Dummy

Set in the backdrop of the modern era when technology has a profound impact on how we live and interact, Dummy is a quirkily engaging and commendably original Quibi series from 2020 that effortlessly blends fantasy, drama, and comedy into a unique storytelling concoction. With an impressive star cast led by the charismatic Anna Kendrick, the series presents an unconventional narrative premise that is rooted in the realm of magical realism.

Dummy revolves around Cody, who is brilliantly portrayed by the talented Anna Kendrick. Cody is a disoriented, passive-aggressive, and struggling writer basking in the glory of existential crisis, self-doubt, and the humdrum routine of her life. When she finds it hard to escape the shroud of her underachieving life, she embarks upon an unforeseen adventure with an unlikely ally - Barbara, a sex doll of her boyfriend that miraculously comes to life.

Barbara, the sex doll voiced by Meredith Hagner, is an artificially intelligent being around whom most of the bizarreness of the show gyrates. With her chatty, sassy, idiosyncratic, and twisted personality, Barbara breathes life into the almost stagnant world of Cody, prompting her to reevaluate her perceptions and propel her life out of the rut. The animated sex doll, essentially intended for personal pleasure, morphs into an entity symbolizing deeper aspects like self-expression, liberation, acceptance, and indulgence, thus providing the central paradox of the show.

Rounding out the main characters is Donal Logue, who plays Dan Harmon, Cody's live-in boyfriend, and a screenwriter in real life, also mentioned by name. Dan's character is crucial to the plot as it is his sex doll that sparks off the strange but insightful journey of the central characters.

Creating a parallel world where inanimate sex dolls come to life and strike thought-provoking dialogues about modern relationships, individuality, and femininity, Dummy encapsulates countless contradictions in its oddly charismatic universe. It dares to venture into territories that mainstream shows often avoid, touching upon controversial topics and presenting them with a touch of humor and empathy.

However, far from being merely slapstick humor and blind fantasy, Dummy harbors an unmistakable depth at its core. The narrative weaves the perspectives of two most dissimilar female entities together such that they gradually become the sounding boards for each other's fears, insecurities, and similar struggles in their distinct ways. The show stands out because it dares to establish a strange, mystical bond between a human woman and an artificial sex doll, only to explore the various layers that shroud modern relationships and individual identities.

Dummy is a twelve-episode series, with each episode not running for more than ten minutes on the Quibi platform. The brevity of the episodes does not compromise the series' intensity or humor, instead encompassing a gamut of emotions in its compact and creative brilliance.

Written by Cody Heller, who loosely based the premise on her real-life experiences and relationship with the real Harmon, Dummy is an intriguing vision of a woman's quest for understanding self and society in an absurdly fictitious yet surprisingly relatable world. The humor is sharply satirical and often dark, contrasting with the series' bright, glossy aesthetic, and soundtracked by a versatile music score which accentuates the complexity and depth of the plot and the characters.

While Dummy bathes in the colorful oddity of its extraordinary premise and comedic quirks, it also emphasizes the enigma that is the 'Self.' Through its comedic exaggeration and uninhibited narrative, it symbolically deconstructs the idea of self-worth, layered identities, personal liberation, and the courage to rise above established norms.

Overall, Dummy offers a unique, funny, and thought-provoking viewing experience. It anchors itself in the absurd to make sense of the ordinary, presenting a rich tapestry of humor, wisdom, contradictions, and a nuanced exploration of modern-day life. It is an offbeat, clever, and introspective series that leverages the quirks of its peculiar premise to demonstrate the complexities of being human in an increasingly artificial world.