Staying at home and being inside are things that have become very familiar to many of us over the last year. Bo Burnham’s “Inside,” released in May 2021, perfectly captures the feeling of quarantine and everything that came with it. 

“Inside” is a Netflix comedy special that is unlike any other that I’ve seen. It is written, directed, produced and edited by Burnham. Though there were a few other members of the crew such as editors and producers, the majority of the film was created by Burnham alone. Though not on stage like a typical show would be, there is still only one setting: a single room in his house. 

This isn’t the first time Burnham has pushed the boundaries of what a comedy special can be. His previous work from 2016, “Make Happy,” was performed more like theatre than a typical stand-up comedy routine. It was a refreshing take to see lights and sound incorporated into the show itself. 

Many of the songs in “Inside” have become sound bites used on TikTok. All of the songs are very catchy and humorous, so it’s difficult for me to choose just one as my favorite. One of my favorites from the special is “How the World Works.” This song starts with Bo talking about how nature works in a way easily understandable for children. The bees drinking from flowers and squirrels spreading seeds is how the world works. Everyone “gives what they can, and gets what they need.” 

The second verse the audience is introduced to Socko, a sock puppet. He tells the audience how the world works, which is how socio-political conflicts affect our lives. The final verse is a power struggle between Bo and Socko. Though this verse isn’t one of the two directly explaining how the world works, it shows the audience that those in power have control over those who are marginalized. It was a very cool way to show the audience how the world works, unlike the previous verse which directly told it. 

“Inside” is a great film to watch if you like comedy, but want to switch it up from the typical type of comedy special.