Russian Doll

Save this article to read it later.

Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.

That feels necessary, considering this go-round is one installment shy of the last.

Article image

(Or is it present?

Whatever, its all the past now.)

Isnt that what so many self-help books andreality-TV host catchphrasespush on audiences?

ButRussian Dollhas never been strictly linear, either, so it looks as if Nadias getting a refresher course.

As Nadia herself said in the premiere, Theres no witnesses.

Theres nobody whos been there since the beginning.

Now I wonder if Nadia was saying Ruth is the only person who has been there from the beginning.

Its difficult to trace the ripples created by Nadias actions.

In season one, Nadias live-die-repeat cycle was heralded by the extended absence of Oatmeal.

When Nadia tells Lizzy that time is collapsing, shes not being glib.

People from different eras are popping up all over the place.

Nadia cant quite grasp the consequences of deciding that the best mother for herself is … herself.

No matter where she turns, she cant find the Ruth she expected to see.

The Ruth who may no longer be.

Nadia also doesnt know what day it is; shes told its March 22 but believes its March 30.

This is all troubling enough, but again, the consequences of her actions havent really sunk in yet.

She knows something is off with Ruth, but now theres also something wrong with literallyeverything elsein the world.

Anything can happen when the 6 train takes you into the past and across the Atlantic.

But this might be too great a loss for Nadia to understand.

Its the most beautiful thing in the world.

Her gentle question Where is that gorgeous piece of you pushing to be a part of this world?

elicited one of Nadias greatest displays of vulnerability.

Now she feels as if she abandoned Ruth when her godmother needed her most.

At least shell feel that way when she allows herself to even consider that Ruth is gone.

Annie Murphy has done some fine work as well, but Ruths backstory is spotty at best.

Like Alan in season two, Ruth mostly exists in service of Nadias story.

We saw how Nora started to alter Nadias personality; how did Agness mind affect her grandsons?

All my mother gave me was a subway token and an eating disorder.