Why Everybody Loves Bo Burnham’s Lockdown Special

Bo Burnham’s new Netflix special Bo Burnham: Inside has been getting almost universal praise from both fans and critics since its release – here’s why. After five years of not doing live comedy Burnham took the time during his quarantine to write, perform, and film this special all by himself. It’s being hailed as a fantastic portrait of life during lockdown, but what has Bo specifically brought to it that makes the special such a success?

Bo Burnham is no stranger to performing comedy alone in his room. He got his start in the early days of YouTube by writing and performing hilarious parody songs, and with this he became one of YouTube’s first breakout stars. He was one of the first people to use internet notoriety as a jumping off for mainstream fame, and he was able to have a sturdy career as a stand-up comedian. He continued making better and better comedy specials, then quit performing live altogether in 2015 due to severe mental health issues. He spent the time working on his own mental well being, and focusing on projects like writing and directing the film Eighth Grade. With the 2020 pandemic, he found himself stuck in lockdown like everyone else and decided to use that time to create a brand new special for Netflix.

What’s made the Netflix comedy special so effective is a mix of creativity and honest introspection on Burnham’s part. People have responded well to its critiques of modern culture, with Slate going so far as to call it “one of the most sincere artistic responses to the 21^st century so far: a beautiful, intricate chambered nautilus shell filled with loathing.” Burnham experiments with form, structure, and visual presentation throughout the special, having the whole thing feel very loose yet focused on his emotional state during lockdown all while taking on a variety of styles and moods. IndieWire said this approach made “the experience… a constant audiovisual thrill.” The special is being widely touted as a perfect piece of “lockdown art” in that it manages to capture many of the feelings people had over the course of 2020, and it’s allowed people to relate to it on a personal level.

What also sets the special apart from other pieces of lockdown art is Burnham’s sense of self-awareness about himself and his place in culture. He acknowledges that he’s a celebrity and not a “normal” person, and he actively grapples with the meaninglessness of his work in the face of the current state of the world. That’s really how Bo has managed to evolve his comedy with this special, by not being afraid to get serious and introspective. There are multiple points during the Netflix special when he bares his own insecurities and anxieties for all to see. It’s a level of honesty that few public figures ever get to in their work, and it more than anything else is what has gotten audiences and critics to connect with Inside so strongly. A year like 2020 has made it hard for people to care about the artifice of modern pop culture, and Burnham’s special explores whether or not escapist entertainment even matters anymore. It’s bleak, but refreshing at the same time.

Bo Burnham: Inside manages to be funny, introspective, visually stunning, despairing, vulgar, depressing, cynical, sensitive, and honest all at the same time. It’s able to juggle all of these feelings and tones all while seeming effortless on Burnham’s part, showing off his immense talent and technical skills, and making it easy for critics and audiences alike to fall in love with it.

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