Russian Doll is a quirky response to the stuck-in-the-same-day trope created by Groundhog Day, a theme replicated by several other films. Unlike the other movies belonging to the same genre, however, Russian Doll is an intricate story of game developer Nadia Vulvokov who must die over and over on her 36th birthday, always respawning at her birthday party.
These incessant loops continue, allowing Nadia to relive the same day from different perspectives, until she discovers the reason behind them in the explosive finale. As emotional thrillers go, Russian Doll stands among the best, garnering widespread acclaim from both critics and audiences alike. We have taken a few of the core characters from the show and aligned their natures according to the moral system used by Dungeons & Dragons.
Lizzie – Lawful Good (Crusader)
Lizzie is one of Nadia’s best friends, and is always present when Nadia begins her night for the umpteenth time. She is an artist with an intense aura of creativity around her. As a Crusader, Lizzie is a generous soil, offering her help to those around her without questioning the reasons behind their need.
This is seen when she shoos people out of the bathroom in order for Nadia to have some personal time to think. Lizzy also supports Nadia in what are seemingly eccentric endeavors, such as accompanying her to strange places just to give her some company.
Maxine – Neutral Good (Benefactor)
Maxine, like Lizzie, is a close friend of Nadia. In true Benefactor form, she throws Nadia a party at her place because she wants her not to be lonely on her birthday. Being a designer, Maxine has decorated most of her house with objects of deep meaning, including the famous bathroom door with an overt vagina-shaped ornament hanging on the inside.
However, she can be a tad encouraging of Nadia’s various addictions: at one point, she offers her a joint packed with cocaine. Nevertheless, Maxine is always ready to lend a hand, telling Nadia, “You know your friends can’t help you if you don’t let them.”
Beatrice – Chaotic Good (Rebel)
Beatrice is Alan Zaveri’s high school girlfriend who refuses to break up with him because she is afraid that he will react violently. As much as she seems to want to conform to the expectations of fidelity she was brought up with, she cannot help her Rebel tendencies — as we see when she surreptitiously dates Mike Kershaw, her University professor.
Beatrice finally owns up to Alan about her relationship when he proposes to her — leading to another chain of events that force the loops to continue.
John Reyes – Lawful Neutral (Judge)
John Reyes is Nadia’s ex-boyfriend, currently in the process of divorcing his wife. He is a kind man who loves Nadia dearly, almost as much as he loves his daughter Lucy. As a Judge, John maintains his life and activities with a high level of organization, even trying to obtain advice about Nadia from a Rabbi (albeit not being Jewish.)
After the Rabbi tells him that he is only using Nadia “as a distraction from the abyss”, John tries to regain control of his life, begging Nadia to return to him. She sarcastically rejects his overtures, resulting in his final realization: that Nadia was not a distraction from the abyss, she was the abyss.
Alan Zaveri – True Neutral (Undecided)
Alan Zaveri is a True Neutral — to the extent that he cannot even decide what is right for him. His lack of conviction is depicted in his inability to tolerate change, for instance, he follows a very fastidious routine in his everyday life that he simply cannot seem to avoid.
His insecurity in his own self is likely due to his mother’s disciplinarian upbringing, as she demanded that he perform his tasks in a rigid order. However, Alan finally manages to get past his repetitive behaviors when he reacts violently to the discovery that his girlfriend of ten years was cheating on him.
Leonora Vulvokov – Chaotic Neutral (Free Spirit)
Leonora Vulvokov, Nadia’s mother, is the central figure of the show: it is heavily implies that Nadia’s time loops are linked to her mother. She is a Free Spirit, which was often a source of stress for Nadia, given her mother’s eccentric habits and inconsistent emotional availability.
The show implies that Leonora might have a condition that causes her unstable outbursts; but her terrible parenting leads Ruth Brenner to adopt Nadia — possibly causing Leonora to take her own life out of guilt.
Ruth Brenner – Lawful Evil (Dominator)
Ruth Brenner is Nadia’s mother, having adopted her when Leonora was deemed unfit as a guardian. She is generally positive and friendly, but flashbacks in the show imply that this was not always the case.
When she was younger, Ruth displayed several features of the Dominator, such as screaming at Leonora for not taking care of Nadia, saying that she was always “f***ing up.” She is also a strict follower of her own moral code, which can sometime result in problematic consequences. For example, in one scene, Ruth accidentally shoots Nadia dead, afraid that it was an intruder.
Nadia Vulvokov – Neutral Evil (Malefactor)
Nadia is a classic Malefactor: she is harsh, cold and refuses to hold back her opinions, regardless of whom they might hurt. Her selfishness is in part responsible for her psychological time loop, compelling her to relive her actions and assess their consequences innumerable times.
Nadia prefers to reject the laws and ethics of society, believing that they merely exist to enslave people through dogma. However, the loops allow her enough time to meditate on her emotional problems, for instance, her internalized guilt over her mother’s death.
Mike Kershaw – Chaotic Evil (Destroyer)
Mike Kershaw is arguably the most irresponsible character in the show. He considers himself as a “sex addict”, choosing to blame his insecurities on the women he dates and consequently, in every single case, cheats on.
As a Destroyer, he does not care about the lives of others — he does as he wants, even if it means having sex with his underage students; or when he brainwashes Beatrice into dating him while having full knowledge that she was already in a relationship with Alan. Mike seems to represent Nadia’s self-destructive behavior; his interactions with her allow her to confront her own issues and help (in part) break the time loop.
