Netflix on February 1, 2019. The series follows Nadia Vulvokov (Lyonne), a game developer who repeatedly dies and relives the same night in an ongoing time loop and tries to solve it, leading to her finding Alan Zaveri (Charlie Barnett) in the same situation. It also stars Greta Lee, Yul Vazquez, Elizabeth Ashley, and Chloë Sevigny.
Russian Doll | |
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Genre | |
Created by | |
Starring |
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Composer | Joe Wong |
Country of origin | United States |
Original languages |
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No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 15 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producers |
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Cinematography |
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Editors |
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Running time | 24–33 minutes |
Production companies |
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Distributor | NBCUniversal Television Distribution |
Release | |
Original network | Netflix |
Original release | February 1, 2019 – present |
Its first season received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Lyonne. In June 2019, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on April 20, 2022.[3][4]
Premise
Russian Doll follows a woman named Nadia who is caught in a time loop as the guest of honor at a seemingly inescapable birthday party one night in New York City. She dies repeatedly, always restarting at the same moment at the party, as she tries to figure out what is happening to her. She meets a man who is experiencing exactly the same thing in a different event.[5]
In Season 2, Nadia is 10 days away from celebrating her 40th birthday when the 6 Train sends her back in time to 1982. She soon discovers she's trapped inside the body of her mother, Lenora, who is pregnant with Nadia. Nadia decides to pursue the gold krugerrands her mother lost that same year, in order to change the course of her family’s history.
Cast and characters
Main
- Natasha Lyonne as Nadia Vulvokov, a software engineer who finds herself reliving her 36th birthday party in an ongoing time loop wherein she repeatedly dies and the process begins again
- Brooke Timber portrays young Nadia
- Greta Lee as Maxine, Nadia's friend, who throws her 36th birthday party
- Yul Vazquez as John Reyes (season 1), a real estate agent and Nadia's ex-boyfriend who is currently in the process of divorcing his wife
- Elizabeth Ashley as Ruth Brenner, a therapist and close family friend of Nadia and her mother
- Kate Jennings Grant (guest season 1) and Annie Murphy (recurring season 2) portray a young Ruth
- Charlie Barnett[lower-alpha 2] as Alan Zaveri, a man who is also stuck in a time loop like Nadia
- Chloë Sevigny as Lenora Vulvokov (season 2; guest season 1), Nadia's mother with whom she had a difficult childhood
Recurring
- Jeremy Bobb as Mike Kershaw, a college literature professor with whom Beatrice is having an affair
- Brendan Sexton III as Horse, a homeless man whom Nadia helps out
- Rebecca Henderson as Lizzy, an artist and friend of Nadia and Maxine
- Ritesh Rajan as Ferran, a friend of Alan's who works at a deli
- Ken Beck as a paramedic
- Dascha Polanco as Beatrice (season 1), Alan's girlfriend, whom he wishes to propose to
- Sharlto Copley as Chezare "Chez" Carrera (season 2), Lenora's boyfriend in 1982
- Irén Bordán as Vera Peschauer (season 2), Lenora's mother and Nadia's grandmother, appears in 1982 and 1968
- Ilona McCrea portrays young Vera in 1944
- Athina Papadimitriu as Delia (season 2), Vera's longtime best friend and supporter, appears in 1982 and 1968
- Franciscka Farkas portrays young Delia in 1944
- Ephraim Sykes as Derek (season 2), a member of the Guardian Angels watching over the subway in 1982
- Rosie O'Donnell voices the subway announcer (season 2)
Guest
- Max Knoblauch as a paramedic
- Yoni Lotan as Ryan, a paramedic
- Waris Ahluwalia as Wardog, Maxine's drug dealer
- David Cale as Dr. Daniel (season 1), a man who concocts the drugs that Wardog sells
- Devin Ratray as a deli customer whom Nadia interrupts as he is purchasing a lottery ticket (season 1)
- Tami Sagher as Shifra (season 1), a secretary for the rabbi at the Tifereth Israel Synagogue
- Jonathan Hadary as the rabbi at the Tifereth Israel Synagogue whom Nadia seeks out to ask questions about the building where her party was thrown (season 1)
- Lillias White as Dr. Zaveri, Alan's mother
- Burt Young as Joe (season 1), a tenant in Alan's apartment building
- Mirirai Sithole as Audrey, Alan's neighbor
- Michelle Buteau as a woman who pepper sprays Alan when she thinks he is stalking her (season 1)
- Jocelyn Bioh as Claire (season 1)
- Anoop Desai as Salim (season 2), Ferran’s father and owner of the convenience store in 1982
- Danielle Perez as a librarian (season 2)
- Max Baker as a doctor in a psychiatric ward (season 2)
- Sandor Funtek as Lenny (season 2)
- Carolyn Michelle Smith as Agnes, Alan's grandmother (season 2)
- Balázs Czukor as Kristóf Halázs (season 2)
- Gergely Csiby as a German officer (season 2)
- Piroska Molnár as a Hungarian woman who yells at Nadia and Maxine (season 2)
- Phillipp Droste as Lukas (season 2)
- Tulian Aczel as Bruno (season 2)
Episodes
Season 1 (2019)
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
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1 | 1 | "Nothing in This World Is Easy" | Leslye Headland | Story by : Natasha Lyonne & Leslye Headland & Amy Poehler Teleplay by : Leslye Headland | February 1, 2019 | |
After dying abruptly on the night of her 36th birthday, Nadia finds herself reliving the events of the night in a continuous time loop. Every time Nadia dies, she returns to the bathroom of her friend Maxine's loft, where Nadia's birthday party is being thrown. | ||||||
2 | 2 | "The Great Escape" | Leslye Headland | Natasha Lyonne & Amy Poehler | February 1, 2019 | |
An increasingly frantic Nadia is convinced that she is hallucinating due to smoking one of Maxine's Israeli joints at her birthday party. She tracks down Maxine's drug dealer Wardog in order to find out what the joint was laced with. | ||||||
3 | 3 | "A Warm Body" | Leslye Headland | Allison Silverman | February 1, 2019 | |
Nadia asks for John's help as her quest for answers leads her to a local synagogue. While searching for her cat Oatmeal, Nadia befriends a homeless man named Horse, and later encounters a mysterious man in a falling elevator. | ||||||
4 | 4 | "Alan's Routine" | Jamie Babbit | Cirocco Dunlap & Leslye Headland | February 1, 2019 | |
The day before crossing paths with Nadia in the elevator, Alan plans to propose to his girlfriend Beatrice, only for her to break up with him. To make matters worse, Beatrice admits to cheating on Alan with her professor, Mike. Nadia tracks down Alan, since he is also experiencing time loops, but he accuses her of interfering with his routine. | ||||||
5 | 5 | "Superiority Complex" | Jamie Babbit | Jocelyn Bioh | February 1, 2019 | |
Alan shows up at Nadia's birthday party and the two work together to figure out what is happening to them. Despite initially rebuffing Alan's theory that they are being punished for being bad people, Nadia sets out to make amends with John. Meanwhile, Alan confronts Mike about his affair with Beatrice. | ||||||
6 | 6 | "Reflection" | Jamie Babbit | Flora Birnbaum | February 1, 2019 | |
In an effort to figure out how their lives are connected, Nadia helps Alan remember his first death as they retrace his steps. Alan eventually recalls he died as a result of suicide by jumping from the top of a building. | ||||||
7 | 7 | "The Way Out" | Leslye Headland | Story by : Allison Silverman Teleplay by : Allison Silverman & Leslye Headland | February 1, 2019 | |
With the steady disappearance of their loved ones, Nadia and Alan come up with a theory that the loops started because they neglected to help each other on the first night they died. Meanwhile, Nadia is haunted by memories of her troubled childhood. | ||||||
8 | 8 | "Ariadne" | Natasha Lyonne | Natasha Lyonne | February 1, 2019 | |
Nadia and Alan find themselves trapped in two separate timelines, where they run into alternate, pre-loop versions of each other who are unaware of the future loops. They succeed at preventing each other's first deaths, and the episode ends with the pair becoming friends in both timelines, causing the timelines to merge. |
Season 2 (2022)
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
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9 | 1 | "Nowhen" | Natasha Lyonne | Natasha Lyonne | April 20, 2022 | |
A few days before her 40th birthday, Nadia discovers a wormhole on the 6 Train that allows her to travel to and from 1982. While in the past, she realizes she is trapped in the body of her mother, who is pregnant with Nadia. She unknowingly helps a conman named Chez steal her grandmother's inheritance of 150 gold coins. After returning to the present, Nadia asks Ruth about Chez and discovers he was involved with Nora around the time she lost the coins. She also tries to inform Alan of the wormhole. Nadia returns to 1982 and confirms she and Chez stole the coins from Vera. While she is in the bathroom, Chez takes off with them, leaving Nadia behind. Back in 2022, Alan boards the 6 Train. | ||||||
10 | 2 | "Coney Island Baby" | Alex Buono | Allison Silverman & Zakiyyah Alexander | April 20, 2022 | |
Still in 1982, Nadia (in Lenora's body) is confronted by her grandmother, Vera, who accuses her of stealing the coins. Nadia enlists the Guardian Angels to track down Chez before realizing she can look him up online in the present. After tracking down an older Chez in 2022, Nadia goes back to 1982 to confront him. Chez claims he already gave her the money the previous night. Nadia runs into a younger Ruth, just as Vera has Lenora evicted from her apartment. With Ruth's help, Nadia buys back the coins from a jewelry store, using the money of a returned luxury car and Ruth trading her wedding ring as collateral. Nadia leaves a voicemail for Lenora, pleading with her to not waste her second chance. On her way to return the coins, Nadia gets distracted when she spots Alan on the subway. When she returns to her seat, the coins are gone. | ||||||
11 | 3 | "Brain Drain" | Natasha Lyonne | Natasha Lyonne & Alice Ju | April 20, 2022 | |
After losing the coins on the subway, Nadia goes to the hospital for an ultrasound with Ruth and Vera. Vera tells Nadia about a Gold Train in Budapest that is linked to the coins. Nadia takes several family documents from Vera's apartment, as well as a set of slides from the library, and returns to Lenora's mold-infested apartment. Nadia hallucinates earwigs crawling out of her arms, as well as the real Lenora, whom only she can see. Nadia receives a call from a librarian, who tells her how the Gold Train contained all the valuables of Hungarian refugees in World War II, including Vera's gold coins. After the war ended, the train was lost and the valuables were stolen by Nazis. Before Nadia and Lenora can look for the train, the police arrive and take Nadia to a mental institution. Nadia tries to explain her situation to the doctors, but realizes her mother's schizophrenia is starting to take over her own mind. Nadia escapes the institution and returns to the present, where she finds her family's receipt for the Gold Train. | ||||||
12 | 4 | "Station to Station" | Alex Buono | Teleplay by : Alice Ju & Lizzie Rose & Natasha Lyonne | April 20, 2022 | |
After boarding the 6 Train, Alan is taken to East Berlin in 1962, where he attends graduate school in his grandmother's body and dates a man named Lenny. In the present, Nadia and Alan debate the ethics of time travel, with Alan firmly against Nadia's desire to change the past. Nadia brings Maxine to Budapest to help her find her grandmother's home. In 1962, Alan learns Lenny and the other students are planning to tunnel under the Berlin Wall and his grandmother has drawn the plans for them. | ||||||
13 | 5 | "Exquisite Corpse" | Alex Buono | Allison Silverman | April 20, 2022 | |
14 | 6 | "Schrödinger's Ruth" | Alex Buono | Cirocco Dunlap | April 20, 2022 | |
15 | 7 | "Matryoshka" | Natasha Lyonne | Natasha Lyonne & Alice Ju | April 20, 2022 |
Production
The series was created by Natasha Lyonne, Amy Poehler, and Leslye Headland, all of whom also serve as executive producers. Headland wrote the first episode, and she and Lyonne also serve as writers for the series. Production companies involved with the series consist of Universal Television, Paper Kite Productions, Jax Media, and 3 Arts Entertainment.[6][7][8]
Alongside the initial series order announcement, it was confirmed that Lyonne would star in the series.[6] Alongside the premiere announcement, it was confirmed that Greta Lee, Yul Vazquez, Elizabeth Ashley, and Charlie Barnett had joined the main cast and that Chloë Sevigny, Dascha Polanco, Brendan Sexton III, Rebecca Henderson, Jeremy Bobb, Ritesh Rajan, and Jocelyn Bioh would make guest appearances.[5] In March 2021, Annie Murphy was cast for the second season in an undisclosed role and capacity while Carolyn Michelle Smith joined the cast in a recurring role.[9][10] In April 2021, Sharlto Copley and Ephraim Sykes joined the cast in an undisclosed roles and capacity for the second season.[11][12]
Principal photography for season one began on February 22, 2018, in New York City.[13]
On June 11, 2019, Netflix renewed the series for a second season.[3] In March 2020, filming for season two was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14] Production began one year later in March 2021.[9]
Music
The song "Gotta Get Up" by American singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson was used as the "reset" song each time the character Nadia dies and is resurrected in the first season of the series. Lyonne explained to The New York Times that in choosing the song she was struck by the "buoyant doomsday quality" of Nilsson's life. Other contenders for the reset song included "Not Tonight" by Lil' Kim, "Crazy Feeling" by Lou Reed and "No Fun" by the Stooges. Though Netflix finally obtained the usage rights to Nilsson's song, the cost of using it so many times took up a significant portion of the music budget. His estate also limited how many times the song could be used. According to music supervisor Brienne Rose, the production was able to "find a balance between the maximum number of uses and what the budget would allow." The "reset" song utilized for the character Alan was Beethoven's "Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major".[15]
Release
On January 9, 2019, Netflix released the first trailer for the series.[5] On January 23, 2019, the series held its official premiere at the Metrograph theater in New York City. Those in attendance included series writer Jocelyn Bioh, Taylor Schilling, Natasha Lyonne, Fred Armisen, Amy Poehler, Chloë Sevigny, Greta Lee, Dascha Polanco, Rosie O'Donnell, Danielle Brooks, Laura Prepon, and David Harbour.[16][17] The series premiered on Netflix on February 1, 2019.[18] The second season was released on April 20, 2022.[4]
Reception
Critical response
Season | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic |
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1 | 97% (98 reviews)[19] | 88 (26 reviews)[20] |
2 | 96% (51 reviews)[21] | 79 (25 reviews)[22] |
Season 1
The first season received widespread critical acclaim. On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 97% approval rating with an average rating of 8.5/10, based on 98 reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Russian Doll may be stuck in a time loop, but this endlessly inventive series never repeats itself as it teeters on a seesaw of shifting tones – from fatally funny to mournfully sad – that is balanced with exhilarating moxie by an astonishing Natasha Lyonne."[19] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the first season score of 88 out of 100 based on 26 critics, indicating "universal acclaim."[20]
Alicia Lutes of IGN gave the first season a 10/10. Praising the series, she adds that it is "an inventive, unpredictable ride that will easily stand as one of the best shows of the year."[23] In a positive review, Rolling Stone's Alan Sepinwall awarded the series 4+1⁄2 stars out of 5 and praised it saying, "That blend of tones, and the controlled mania of Lyonne's brilliant performance, makes Russian Doll feel like something wholly new, even as it cops to its many influences."[24] The New York Times' James Poniewozik was similarly approving saying, "Russian Doll is lean and snappily paced; it even managed the rare feat, in the era of streaming-TV bloat, of making me wish for a bit more."[25] Collider's Haleigh Foutch was equally enthusiastic giving the series a rating of 5 out of 5 stars and applauding it saying, "It's pure binge-watching magic; a show that's not only expertly designed to compel viewers to the next episode but invests just as much in the integrity of story and character."[26] Time's Judy Berman described the series as "cerebral yet propulsive" and praised its many layers calling it, "2019's best new show to date."[27]
Season 2
The second season has received mostly positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 96% approval rating with an average rating of 8.1/10, based on 51 reviews. The website's critics consensus states, "Not all of Russian Doll's gambles pay off in this ambitious and thrillingly audacious second season, but the show's willingness to take risks is often its own reward."[21] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 79 out of 100, based on 25 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[22]
Accolades
Notes
- Arend is credited as producer for the first season and credited as an executive producer for the second season.
- Barnett is credited as a guest star for the first three episodes, and is credited with the main cast from episode four onward.
References
- Bryan, Scott (June 17, 2019). "Russian Doll is a comic delight – but do we really need a second season?". The Guardian. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
- Travers, Ben (May 1, 2019). "'Russian Doll' Review: This Masterful Netflix Mystery Will Knock You For a Loop — Spoilers". IndieWire. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
- Otterson, Joe (June 11, 2019). "'Russian Doll' Renewed for Season 2 at Netflix". Variety. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
- Cordero, Rosy (March 7, 2022). "'Russian Doll': Netflix Sets Season 2 Premiere". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
- Ramos, Dino-Ray (January 9, 2019). "'Russian Doll' Trailer: Natasha Lyonne Relives Death On An Endless Loop In Netflix Comedy". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
- Andreeva, Nellie (September 20, 2017). "Netflix Greenlights Comedy From Natasha Lyonne, Leslye Headland & Amy Poehler". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- Goldberg, Lesley (September 20, 2017). "Natasha Lyonne to Star in Netflix Comedy From Amy Poehler, Leslye Headland". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- MacDonald, Lindsay (September 20, 2017). "Amy Poehler Heads to Netflix With a Natasha Lyonne Comedy". TV Guide. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- Nemetz, Dave (March 9, 2021). "Annie Murphy Joins Russian Doll as Production on Season 2 Begins". TVLine. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
- Del Rosario, Alexandra (March 12, 2021). "'Russian Doll': 'House Of Cards' Actress Carolyn Michelle Smith To Recur In Season 2 Of Netflix Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
- Andreeva, Nellie (April 12, 2021). "'Russian Doll': Sharlto Copley Joins Season 2 Of Netflix Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
- White, Peter (April 30, 2021). "'Russian Doll': Ephraim Sykes Joins Season 2 Of Netflix Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
- "Thursday, Feb. 22 Filming Locations for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The OA, Younger, & more! - On Location Vacations". On Location Vacations. February 21, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
- Andreeva, Nellie (March 12, 2020). "Production Of 'Russian Doll', 'Rutherford Falls' & 'Little America' Put On Hold By Uni TV Amid Coronavirus Crisis". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
- Harris, Aisha (February 1, 2019). "This Is That Song From 'Russian Doll'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 10, 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
- Kirsch, Daniela (January 25, 2019). "Natasha Lyonne, David Harbour At Netflix 'Russian Doll' Premiere". Patch. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
- Bobila, Maria (January 24, 2019). "Greta Lee Wore a Balenciaga Throwback From the Nicolas Ghesquière Days". Fashionista. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
- Pedersen, Erik (December 14, 2018). "'Russian Doll': Premiere Date & First-Look Photos For Netflix's Natasha Lyonne Comedy". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- "Russian Doll: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
- "Russian Doll: Season 1". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- "Russian Doll: Season 2". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
- "Russian Doll: Season 2". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
- Lutes, Alicia (February 14, 2019). "Netflix's Russian Doll: Season 1 Review". IGN. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
- Sepinwall, Alan (January 29, 2019). "'Russian Doll' Review: Natasha Lyonne Is a Revelation". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- Poniewozik, James (January 31, 2019). "'Russian Doll': Repetitive Death Syndrome". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 10, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- Foutch, Haleigh (February 1, 2019). "'Russian Doll' Review: Netflix's Comedy Is a Wickedly Clever Fable of Morality & Mortality". Collider. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
- Berman, Judy (January 24, 2019). "Netflix's Russian Doll Is 2019's Best Show So Far". Time. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
- Goldberg, Lesley (June 19, 2019). "'Pose,' 'Russian Doll,' HBO Lead 2019 TV Critic Awards Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
- Mitovich, Matt Webb (September 22, 2019). "Emmys 2019: Game of Thrones Ties Record and Leads TV Pack; Fleabag, Chernobyl and Mrs. Maisel Win Big". TVLine. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
- Hill, Libby (September 14, 2019). "Complete Creative Arts Emmy Awards 2019 Winners List: 'Game of Thrones' Torches Competitors". IndieWire. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
- Mancuso, Vinnie (July 16, 2019). "'Avengers: Endgame', 'Game of Thrones' Lead the 2019 Saturn Awards Nominations". Collider. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
- "'Marriage Story' Sweeps Gotham Awards; Full Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. December 2, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- Peterson, Karen M. (December 3, 2019). "24th Satellite Awards Announce Nominations, 'Ford v Ferrari' Leads the Way". Awards Circuit. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
- Giardina, Carolyn (December 10, 2019). "'Ford v Ferrari,' 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' Sound Mixers Among CAS Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
- "Golden Globes: Full List of Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- "WINNERS! 7th Annual MUAHS Guild Awards". January 12, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
- Weinberg, Lindsay (December 10, 2019). "Costume Designers Guild Awards: 'Hustlers,' 'Rocketman' Among Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
- Lewis, Hillary (September 24, 2019). "Artios Awards: 'Succession,' 'Pose,' 'Dead to Me' Among Casting Society TV, Theater Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- Giardina, Carolyn (February 1, 2019). "'Parasite,' 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' Win Art Directors Guild Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- McNary, Dave (December 5, 2019). "Writers Guild Unveils 2020 TV Award Nominees". Variety. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
- "2019 - The Nebula Awards®". The Nebula Awards. Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America. 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "Announcing the 2019 Nebula Awards Finalists". Tor.com. February 20, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- "2020 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
External links
- Russian Doll on Netflix
- Russian Doll at IMDb