Madhur Jaffrey Is Delivering One Of 2018’s Breakout Performance On ‘I Feel Bad’

NBC’s new family comedy I Feel Bad might focus on Sarayu Blue’s character Emet, a creative executive and mother of three who is trying like hell to keep it all together. But the true breakout performance belongs to Madhur Jaffrey, who plays her ever-present and lovingly judgmental mother Maya.

As a first-generation kid, this show hits close to home even though it depicts a life very different from my own. Emet — also a first-gen Indian-American — has lived a relatively privileged life. She’s married to and has kids with a white man, studied art in college, and works in a creative industry. She juggles her commitments as a multi-hyphenate woman while also maintaining a close (albeit combative) relationship with her parents, who pop in and out of Emet’s home as though it’s their own.

Indian culture reveres its elders, so it’s not a surprise that Emet’s parents appear as fixtures in her home and daily life — in fact, it’s a layer of worldbuilding that brings it closer to reality. (It’s not surprising, then, that NBC has upped Madhur Jaffrey and her onscreen husband played by Brian George to series regulars mid-season.)

Blue’s presence somewhat fills the the Mindy-shaped void in the TV landscape as another brown face leading a network comedy, an area that I hope continues to grow. And while Blue’s work on the show deserves praise, too, it is Jaffrey who keeps me coming back. My new happy place is when she’s delivering zingers.

In a typical episode, Emet sets the scene by complaining about something that makes her feel like a failure — observing a lack of maturity in her son or noticing that her husband is putting on weight, for example — which is quickly followed by a doomed plan to trick the other person into doing what she wants. It’s a great sitcom setup that allows Emet to make small steps toward becoming a fully functioning adult, and allows Maya to step in and make cheeky comments along the way.

Jaffrey as Maya is allowed to be funny, spunky, conniving and dramatic — all of which feels rare for an older actress, especially one of color. Her no-nonsense attitude, slightly Indian-tinted accent that shows her tenure in the States, and random Hindi insertions are a revelation for network television. (Now’s probably a good time to mention that the 85-year-old Jaffrey is an award-winning actress that has been working steadily since the 1950s, in addition to being a world-renowned food and travel writer.)

Madhur Jaffrey is allowed to be funny, spunky, conniving and dramatic — all of which feels new for an older actress, especially one of color.

One of my favorite episodes thus far focuses on Emet’s annoying cousin who is cohabitating with her part-time, and Emet’s (doomed) plot to get rid of her. “I’m a Massive Hypocrite” plays on family dynamics, particularly that of immigrants who go to lengths to support their own while also burying disagreements and insecurities deep within their psyche.

The episode is a showcase for Jaffrey’s range, flitting between scolding her daughter for her immature behavior toward her cousin and allowing her age-old grudge against her sister to resurface at the most inopportune time. Not only does she fully embody the spirit, but she does so with style; near the end of the episode, Jaffrey smashes a stack of plates over a pair of long-lost diamond earrings and then stares off into a rain-stained window, delivering a soliloquy about an illegitimate child that is so capital D dramatic, you almost believe that it’s true (it’s not). It’s comedic in a way that calls on matriarchs of other family comedies, but injects a decidedly Asian-immigrant spin (who else is physically breaking things over diamond earrings?).

What I love most is that Jaffrey is basically playing an amalgamation of all of the aunties I grew up around — part sassy, part sweet, and always well-meaning even if their method of getting there is questionable. Her performance is imbued with perfect intonations about modern relationships, family, and teases about weight that are just progressive enough to feel like a heightened version of reality. It’s why I keep coming back — the show feels like a little piece of home.

Radhika Menon (@menonrad) is a TV-obsessed writer living in New York City. Her work has appeared on The TV Addict, Brown Girl Magazine, Breadcrumbs Mag and Syndicated Magazine. At any given moment, she can ruminate at length over Friday Night Lights, the University of Michigan, and the perfect slice of pizza. You may call her Rad.

Watch I Feel Bad on Hulu