WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Master of None Presents: Moments in Love, now streaming on Netflix.
Netflix's Master of None: Moments in Love deviates from the series' usual formula, with Season 3 focusing on Denise (Lena Waithe) and not Dev (Aziz Ansari). It details her problematic marriage years down the line outside of Baltimore as she and Alicia (Naomi Ackie) struggle with issues such as kids, infidelity and their careers in their cottage.
But while they do divorce, the show ends on a weird note with them having an affair again, so let's break down how this, and other events in the season's five episodes, pave the way for Season 4.
RESOLVING DENISE'S FUTURE
Denise went from New York Times bestseller back to a magazine writer at the end of the season. Thus, there's room to see her trying to become a success and celebrity again. Her cheating could remove her writer's block and forge a story similar to Dev when he tried to rise as an actor in the first two seasons. Denise does seem to have passion more with Alicia back in her life, so this could be a new creative spark.
Season 4 can also explore if she wants to ask Alicia to leave her wife. Denise is finally the person Alicia wanted and she also accepts Alicia fully now, and seeing as the show ended with her smoking and contemplating what's next, given the talk she had with Alicia about how happy they are at last, we can see Denise wooing her. This can pave the way for yet another time-jump where they try again.
Denise can also move on, though, as this is dangerous ground, giving us a look at her wife and kid -- both of whom we didn't see -- as well as stories with her own mom, who didn't think her gay daughter could raise a family. Her grandma died but her aunt's still there, which could create the dynamic the show had prior to Season 3 when we saw them hosting Dev.
DISSECTING ALICIA'S FAMILY
While Denise started off as the main character, the series shifted to Alicia as a protagonist after their divorce. She went through the IVF process on her own, making a baby and then getting her career off the ground dealing antiques to make her a true independent woman. Season 4 can thus look at why she opted to go back to Denise, who was so neglectful and toxic.
It can dissect her failing marriage, as we didn't see her partner, as well as what kind of mother she is. We didn't see her mom either, and given that this lady was helping Alicia through her pregnancy and miscarriages on the phone, she can also be brought into play to inspire Alicia to be better.
After all, Alicia seems restless, bored and unhappy, ergo why she needed an exciting weekend with Denise. This is fodder for a relatable and tragic working-class story of compulsive cheaters rather than idealistic lovers engrossed in a fairytale romance. Even if it's a fresh take with someone else after another divorce, Alicia has proven to be interesting enough for fans to follow because her flaws make her human, and it's intriguing to see a good, yet hypocritical person making such selfish errors.
DEV REBUILDING HIS LIFE
Dev's revealed to be at rock bottom, moving in with his parents in Queens, while in a toxic relationship of his own with Reshmi. Season 4 can break down why they hate each other, but also touch on more aspects of Indian culture, which does have parents and their kids living together in their adult years. It'd follow up on the traditions Dev and his family often speak of, like marriage, continuing his thoughts on adapting or bucking certain trends.
Rather than have him aspiring to be an actor, it can have him working in Hollywood's financing department, maybe even being an agent or mentor for other minorities. This could organically link him to Denise if they want to become besties again and create art together, while making room for old friends like Arnold and Brian to come back in. We don't know if they're dating or got married but they're hopeless romantics too, so it'd be a smart evolution from the singles scene we saw them all on so many times.
Lastly, Dev's love life has always been in flux so it could come full-circle if he and Rachel start something up again after living together and contemplating marriage in Season 1. Her music publicity career might tie into his present affairs, but there's also a chance Season 4 can bring Francesca back. Season 2 ended with her leaving her fiancee, Pino, after she acknowledged her feelings for Dev, but she never got with him either, so it could be about Dev reconnecting with the one that got away.
Season 3 of Master of None, starring Lena Waithe and Naomi Ackie, is streaming on Netflix.