Netflix’s new series “Russian Doll” proves HBO has not cornered the market on bizarre television shows. The enjoyable series, set in a realistic 1980s New York, stars Natasha Lyonne – best known as Nicky in “Orange is the New Black” – and is produced by comedian Amy Poehler. The eight-part series starts off as a cute attempt of rebooting Groundhog Day but slowly transforms into a thought-provoking show about morality and time.

The show follows Nadia (Natasha Lyonne) who dies the night of her 36th birthday. Then, as if nothing happened, she wakes up. Nadia is caught in a time loop with a catch: it only resets every time she dies. At first, Nadia tries rationalizing the problem believing it to be a bad experience with drugs. Once she meets Alan (Charlie Barnett), another soul trapped in the same cycle, she is determined to find out what’s going on.

“Russian Doll” is remarkably well done, and like most TV shows of late, it is tightly contained, framing its story in small bursts that run about 25 minutes long. Each installment contains its own idea and explores themes of death, morality and the meaning of life. This allows for more soft moments that have some exceptionally well-written, insightful and realistic dialogue.

As the series continues, it gets a bit ambitious and complicated in a way that is a little confusing. However, it is still anchored by its sense of character. At the center is Nadia, who wears her heart on her sleeve. She exhibits humanity in every possible way. Her confidence and charisma just ooze out as she explores life.

The series balances and bends by introducing other characters into Nadia’s life. Barnett does an excellent job in portraying Alan’s frustration and depression. They are both tragic, damaged people who come to realize they need each other and find comfort in that.

The central idea of “Russian Doll” seems a bit rushed, making it come off as incomplete. Using Nadia’s trajectory to pose questions that are spiritual rather than rational, the story’s moral boils down to a rather simple plot.

Nadia must value her own life enough to want to save someone else’s, yet it’s shown that she is quite unstable. She stubbornly clings to her old self and keeps doing whatever she wants, refusing to acknowledge her friends and family even though they are right there in front of her.

The message is very unclear and makes it hard to understand. Should they be helping other people fix their problems? Not exactly. Are they trapped in purgatory until they become better people? Well, no. So what’s the point? It is a giant step in the wrong direction.

Despite that issue, “Russian Doll” has a larger purpose in mind, one that elevates the show from being a simple comedy about one woman’s wackiest night ever to a well-done drama. By the time it ends, it takes the audience on a twisted journey of possibilities and dreams that leaves you wanting more.