“You crave meaning. You crave beauty. You crave love.”
And, I’m not alone, Season 2 of the series currently has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it has a devoted group of fans that are just so excited to watch week after week.
So, to celebrate this incredibly underrated and brilliant TV series, here are 19 reasons why Dickinson needs to be your next binge-watch:
1.
First, Dickinson is a coming-of-age story about, you guessed it, Emily Dickinson. The series chronicles Emily’s life as a budding writer as she explores the world and her sexuality, all while trying to go against society’s expectations for women.
2.
Looking behind the scenes, the series was created by Alena Smith, who previously worked on The Affair and The Newsroom.
Dave Kotinsky / Getty Images
3.
Also, as of Season 2, the series has had several amazing female directors — including Lynn Shelton during Season 1 — and, alongside Alena, there have been six incredible female writers, which is HUGE.
4.
The smart writing is one of Dickinson‘s many strengths. It feels like a modern TV series, just set in the past. The dialogue is quick and witty, and it’s brilliantly brought to life by the cast.
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The show’s use of modern slang and expressions is so smart and elevates the comedic moments in the series.
5.
While the comedy is incredible in Dickinson, the moments of drama also make the series truly shine. The Season 2 episode “Split the Lark” is honestly a perfect example of how earnest, sincere, and heartbreaking moments make this TV series one to watch.
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I think “Split the Lark” is a perfect episode of television, TBH.
6.
Also, this show has an absolutely amazing soundtrack. If you’re like me and still think about the incredible TV soundtracks from The Vampire Diaries and One Tree Hill, you can add Dickinson to the list as having one of the best.
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Like the writing, the modern songs in Dickinson are used perfectly. I’m still thinking about a moment when “Light On” by Maggie Rogers is used.
7.
As you can imagine, Dickinson places a strong female character at its center and does an amazing job at showcasing Emily’s struggle to break free of what is expected of women at the time.
8.
And, the show makes Emily’s fame feel like its own character as she wrestles with her own ambition, the expectations placed upon her by her friends and family, and whether or not she actually WANTS everything that comes with fame.
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Emily spends a majority of Season 2 struggling with whether she wants her poems to be published, and once she makes a decision, she now must deal with criticism and being placed in the spotlight.
9.
In terms of cast, Hailee Steinfeld is a force as Emily Dickinson and I truly can’t imagine anyone else leading this series. Her emotional range as Emily is astounding and this is just another role that feels like it was tailor-made for her.
10.
It’s rare that an actor can have you hanging on every single word, but that’s exactly what Hailee accomplishes in this role. Not only is she great in the comedic moments, but it’s the quiet moments with Emily that really allow Hailee to shine.
11.
Alongside Hailee, Ella Hunt, Jane Krakowski, Adrian Blake Enscoe, Anna Baryshnikov, and Toby Huss round out an amazing cast that I am obsessed with.
Theo Wargo / Getty Images
12.
And yes, if you’re a fan of Jane Krakowski from 30 Rock and her other comedic roles, I can assure you that she brings the same brand of Jane comedy to her work as Mrs. Dickinson.
13.
What is great about Dickinson is that it puts Emily and Sue’s forbidden relationship front and center, and finally allows viewers to explore the relationship that defined a lot of Emily’s life and her poems in real life.
14.
I could write an entire essay on Hailee Steinfeld and Ella Hunt’s chemistry in this show. They bring pain, joy, and yearning to Emily and Sue’s relationship flawlessly, and it’s impossible to look away when they share a scene together.
The way I have been thinking about the chemistry between Sue and Emily in this scene for WEEKS #Dickinson
@noradominick / Via Twitter: @noradominick
When we talk about the best onscreen TV chemistry currently, I humbly submit these two and their work on Dickinson.
15.
What’s also amazing is that every single character is incredibly fleshed out. Each character has their own desires and storylines that allow them to stand out.
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Anna Baryshnikov’s role as Lavinia Dickinson might be one of my favorite performances recently. She is so funny and smart in this role. I wasn’t expecting Lavinia to be one of my favorite characters when I started the show, but here we are.
16.
Dickinson also boasts an incredible roster of guest stars. Wiz Khalifa, Ayo Edebiri, Jason Mantzoukas, Finn Jones, John Mulaney, Zosia Mamet, Kelli Barrett, Matt Lauria, Timothy Simons, and Jessica Hecht are just a handful of the actors that have passed through.
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Zosia Mamet playing Louisa May Alcott is honestly a gift.
17.
I mean, Wiz Khalifa literally plays Emily’s personification of “Death” in Season 1, and it’s brilliant.
18.
If you love a show that only gets better with time, Dickinson is perfect for you. While Season 1 was special in its own way, Season 2 is an incredible piece of television.
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More confident than Season 1, the second season of Dickinson leans into the world it has established and uses its unique blend of modern storytelling and historical moments to its advantage.
19.
And finally, similar to shows like Schitt’s Creek and Fleabag, Dickinson uses its comedy to tell an incredible story, and it’s not afraid to take viewers to more heartbreaking places for the benefit of its complex characters.
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Dickinson is as much of a “prestige comedy TV show” as Schitt’s Creek, Fleabag, and The Good Place.
Basically, if you’re like me and are constantly looking for a new TV series to binge-watch, this is your sign that Dickinson should be next on your list.
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