To be quite frank, this blog has taken me over a week to write because there was so much to process from this show. I have re-watched it three times and discussed it with my friends on various occasions, yet I cannot seem to find the words to express all of the emotions that watching this comedy act evoked in me. Each and every time, I could feel myself emotionally drained at the end of the show. That being said, I would like to focus this blog on the structure and delivery of the show, overall, as it will allow me to detach emotionally from some of the more “controversial” subjects from the show.

Like most stand-up shows I’ve watched,  Nanette felt very sporadic in its transitions from one topic to another. I originally felt as though there were a lot of incomplete thoughts or ideas, in order to tie up one punchline with another. I’m a very structured person, and thus get slightly peeved when things seem to me to be critically out of order. Such were my original feelings about the periodic transitioning back the subject of quitting comedy, while postponing divulging her rationale. I have, indeed, considered that this was likely intentional in order to create the tension she so often spoke of, that was needed for comedic relief. Instead of veering from jokes and comedy at the beginning of the show, as I had very much expected, when she first announced her thoughts on quitting comedy, she was able to provide relief each and every time she delivered a punchline.

Yet, as sporadic as the transitions seemed to be at the beginning, it was very evident towards the very end of the show that each and every one of her jokes was strategically and deliberately placed. The entire show was a masterpiece in both content and delivery. Each and every topic that seemed originally disconnected had a specific point in conveying her life story, from her everything she experienced growing up, to her expertise at delivering jokes, tied in to her story at the very end. Without the strategically placed jokes, the story itself would not have been half as impactful or effective in its delivery. Her story would be lost in sentiments of anger and resentment, instead of compassion and sympathy.