Quote:
Originally Posted by rafiki
Can you articulate why? I've not heard anyone explain it in a way that made sense to me.
I'm not a professional writer reviewer but I'll try and unjumble some thoughts without having read any reviews - massive spoilers ahead;
I think in a way the execution of the show is so smart; the framing device at the start where a dead body washes up is simple and often done, but the show doesn't really seem focused on "working its way backwards" like a mystery/puzzle, but rather to just let these characters lives naturally unfold, and in the back of your head you always remember something sinister is to happen. Imo, the finale is not commensurate with the harbinger, so it's not perfect. I think in a perfect world all the characters lives would intertwine at the end if the story was more well told in a way.
The thing that really does work for me is the diverse characters and the personal explorations. For instance I think Albie is a great example of a "modern male" who has sympathy and modern outlooks (like he struggles to find the line between being too passive and being too aggressive with women), and for instance his "modern" take on sex workers, but it's really complicated because ultimately sex workers are sometimes just in it for the money, and sometimes women like Portia do exist. When you're young it's hard to reconcile that women like that can end up chasing after *******s, but later in life you realise that you don't actually need to be that kind of person to get girls. I think his storyline is a really good example of the classic growing pains in that area while still trying to adopt modern more egalitarian views towards women. Meanwhile his dad and gramps are good contrasts for respectively more outdated approaches to women, but those approaches do also have at least some merit, and I also think navigating the origin of adulterers and why they are the way they are. So I thought that was really interesting - ultimately, portia ending up being the good guy (between her and lucia) is a good twist. I really didn't like her but she didn't do anything wrong.
Then meanwhile in the harper/ethan storyline I think its pretty interesting to contrast two couples where you clearly identify one is just so much less shitty than the others, but at the end they are brought down to eachothers level. What that says to me is it's really easy to stare and point and look down at other peoples ****ed up relationships but not focus on your own, this is a classic example of that.
I think Valentinas story was fine but not too interesting - I think that could have been cut honestly, or made 20 minutes shorter. The thing with the gays - kinda weird, but it was acceptable comic relief. There is something to be said about the exploitation of the ultra wealthy - yeah she's a self absorbed klutz and idiot who's hard to sympathize with, but is this the fate she really deserves? She also has her moments, like when she says to Portia "an arancini costs one dollar", that reminded me of some moments in my life where I thought something was really cool, and a more mature person basically said "wtf is wrong with you".
Reading this back to myself though, I think the show was at its best in the scenes with aubrey plaza/asian ddude/4some, and the prostitutes, and albie. The other storylines were fine enough to keep me interested. Overall, 8-9/10 - for reference, I watched the first season and all I can remember is the guy taking a **** in the other guys suitcase, so I really think this one will stick with me more. Keen to see another season. Probably more of an answer than you bargained for but I have a lot of thoughts about this it turns out!
