Pilot Review: Easy

Easy (Netflix)
Premiered September 22

I wanted to look up more information about watching this pilot with little to no knowledge of what the show was about going into it, and I was surprised to learn that this is actually an anthology series that is going to feature different actors and different storylines each week. That makes reviewing a pilot a tough job since I don’t anticipate seeing these people and revisiting their lives again. What hasn’t changed since I learned more about the nature of this show is that I was excited to see two actors who I’ve often enjoyed in previous parts given the chance to anchor a show together. Elizabeth Reaser was the lead on the short-lived “The Ex List” and earned an Emmy nomination for Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series back in 2007 for “Grey’s Anatomy,” but I much prefer her turn in the film “Puccini for Beginners,” which was one of the first independent films I saw when I started college in New York City. I know some people find her annoying, but I think she was right for this part. Even more thrilling is pairing her with Michael Chernus, who recurred on “Orange is the New Black” and “The Big C” and has offered crucial support in films like “People, Places, Things” and “Mistress America.” I know that looking at those two actors is irrelevant for subsequent episodes, but it makes me optimistic about the potential for this show. I enjoyed this opening installment, a mild exploration of gender roles and how they affect a couple’s sex life. It’s nothing to write home about but it’s a fun and intriguing setup that makes me interested to see more.

How will it work as a series? That’s the question that can’t be answered since it could end up being a totally different show from week to week, an expression that doesn’t completely hold water since the whole season was released all at once on Netflix. Eight episodes with an extremely alluring cast seems like it could definitely be interesting.
How long will it last? Netflix doesn’t release ratings data in a timely or terribly informative way, but from what I can tell, the show has been relatively warmly received. It’s going to be up to creator Joe Swanberg to decide if he wants to continue the show into other seasons, and I imagine that Netflix would be interested if he is.

Pilot grade: B