Pilot Review: Sally4Ever

Sally4Ever (HBO)
Premiered November 11 at 10:30pm

There’s a certain style that British comedies have, especially when they’re focused on one woman exploring her years as a young professional struggling in both life and love. I was a huge fan of “Fleabag,” which will finally return next year after a nearly three-year hiatus, and it’s interesting to see a show that seems similar if even a bit more extreme. What’s cool about it is that it’s created by Julia Davis, who plays Emma, the woman that Sally meets and who argues that she’s definitely into being a lesbian even though she purports that it’s just a diversion from the fear of her straight relationship with a guy who’s incredibly boring and meticulous. It’s always intriguing to me when the writer of a show plays the supporting character rather than the lead. David definitely failed at trying to spice things up when he put on a ski mask and attacked Sally when she showed up, and the degree to which he manages to be uninteresting is truly incredible. The sex scene that also included him working on his own personal grooming of sorts was pretty intense, and I think that’s indicative of the way that Sally is going to go through life, weaving between the monotony of what she’s used to with the explosive ecstasy of that which she’s nervously trying for the first time. It’s an appealing premise in many ways – I’m not sure it enticed me the same way that “Fleabag” did, but it could be worth another shot.

How will it work as a series? David is devastated, but it doesn’t feel like Sally is the type of person who makes bold decisions and then sticks with them, which suggests that he’ll stick around for a while miserably trying to win her back. I don’t expect that to go well, but it should be entertaining to watch her try to reconcile her two lives.
How long will it last? This show started a few weeks ago on Sky Atlantic in the United Kingdom, and is airing just a couple episodes ahead of it on HBO. The reviews seem to be good, though I can’t find too much ratings data. I’d expect that this show will last exactly as long as its creator wants it to, and two seasons is my prediction.

Pilot grade: B+