By: Vidal D’costa –
Considering that it is brought to you by the collective creative genius of humorist Simon Rich, head honcho of the long-running sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live Lorne Michaels, and Jorma Taccone of Lonely Island fame (the latter who act as executive producers of the show), it isn’t surprising then that Miracle Workers is rather reflective of the comedic sensibilities of other peculiar and gut-busting offerings such as Our Flag Means Death or the unmatched early 2000s era of SNL (keep your eyes peeled for cameos from a select few SNL alumni too). As such, the anthology series serves as a fun weekend binge, but can also be a rather acquired taste if you aren’t too keen on such shows that thrive on a heavy helping of self-aware cringe comedy and lean into an overall surrealistic tone which pulls one into all sorts of unpredictable directions.
Set over a variety of time periods, each season of the series revolves around a star-studded ensemble cast comprised of Daniel Radcliffe, Steve Buscemi, Geraldine Viswanathan, Karan Soni (whom we last saw in the indie comedy Four Samosas…), and many others playing a plethora of characters who are thrust into a wide variety of engrossing and humorous fictional quests/challenges! These madcap routines obviously amount to laugh riots and since a fourth season is imminently on the horizon, I felt it best to quickly rank and recap this anthology in accordance with my own personal tastes.
1) Miracle Workers – Season 1
With layered world-building and an intriguing concept that would put even the likes of The Good Place to shame, the first season is adapted from Rich’s novel What In God’s Name and puts its own hilarious spin on the workings of Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, and everything in between. The jokes and gags are cleverly scripted, treading the fine line between intellectually stirring, utterly goofy, and satirical, and the hysterical delivery by the cast, particularly the duo of Steve Buscemi and Karan Soni threatening to outdo each other by riffing off each other’s exquisite comic timings in the roles of a nonchalant, hipster God and his no-nonsense right-hand archangel Sanjay respectively, also fits the bill.
The characters are also sent on a quest to pull off the miracle of a lifetime in order to win a bet with God, thus making for an arresting premise that is grounded in reality despite the fantasy setting and keeps viewers on their toes while remaining equally driven by the challenges that the characters encounter as well as by their unique traits- be it God’s own inaptitude leading to far more destructive consequences during the quest or the brewing jealousy between the nerdy angel Craig (Radcliffe) and his sassy higher-up Sanjay.
I honestly couldn’t ask for a more near-perfect base for this show!
2) Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail – Season 3
The third season promises yet another captivating premise that follows Reverend Ezekiel Brown as he leads his flock out of their plague-infested small town along the perilous Oregon Trail, finding themselves at the mercy of temptations of the flesh (cough, exposed ankles!) and other sinful ordeals, as well as a relentless unnamed bounty hunter who’s hot on the heels of a bandit named Benny the Teen (Buscemi), who was once the talk of the town but has since fallen prey to age gradually creeping up on him and to the overwhelming popularity of his more trigger-happy, adopted, and long-lost daughter (played by Quinta Brunson, of Abbott Elementary fame).
Firstly, Daniel Radcliffe’s inane ability to mould himself into some of the most disturbed and quirky individuals needs to be commended once again as he proves to be the crowning glory of this season, body glitter and all! I do declare that he was most definitely robbed of an Emmy/Golden Globe/BAFTA for his ability to effortlessly sink his teeth into the role of the morally grey and vulnerable, but definitely not venerable Reverend Brown, and particularly in leaving audiences sexually confused with his defiant dance moves during the robust cabaret number set to “She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain” (slay, queen!). And yet again, Buscemi and Soni’s endearing chemistry is an instant crowd-puller.
The actors aren’t the only ones making the most of their comeback this season, as there are plenty of references to the first season too, with the inclusion of Easter eggs galore, and even a sly callback to God’s ‘origins of the giraffe joke’ that feels vaguely familiar.
The show also returns to its satirical roots once more, hitting a bullseye with cleverly disguised potshots directed at not only divinity and religious sects (which in turn was yet another bonus for the repressed Catholic in me), but also at Wild West tropes and at American politics.
3) Miracle Workers: Dark Ages – Season 2
From a personal perspective, the writing of season 2/Dark Ages felt uninspired and pales in comparison to both the highly energetic and unique premises in the first and third seasons. As someone who isn’t easily awestruck by the medieval period, the setting didn’t blow me away entirely and as a result of a lack of a suitable quest for our leads, the usually compelling characterisation, too, eventually takes a backseat.
The plot also proves to be threadbare with barely any stakes up until the very finale and the first few episodes dragged to the point of no return. The punchlines and setups sound recycled and it doesn’t help that the attempts at incorporating contemporary pop culture references lack any nuance and only rarely coaxed a chuckle out of me.
The cast, however, doesn’t fail at striking gold with their respective comic timings despite the lack of solid material, and if it hadn’t been for their commitment towards their roles, I would have lost interest altogether in the proceedings. While the comedy might have appeared forced this time around, the back and forths between wee pudding boy Prince Chauncley (Radcliffe) and his tolerant confidante Lord Vexler (Soni) as well as the prince’s childlike interludes with his feathered companions (the royal ducks) were much more relaxed and amusing to watch, even coming across as slightly improvised, and the new additions to the cast such as Peter Serafinowicz and Greta Lee were equally a hoot, leaving an impression as Chauncley’s emotionally constipated father, King Cragnoor the Heartless, and his headstrong potential suitor Princess Vicki respectively.
To sum up, seasons 1 and 3 are definitely where this show hits its comedic stride despite season 2 not entirely living up to my expectations. That being said, I still wholeheartedly look forward to the exploits of its cast in season 4 as they embark on a post-apocalyptic adventure!
Also whoever worked on the animated opening credits for both seasons 1 and 3 deserves their just rewards.
