Summary
The Mother Lode is a straight-shooting Netflix stand-up special where Rosebud Baker mixes humor and heartfelt observations on motherhood and modern relationships, even if its approach remains familiar.
I’m grateful that I checked out the comedy stand-up’s premise before delving into Rosebud Baker: The Mother Lode or I would have been confused and mocked for being a man who “doesn’t get it.”
To explain, Rosebud Baker (as seen in Life & Beth, and I also saw her on David Letterman) performs this Netflix special before and after giving birth, and the team behind this release has spliced her set together; in some jokes, she looks heavily pregnant, and in others, she doesn’t.
I have to admit, the editing of The Mother Lode deserves credit. It’s smart. Andrew Schulz (The Underdoggs) is known for being particular in how his shows are put together, and I like this trend. But Rosebud Baker has taken it a step further, and it works beautifully as it adds to the context.
That context is that the comedian’s entire set in The Mother Lode is about motherhood if you did not guess from the title. Rosebud has put together a series of jokes and scenarios that tie well together before and after giving birth.
If anything, this Netflix special is a great testament to Rosebud’s talents. Whether unintentional or not, this level of creativity to merge jokes centering around your child’s birth is impressive. It speaks of a naturally great comedian with vision.
Of course, I was not the target audience for this; men are the butt of the jokes if anything, but like Taylor Tomlinson (Quarter-Life Crisis; Look At You) and Iliza Shlesinger (Hot Forever; Sketch Show; Unveiled; Spenser Confidential), there’s a quick wit about Baker that her timing and quirks are equally as funny as her jokes.
The comedian cleverly digresses into her decision to be a mother, despite claiming that she never wanted to be one, while juxtaposing the great lives of childless adults. She ties this in with clever abortion jokes, showcasing her sharp wit and intelligence. She even goes down the dark road of a miscarriage, demonstrating her ability to tackle sensitive topics with humor.
Rosebud’s political inclinations are evident in The Mother Lode, but they are not overbearing or bear the fruit of a campaign. Instead, she just teases her left-leaning preferences with a witty punchline, raising her resistance to breastfeeding while also linking the right-wing medical theory that vaccines lead to autism.
Of course, it is not all about her. She speaks about her husband a lot. I like her honesty as well. She discusses how the birth of a child changes everything for a mother, to the point that she frankly does not care about her husband and sometimes feels hatred for the simple things he does.
However, it’s not just about teasing fathers after the birth of a child. Rosebud Baker’s special is a testament to her deep respect for her partner, creating a balanced, thoughtful stand-up comedy set. She speaks as someone who recognizes the shortcomings and ironies in her jokes, diving into this set with the admission that she did not want children after all. These contradictions are prevalent throughout the punchlines, adding depth and balance to her humor.
I liked The Mother Lode. It doesn’t push boundaries, but I loved its creative energy. The pre-birth and post-birth splicing is undoubtedly unprecedented.
