What I’m Watching: Dollface (Season Finale)

Dollface: Season 2, Episode 10 “Birthday Girl” (B+)

I do hope that this isn’t the last we see of this show. I’ve truly enjoyed this season and think that there are plenty of places for it to go in the future for many years. The Cat Lady revealing herself to be the Secretary of Defense Mechanisms for Jules, who now is able to say what she wants and was even able to muster up enough courage to tell Celeste she was quitting, was an entertaining and productive development, one that’s unfortunately going to be needed again given that Jules’ dream job didn’t quite come through and now she’s going to have to beg to be rehired. Despite some initial spill-related mishaps, Izzy’s plan to win Liam back worked very easily, and she got an even greater gift in the form of a perfectly-tailored “it’s always been you” job offer from Celeste to become her new right hand. That could be problematic for Jules if she wants her old job back, but I have a feeling she’ll give another career a try. I like that Beth Grant also played Eleanor, Madison’s travel agent who suggested that she not stick to itineraries as much since it would be good for her. Stella was ready to make it work with Liv, but the mere phrasing of that sentiment was enough to convince Liv that it wasn’t worth being considered a challenge. The VR trip to Greece was a nice touch on which to end. I think everyone has come far this season, and I really do hope we’ll get to see more of this show in the future, and in less than two years from now.

Season grade: A-
Season MVP: All four stars

What I’m Watching: Dollface

Dollface: Season 2, Episode 9 “Princess Charming” (B+)

I thought for a moment that this entire episode was going to play out as an animated fairytale, but I’m glad that the magical realism pivoted to Izzy getting to sing her own song, which was quite a treat. For someone whose career isn’t going well at the moment, Madison did have a pretty immediate connection to someone with a private jet who was happy to let them use it so that they could fly up to save Izzy. I like that they knew something was wrong when she hung up on Stella, who they all agreed she considered more of a god than a friend. This divorce between Celeste and Colin really is affecting a lot of people in their circles, and hopefully Izzy won’t be in trouble for turning over her work computer while she was miserable. Having each of them share a recent development that they had been keeping inside was cathartic, and they should know be able to be back on a good page together. I’d like to see Stella continue pursuing her relationship with Liv, but she did articulate what she’s not sure she wants, and Liv and Bruno are a package deal. Izzy might want a career change since Celeste doesn’t show her how valuable she is, and maybe she should consider following in Jules’ footsteps to really pursue what she wants. Madison may only have one client, but the perks are pretty great. I’m looking forward to the finale but very nervous about the possibility that this show may not be back for season three, which would be a real shame.

What I’m Watching: Dollface

Dollface: Season 2, Episode 8 “Favorite Daughter” (B+)

Jules taking out her aggression on a fitted sheet in the opening scene of the episode demonstrated the bad state of things between her and Madison, but hopefully that’s on its way to being mended now. Though sending a text about how she was with Ruby and couldn’t talk in response to Jules reaching out apologetically might not have been the best thing, Jules had enough time by herself at home to realize what’s important to her and should be in a more forgiving mood when she returns to her adult life. Madison got a harsh reality check about the opportunity she thought she was getting when she saw how horribly Ruby’s dad, played by Chris Williams, who also portrays a very different kind of dad on “Upload,” treated her and then got the brunt of Ruby lashing out at her and cancelling everything. Izzy going to a spa with an Allison was a surprise, as was the revelation that she’s being courted for a job. She did acknowledge that Celeste probably didn’t value her the way she should, but apparently she knows something more damaging that was enough to sway her to reconsider and spend another day at the spa. Stella’s meeting with Lucas went very well, but learning that this was the first time Liv had introduced anyone to Bruno showed her how big a deal the relationship was. I see that as a good thing, but they’re going to have to talk about what they want before one of them cuts and runs because they haven’t planned out their future.

What I’m Watching: Dollface

Dollface: Season 2, Episode 7 “Dancing Queen” (B+)

I’m not sure that this show, which I do enjoy quite a bit, has ever managed to truly surprise me before, and that happened in this episode with Madison’s unapologetic reveal to Jules that she won’t be able to go to Greece because she’s taking a business opportunity with Ruby in Australia. It’s exactly what Jules was afraid of but then convinced herself wasn’t real, and Madison’s legitimate concern about Jules not being there yet while Ruby wanted to leave her behind was an indication that there wasn’t any reason to worry about the dissolution of their friendship. But this is rather irreversible, and it’s a major shift from the opening scene where they were trying on matching outfits and getting ready to get back to the way things used to be with the two of them. Jules had the opportunity to give a younger version of herself some decent advice about sticking with your friends, but it’s possible that she wouldn’t repeat that given recent developments. Stella and Izzy were good for each other as sounding boards since they’re both in completely different places in their relationships, and the drugs that Stella didn’t take and that weren’t strong enough to overwhelm Izzy’s suddenly-emerged sadness played exactly the part they should have. This episode did a decent job of letting drugs affect its tone only a little bit, since the magical realism scenes with Jules – and now some of her friends – are really the more worthwhile out-there and exaggerated diversions anyway.

What I’m Watching: Dollface

Dollface: Season 2, Episode 6 “Space Cadet” (B+)

So it seems like Jules is moving on from Wes, which is a positive step, but she does have something new to stress about, which is the idea that she’s becoming just like Celeste. I’d argue that Celeste would have stood up and been considerably less diplomatic with Alison B. than she was. I knew I recognized Brianne Howey, who has appeared on “Batwoman” and starred in “Ginny and Georgia” since leaving this show in season one. Jules did end up doing a superb job of making the most of an unfortunate situation and inspiring her colleagues, which is great to see, and she may have even wandered over to a far more impactful discovery that could lead to a new career. Madison got a poor start with her potential new one-table-restaurant client, and Jules wasn’t happy that her new billionaire buddy looked exactly like Colin. It was fun to see the two of them go out and communicate without speaking, and determine that they both wanted to spend the night with each other rather than going home with the boys, even if Madison’s match wanted to follow her to the bathroom so they could make out a bit. Stella preparing for a wild weekend of sex with Liv went awry when Bruno wasn’t actually picked up by his father, but the shot of them cuddling on the couch suggested that they had a nice time together. Izzy freaking out about getting broken up with revealed something more problematic in their relationship, and I do hope that she’ll be willing to talk face-to-face before completely walking away as the one who ended it.

What I’m Watching: Dollface

Dollface: Season 2, Episode 5 “Miss Codependent” (B+)

I’m enjoying the way in which this show is incorporating its magical realism scenes into this season, starting with a detective-like analysis of how Madison and Ruby are hanging out all the time and she may have found herself a new best friend. I like that Q makes no apologies for the way they are, proudly telling Jules that they were having a party and didn’t invite anyone from the office. Celeste making Jules house-sit for her was the latest example of her having no boundaries, a lesson she might have learned from nearly killing Izzy by repeat shower. After Madison was initially upset about going to a place that had many triggering memories of Colin for her, she did show up, and there wasn’t even time to process Jules lashing out at Ruby when she thought she had told her about Wes before Celeste walked in. The suit-wearing gun standoff was a fun way to show the tension that existed between those three, and it was nice to see Celeste ask to speak to Madison alone and then apologize to her since they really were in the same boat when it came to Colin. Izzy’s anxiety about being left out of a friendship group that existed for years before she came along led to her questionable decision to enter a popsicle-eating contest with Bruno, which resulted in her excitedly claiming victory when he threw up in the pool. Fortunately, Izzy pushing Stella to pregame before Liv and Bruno arrived didn’t end badly, and somehow it all led to Liv being open to the idea that they could be a couple, which should be a fun and interesting road to travel.

What I’m Watching: Dollface

Dollface: Season 2, Episode 4 “Power Player” (B+)

This whole Wes thing is going to be a real mess since he’s always going to have to do something for Lucy, and apparently Jules’ dance calendar is very full so she doesn’t have time for last-minute rescheduling. I liked how the cat lady showed her the other side of her calendar, which featured activities such as “get a backbone” and “don’t be a doormat.” Meeting Fender when he came to pick up the guitar was an exciting development, one that of course immediately resulted in Jules imagining a focus group on her first text where the biggest takeaway was that “only psychopaths put punctuation.” Jules texting Fender to hang out when Wes asked her if she was free was a big step, though I can’t imagine she’ll be able to fully walk away from Wes before things get really uncomfortable. Celeste and Izzy bonding in the hotel room after the terrifying boss made her new right hand shower multiple times in a row to test the products was a nice surprise, and it’s good to see those two actresses getting great storylines. Madison losing her mojo sent her into a spiral, but maybe getting back together with an old friend with the right hook-ups is exactly what she needs at the moment. Stella got way too in her head about not being able to be in charge with Liv, and her purchase from the sex shop did not send the message she wanted. But they seem to have gotten through it okay, and should be able to continue both parts of their relationship without much trouble.

What I’m Watching: Dollface

Dollface: Season 2, Episode 3 “Boss Lady” (B+)

I’m glad that Wes is at least being fully transparent and honest with Jules about his situation, even though him having to run home to help his live-in ex-girlfriend who’s fallen in the bathtub is a bit of a buzzkill. I enjoyed that, after being told to try something she hadn’t before, Jules Googled “porn” and then promptly found herself in a series of fantasies where Wes was trying to turn up the heat and then where things seemed normal because she was his aunt. Calling him at the end of the episode, which found them in bed together and her looking quizzically at the camera, suggests that this relationship is what they both want but that it’s going to be extremely complicated. It didn’t take long for Stella and Liv to sleep together, and it was fun to see Stella spiral out over Liv treating her exactly the way that she, in the words of her friends, has treated all of her past relationships. The two of them are eerily similar, which should make collaborating easier in some ways and more difficult in others. Working with her significant other wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for Izzy, but it did make things uncomfortable with Jules when she had to be the boss and her two new coworkers interpreted her lack of support for the pitch. Madison also discovered that her rigidity came off as very judgmental, and she did what she needed to with Stella and Izzy there for backup to win over her new entrepreneurial client.

What I’m Watching: Dollface

Dollface: Season 2, Episode 2 “Right-Hand Woman” (B+)

It is really good to see Jules actually doing well, finding a twenty-dollar bill on the ground and not having any ensuing negative consequences, and having her opinions listened to at work. Celeste is generally terrifying as a boss, and the pitch that she and the new employees made was completely at odds with the positive theme that Jules proposed. She got to sample all the beauty products and then even got her idea approved, which was a nice change of pace. Izzy was not doing a spectacular job of reading the room with the new employees, and the fact that she doesn’t want to post about her relationship even after the elephant got stuck in the ditch suggests that she doesn’t have much confidence about it. Stella is in a completely different place, taking down the bankers who were trying to talk down to her and then making a new friend and business partner in Liv. Everyone rising up to defend Madison to the guy in the bar was a great moment, and a much-needed one given how her finding the used condom and then getting hit by the automated delivery cart weren’t the worst parts of her day. She has a long way to go, but that should be an interesting journey to watch. Wes running into Jules was unexpected but turned into something they both very much wanted, which makes the fact that his ex-girlfriend may have been seriously injured while he was driving a real problem.

What I’m Watching: Dollface (Season Premiere)

Dollface: Season 2, Episode 1 “Travel Agent” (B+)

Wow, it has been a long time since this show last aired. It’s hard to keep track during the pandemic, but this one dropped all episodes of season back in November 2019, and I finished watching only a few months later in May 2020. I liked this introductory episode to get us back into the swing of things, with a few flashes of quarantine to demonstrate how little has changed since we last saw these characters, and then a new beginning where things are beginning to pick back up again. It was nice to see Beth Grant’s cat lady again at the airport as they were waiting to see Stella and got to briefly consider options for the future, a humorous non-sequitur that felt more smoothly incorporated than usual. Instead of imagined moments, we got some wild real-life occurrences, like Celeste having Jules switch seats to decide her own fate at the company before bluntly telling her not to make major news announcements into a mic in the future. Madison, on the other hand, got fired, which leaves Jules in an unexpected position to actually accomplish something. She spoke up for herself when she got caught in an unwanted conversation that she could have bailed out of more politely at the party, and then ended up getting stuck on the stage in the middle of prohibition-era entertainment that she wasn’t hallucinating. Drawing a blank card from the fortune teller probably isn’t a good sign, but we’ll see. Izzy’s new boyfriend seems great, but I have a feeling that the relationship might be undone by other people’s comments that will make her doubt its longevity.

What I’m Watching: Dollface (Season Finale)

Dollface: Season 1, Episode 10 “Bridesmaid” (B+)

This was a great way to end a season that’s consistently gotten better, providing some level of closure for its characters and allowing them to embark on a new chapter that should be entertaining and enjoyable in season two. I like that this episode largely moved away from such of the devices that haven’t always worked so well, with a couple exceptions to keep it recognizable, of course. Jules deciding to go to the wedding on her own wasn’t in itself a bad idea, but the timing wasn’t great when she was putting sunscreen on Jeremy’s back at exactly the moment that her friends arrived. Madison was understandably angry at the idea that she was getting back together with a man who had served as her pathetic excuse for not keeping up their friendship for years, but that didn’t compare to her response to Colin showing up with Celeste at the wedding and introducing himself to her so that he could provide cover for his affair. Kudos to Jules for being the one to stand up for her friend and deliver a searing takedown of Colin and the whole party in general before dropping her microphone in exactly the way it’s supposed to be done. The hallucinations they had were far from the highlight of the episode, and it was much more fun to see them do something crazy in real life, stealing the wedding vehicle so that they could head back to Los Angeles, embracing their friendship as the driving force in their lives. Bring on season two!

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Brenda Song as Madison

What I’m Watching: Dollface

Dollface: Season 1, Episode 9 “Feminist” (B+)

I know that I’ve been saying that I’d prefer to have fewer of the fantasy scenes and more of reality, but this entirely allegorical episode actually worked pretty well. Jules as Dorothy was a fitting metaphor on its own since she is eternally lost in her own life, and it worked especially well here when she tried on the shoes that Madison had left at Celeste’s to try to cover for her. Describing herself as “femin-ish” was funny and typical, and having the Women’s March as the central event was an interesting concept given that I’d imagine many people were offended by this show’s initial setup and likely judged it as anti-progressive without really sticking with it to see where it went. Celeste constantly trying to confront Jules as the Wicked Witch was clever, and I liked the way in which Stella and Izzy were both incorporated as well. Leading them to a speaker who threw out her fake eyelashes and padding seemed to be a confirmation that sometimes putting on an act is necessary, so long as you’re content with who you are and where your life is. Jules waking up to learn that it was all a dream and that she actually got calls from all the people she encountered during this fantasy trip was a helpful way of wrapping it all up and returning to reality, and I hope that the final episode sets things in a good direction. I’m pleased that Hulu has renewed this show for a second season, a fate that was less of a concern for me than for those who finished this show back when it first premiered in November.

What I’m Watching: Dollface

Dollface: Season 1, Episode 8 “Mama Bear” (B+)

We always thought it was Colin’s age that was going to be the problem for Madison, but it turns out it’s a whole lot worse than that. Jules acted as quickly and defensively as she could when she realized that he was Celeste’s husband, tossing him the drink and hiding herself so that she could figure out what to do. This was the time that she really should have decided to skip the company retreat since she landed herself in an impossible situation, one that found her ultimately doing the right thing by telling Madison only to have her react very poorly and accuse her of being a terrible friend. She probably should have elicited some help from Stella and Izzy so that they could provide backup, but instead now she’s all alone. Stella is going to require some assistance getting back to a good place after her drunken visit to the school where she had big ideas of what she wanted to do, and filming her as if she was a pet or a baby rejecting simple instructions showed how out of control she was at that moment. I was surprised to recognize actress Margot Robbie by her voice as she played Imelda, who was very weird and overbearing, prompting a humorous reaction from Izzy, who unsurprisingly didn’t want to know the exact details of her death. It’s always interesting to see what stars decide to show up in small roles like this, especially when they’re not necessarily recognizable.

What I’m Watching: Dollface

Dollface: Season 1, Episode 7 “F*** Buddy” (B+)

I liked that this episode brought all four of its main female characters in on the same issue of how to navigate a relationship when modern-day expectations are so damn complicated. It’s a wonder that it took Jules this long to “deep like” a photo on the social media of Jeremy’s new girlfriend, and she didn’t do herself any favors by repeatedly making the wrong follow-up decision to try to rectify it. I enjoyed the concept of J.O.T. where all the eligible men had just one thing wrong with them, and Jules jumped at the chance to be with the guy who was really, really into building Legos. Her visit to the gynecologist was pretty funny as she was told that she had contracted feelings, something that her new f**k buddy couldn’t possibly have gotten since it’s not a condition that afflicts men. Madison freaked out because she thought that Colin’s inability to commit to plans meant that he wasn’t taking their relationship seriously, and I loved every part of Goran Visnjic’s performance, particularly when Colin said that he was going to shower since anything he would say would have been the wrong thing. Stella was clueless about the fact that she was potentially living with her long-distance boyfriend, played by Ben Lawson from “The Deep End” and “Bombshell,” and that turned out not to be the case at all. This was a great use of Izzy, who was awkward and not overly helpful until she nearly became part of a threesome that would have represented the height of excitement in her life up until that point.

What I’m Watching: Dollface

Dollface: Season 1, Episode 6 “History Buff” (B+)

This episode was a lot of fun, and I really think that this show is finding its offbeat rhythm. There are certain things that are definitely odd and unexplained, like Izzy dressing up as Hanukkah Harry rather than Santa and giving out challah that she’s written on with a sharpie, but that’s all in the service of, for instance, her pointing out that she wasn’t being the weirdest one for once. Madison is definitely high-energy while Stella is cool and subdued, and I liked watching them interact in this episode as Madison revealed just how much she’s stepped in to alter the course of Stella’s life, allegedly for her own good. Starting it all out with her obsession with preparedness provided a good segue into the revelation of some information that made Stella determined to show her that she didn’t need to meddle so much. Dan, played by Macaulay Culkin, really did seem too nice, and like that Izzy noticed how creepily he was eating the challah, which led him to confess his affinity for mascot characters that ended up proving his innocence and getting him booted right away from the manually-propelled Lyft that Madison took over pedaling. Jules did experience the “big one” both in terms of an earthquake and a dreaded run-in with Jeremy at the museum, and she handled it formidably, even if it didn’t seem that way while it was happening. Getting tackled after she gave herself a makeover was a misstep, but she gave one hell of a speech to Jeremy right where, for once, she finally said all the right things before mentioning that she left money for the items she had taken made for a great series of events that showed what a great lead character she is.

What I’m Watching: Dollface

Dollface: Season 1, Episode 5 “Beauty Queen” (B+)

I’m so glad that we finally get to meet Madison’s “much older” boyfriend Colin, played by none other than Goran Visnjic, seen most recently on NBC’s “Timeless.” Expressing a desire to meet Madison’s friends because he couldn’t keep them straight was a fantastic catalyst for Madison to go nuts trying to prepare a dinner that she wasn’t at all cut out for, complete with some destroyed chickens, burnt shoes, and a wild night with a stripper in attendance. The presumption that Jules’ place would be safe to use because she never has anything going on was in this case flawed, and in addition to not being able to hide the largest penis of all, a whole bag of them ended up getting eaten by her cast. That did result in Jules’ new “cat doctor” friend from the park, played by Matthew Gray Gubler from “Criminal Minds,” stopping by to save the day and let Jules know that he is indeed romantically interested in her. I also liked the casting of Emmy nominee Michael Angarano from “This Is Us” and “Will and Grace” as Steve the stripper, who was actually able to make that adult conversation Madison so desperately wanted to happen to impress Colin. I liked having all of the characters together for us, and also appreciated the opportunity to see Ramona, who’s not nearly as understanding of Jules’ situation as she could be and not at all willing to let her off the hook as a bridesmaid at this point. While not all of her oddities work, I enjoyed Izzy giving an example of how she likes to call things “fire” in a manner that makes absolutely no sense.

What I’m Watching: Dollface

Dollface: Season 1, Episode 4 “Fun Friend” (B+)

This may have been my favorite episode of this show yet. It’s finding its footing, and reducing the imagined scenes to just a few short and not so terrible bits, which in this episode were the sitcom recreation and Jules being hauled in to the judge to be charged with murdering the buzz in the second degree. What I like most about this show is how it rotates its characters and allows them to interact with each other. Izzy in particular is a loose cannon who is given more depth through her conversations with first Jules, then Stella, and now Madison. Telling Izzy that her personal brand is a disaster was an entertaining start to a worthwhile process of revealing herself that did include, as expected, some unfortunate tangents that weren’t too helpful and may have been completely fabricated based on her last comment. After being told by both Madison and Stella that her only real function is recommending a good podiatrist, Jules tried to be a good friend to Stella by providing her with an amazing night that she wasn’t expecting at all. I liked how the waiter just told her “no” when she asked if they could hear the specials, and though I could have predicted that the boat was not actually the site of a party. Enthusiastically asking Siri for a translation to get the boat turned around was a great moment, and Jules actually managed to succeed in giving Stella a surprising and exciting night that definitely didn’t support her being boring.

Take Three: Dollface

Dollface: Season 1, Episode 3 “Mystery Brunette” (B)

I liked that this episode didn’t have too much of Jules’ imagination as she continues to grapple with being newly single, and the one real diversion it did have was a harmless game show presentation of the options she was looking at if she went to the party or stayed home and allowed Madison to make a new best friend. Jules also, to her credit, did a good job resisting picking up her ex-boyfriend’s calls, and when she learned that it wasn’t him but his sister who still wanted her to be in her wedding party, she held fast to the concept of not getting back together with him. I hope she goes through with still being a bridesmaid, though she was obviously worried enough about being judged that she went ahead and actually succeeded in keeping a secret after all of this. Madison should know better than to leaves Jules alone for even a minute by herself when she might say exactly the wrong thing to an influential reporter. I was pleased to see some interaction between two supporting characters who hadn’t previously really talked to each other, created from Stella’s apparent interest in the highly volatile and chatty Izzy. Suggesting that she try to be mysterious did not work well with the guy who had no interest in guessing her name out of thin air, but then she got tagged in the story headline as a mystery brunette, fulfilling her goal in a way she didn’t expect. My favorite line in an episode full of irreverence was Izzy telling Jules that she could “sunset a widget” to make an undeveloped technology work.

Round Two: Dollface

Dollface: Season 1, Episode 2 “Homebody” (B)

I want to like this show, and I’m up for giving it another shot. At this point, it doesn’t feel vital just yet, and I’m not sure how sustainably interesting it is. Its gimmick was present at the start of the episode with the demeaning workout app that kept minimizing her goals, and then it showed up again when she had to physically hold the table together as it was opening up. Getting stuck in the parka was a more literal interpretation of her misery, and shattering the wrong kind of glass while asking her boss, played by Malin Akerman from “Billions,” for a raise was just unfortunate. Like her character on “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” Esther Povitsky’s Izzy is a little much, not aware of just how terrible a roommate she makes. She also managed to mess things up between Madison and Stella for Jules, but at least they seem like they’re settling after they convened at the hospital and then to retake some of the space owed to them from the completely clueless and obnoxious Jeremy. Wanting to be platonic roommates while he prepares for his sister’s wedding and tries to find a new girlfriend on a dating app is far from wise, and good for the eternally apologetic Jules for finally trying to claim something for herself. I like Kat Dennings a lot and I still think she’s perfect for this role. I hope that as Jules gains more confidence, Dennings will rise to the occasion and truly deliver as she has in lesser roles.

Pilot Review: Dollface

I'm trying something new with my pilot reviews, so from now on, check out video takes on each new series, which I'll embed below and you can also watch by subscribing to movieswithabe on YouTube.