Chris: Well Gretchen made the biggest mistake in this episode, she took advice from Lindsay and even worse, relationship and life advice. In episode 9 of last season, both Jimmy and Gretchen try to prove to themselves that can still be the same people they were prior to their relationship and failed. In the season two premiere, they're both trying to convince themselves that they're the same couple back before they lived together and failed. They both have to come to grips that they're getting more serious and their relationship is progressing. Jimmy and Gretchen have progressed beyond the question of whether or not they want to date each other and now they struggle with exactly how serious they actually are and if they can handle it. Finally, Sam's God phone monologue is brilliant.
Alexa: Much of the series thus far has centered on Jimmy and Gretchen being “the worst,” and we certainly still see some of that in this episode. Their constant partying because they want to avoid domestic bliss is exhausting (I personally enjoy being a “sweater person”), but it gives us Sam schooling Gretchen on how to be a grown up, which is always a joy to watch, as well as Jimmy and Gretchen’s shenanigans with the Google Maps car. But this episode really gives Lindsay a chance to let her “worst” flag fly, with cringeworthy and hilarious results. In real life, a friend drunkenly sobbing in her wedding dress and saving her ex’s used condom would be horrifying and sad, but Kether Donohue embraces the absurdity and lets her comedic skills shine. It takes a truly talented performer to make viewers care so much about a character as off the rails as Lindsay, and Donohue nails it. Lindsay may be the worst, but it sure is fun watching her inhabit that space.
Joel: Let me just say that the idea of being a “sweater person” as the show calls it sounds incredibly appealing. Though Gretchen and Jimmy go to great lengths to avoid anything that my be considered stereotypical (or normal as some people would call it) domestic life, it’s obvious that neither one of them are enjoying it. It’s caused me to realize something about the show. These two people are big time, heavy drinking, all-night, crazy party people, or at least they consider themselves to be. Because of this, there’s quite often a lot of nightlife, that’s shown on the show, whether it be at a bar or at a party or wherever else you can have access to alcohol. However, these moments on the show are never actually portrayed as “fun.” The characters talk about having fun at parties, or going out on the town, yet when we see them doing that, the show never goes out of it’s way to make these moments seem like the fun, memorable nights they’re supposed to be.
This show, and the characters in it, have a pretty casual relationship with drugs as we’ve seen. There’s been no moment where the characters are confronted with “the dangers of drugs” nor do I expect there to be. We’ve gotten a little bit of that kind of frame with Edgar being a recovering heroin addict, but for the most part there are a lot of drugs in LA, and part of the “partying” culture involves doing some of the said drugs. However, while the drugs aren’t demonized in this show, they’re not glamorized either. Again, we’re told that the characters like doing drugs, they say that they do, but whenever it’s actually portrayed on screen, it’s a lonely scene, or one that seems structured to be devoid of any real feeling. The idea of living life in the fast lane is presented as a pretty repugnant idea. The most fun that the characters seemed to have in the entire first season was in the “Sunday Funday” episode, which consisted almost entirely of silly field trip ideas to fill out the day with. While both Gretchen and Jimmy seem to fear the idea of a lifestyle that isn’t constantly cranked up to eleven, it’s those in between the more intense moments that they both seem to be at their happiest.
Comments
Post a Comment