What’s The Deal With ‘Chelsea Does?’

The word that came to mind as I watched Netflix’s new docu-series, Chelsea Does, was sweet. Even when grilling the couple behind Ashley Madison on the meaning of the term infidelity, asking to be flogged by a BDSM master, and lighting up with American musical icon Willie Nelson, there’s an underlying sweetness to Chelsea Handler that I’ve never seen before, and it was really refreshing.

Chelsea Does is a four-part documentary series following comedian and former host of Chelsea Lately, Chelsea Handler. Through the series, Handler explores four big topics — marriage, technology, racism, and drugs — while questioning how humor can come from these places and how these topics affect people. Sure, the series is a great excuse to spend over four hours hanging out with one of the funniest and raunchiest comedians out there, but it’s also a well-paced exploration about people in general. Underneath its shiny celebrity bow are observations and questions about why we as a society have embraced certain topics and traditions but have labelled others as taboo. These large, seemingly impenetrable questions about why we feel the need to get married, where the line is when it comes to racism, and if all technology is a good thing are framed through Handler. In this way, the big topics the series tackles seem oddly manageable. This, I think, is in large part a credit to the series’ beating center — its host.

Handler’s performance, if it can be called that for she rarely feels like a performer in the series, shows how refreshing and uplifting a funny voice can be in the often-dreary world of documentaries. Chelsea Does falls into the more lighthearted category of documentaries that focus on why certain institutions or cultural attitudes exist rather than uncovering a problem that needs to be solved. Though their subject matter is often light, these documentaries often take on the droning air that most docs fall into. However, Chelsea Does completely avoids that trap by smartly interlacing observations about our societal systems with commentary and stories from Handler. In effect, the entire series seems much more personal and precious. Then there’s Handler herself.

Before this series, the terms “raunchy” and “no filter” came to mind when I thought of Handler’s work. Those terms definitely still apply to Chelsea Does, but so does the word “vulnerable.” Handler herself sums up the tone of the series best in Episode One, “Chelsea Does Marriage:”

Though the above was about marriage, it applies to the tone of the whole series. It’s not exploitative, and it doesn’t feel like a cash grab. It feels personal.

From my experience, comedians are very different people on and off the stage, and the documentary communicates that duality in its portrayal of Handler. There are moments when she’s the overly confident and constantly inappropriate comedy idol that’s known and either loved or hated, but there are other times when Handler is almost painfully bare. This mostly happens during one-on-one interviews. The series shows a very human side of the performer that’s sobering. But don’t think that makes Handler any less funny. If anything, the humanizing quality of the doc makes her more enjoyable to watch.

The series was sold as Handler trying to figure out these complicated parts of life, and that’s exactly what it is — a very funny woman trying to navigate all the craziness that makes up life. Watching Handler was like watching a friend trying to tackle these big questions, except in this case, your friend was backed by Netflix money and has AMAZING expressions.

Last year, Netflix released a similar comedianne-led documentary that I was also a big fan of, Tig. Though Chelsea Does (thankfully) lacks the heart-breaking and disaster-filled premise of Tig, it has just as much heart, coasting on its unresolved yet happy ending. Based on this, three things are becoming increasingly evident. One, Netflix needs to make more documentaries because every doc they have created so far has been amazing. Two, there need to be more hands-one comedian-led documentaries in the sphere. And finally and most importantly, Netflix’s creative partnership with Chelsea Handler is going to produce some amazing things. Thanks for letting us in, Handler. Keep doing you.

[Where to stream Chelsea Does]

Photos: Netflix