I Have Nothing

I didn't know what I was anticipating but it was not this. This show was unexpectedly perfect.

I put this on as a background show while I searched for something to actually watch, and I got sucked in in the first 30 seconds. Binged the whole thing straight through. Now I'm sitting on my couch in stunned silence, wondering if I can find another show that can ever match what this show just gave me (I'm not even being hyperbolic).

It was heartwarming and hilarious and perfectly nostalgic. I laughed out loud, I cried happy tears. I am completely delighted. What a treat this show is. I feel like I just spent a few hours with friends and I miss them already.

Beyond the tent poles of this show that immediately draw interest (the impossibly affable Mae Martin, a Santa's sleigh of 80's nostalgia as well as figure skating royalty), this show is not only a journey into what it means to dream, but what it means to "be".

Throughout six episodes, the show's creator and star Carolyn takes the audience on an intimate exploration of the magical, terrifying and sometimes panic-inducing experience of dream fulfilment. As humans not only do we arrive and exit this world alone, we are condemned to spend the balance of our lives prisoners of our own thoughts. And yet we are at our finest when we channel all our insecurities into chasing dreams, by opening ourselves up to change and allowing others to take part in them. That is the most satisfying (if somewhat subtle) take-away from this show; that thanks to the support and engagement of a community, a figure skating neophyte was able to choreograph world champions to a platinum charting mega hit by Whitney Houston, that all began as whimsical lark while stuck in traffic. In a world where tribalism has often become an impediment to progress, "I Have Nothing" is a hilarious example of what can happen when you mix a dream with the power of a tribe.

However, once you allow your mind to understand that there is NOTHING at stake, it both diminishes as well as puts into perspective, that what we are watching is more produced than, let's say, authentic - and when I say produced I mean it twofold - the latter being that the end of episode 1 we get this information that increases the jeopardy - again let me add, the jeopardy that is nonexistent - and I strongly believe that moment with her consulting choreographer, is 'scripted' or strongly produced - IF that's the case then the remaining show is suspect as to what we are doing here - also as a afterthought, it's evident that this crush on Witt in formative years as well as the visceral connection to the music, have a profound affect on both guiding (obviously) but moreso, possibly wanting to recapture something long since gone - this all being said, its a tad egotistical to have spent all these resources and harange us viewers as an audience to watch this indisputable vanity project - but whatever... It's good! And entertaining sooo, isn't THAT everything? (it is) (lol)

As an ex-competitive figure skater from 4-18 (and now about to turn 23) and also being a wanna be documentarian, I absolutely LOVED everything about this mini series!! I learned about a variety of different documentary styles in my last class of college and I think the blending of verite, mis-en-scene, participatory, archival works, and traditional interviewing is well done and really takes us as the viewers part of the journey of Carolyn but also Sandra, Katia, and David. Highlighting other immensely impactful skaters and practices/traditions in the skating world was also so exciting and I love the passion that's exuded in every episode and scene.

We get to see the excitement of skating in the eyes of the average person to make something amazing. Highly recommend skaters and non skaters alike to watch this doc - not only can you learn about skating through this, but also how to make a helluva documentary!

A quirky hero's journey that will truly leave you laughing out loud and, occasionally, welling up with tears of joy. Things are bad out there. This show will make you feel better for a little while. Highly, highly recommend if you like laughing, whimsy, the winter olympics, Whitney Houston, Canada, ice skating, choreography, cozy sweaters, underdogs, stand up comedy, psychics, Mae Martin, the eighties. And if you're wondering "can this show really be about all these things?" somehow the answer is YES. If you've ever watched Baroness von Sketch Show, the main character Carolyn was one of the leads and she is so so funny. What else can I say? Just watch!