What I’m Watching: High Fidelity (Season Finale)

High Fidelity: Season 1, Episode 10 “Once More, for Old Time's Sake” (B+)

This episode was indeed good, though it may have been the weakest of the season, simply because it’s been a great and involving ride up to this point. Rob finally bothered to ask what was up with Cherise, and we saw a little snapshot of what she’s capable of when she was strumming the guitar towards the end of the episode. After her big Fun Rob night, she got to experience the consequences of her decisions, which resulted in some very angry visitors. Cam was furious with her and aired their grievances in front of her employees, but all was good by the end of the episode when Rob eventually stopped talking about herself and showed up to meet her brother’s new baby. Lily came in hot too, and I think that, were she not at the center of this situation, Rob would have been impressed that Lily finally lost her cool and came to curse her out for interfering in her relationship. We saw enough of her time with Mac to know that there is still something there, but it’s not a good idea for either of them to invest in it and try it again. I was relieved to be right about Rob calling repeatedly for Clyde, and that she went to track him down when he didn’t call her back. She did manage to charm him into reconsidering their relationship, and after he responded well to that, he gave their chances a realistic assessment of just nine percent. She didn’t seem too thrilled about that, but I love that this season ended with her saying that she’ll take those odds. I’m concerned that this show has yet to be renewed for a second season since it been four months since its premiere, and I really hope it returns for me.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Zoe Kravitz as Rob

What I’m Watching: High Fidelity

High Fidelity: Season 1, Episode 9 “Fun Rob” (B+)

I wasn’t sure if we’d have another episode focused on a supporting character, but instead we saw a different side of Rob that had some unexpected implications. I probably would have liked to see a spotlight on Cherise, especially since we only saw how Rob threatened to fire her if she was late one more time and then was surprised to see her working a side job checking coats. Channeling “Fun Rob” was a worrisome idea, and it turns out that persona is just as self-destructive as the regular Rob. I recognized Jessica Hecht from “Friends” as Rob’s mother, who suggested she have sex while she was videochatting with her in the bathtub, a calmer run-up to the wild night that Rob was about to have. She did call a lot of people to try to make plans, and I always enjoy this show’s rapid-fire sequences like when she imagined the many ways she could react to meeting Lily. Tanya, played by Tara Summers from “Ringer” and “Boston Legal,” was unfavorably compared to the bag of bits at the bottom of a chip bag that you eat only as a last resort, but all she was guilty of was not getting her a cake, providing the most cringe-worthy moment of the episode when Rob acted like she didn’t need the attention they weren’t giving her. I was thrilled when Clyde called her and said that he didn’t want to leave things the way they were, but of course she didn’t bother answering her text he sent her. Instead, she met up with Mac, which ended somewhat shockingly in him being furious at her for revealing that she cheated on him the night they got engaged. How they still ended up flirting when he brought the keys is hard to believe, but that certainly looks to be where things are headed in this season’s final episode.

What I’m Watching: High Fidelity

High Fidelity: Season 1, Episode 8 “Ballad of the Lonesome Loser” (B+)

I didn’t expect that we’d have a whole episode devoted to a character other than Rob, but kudos to this show for embracing its breaking of the fourth wall and not limiting that ability to its main protagonist. We haven’t seen all that much of Simon on his own to this point, and I like that Rob isn’t the only one with an obsessive list of heartbreaks. His just all happen to be the same person, Benjamin Young, who he kept giving chances to in a way that’s all too similar to Rob and the way that she allows herself to be entranced over and over by the many lovers in her life. Benjamin really was pretty charming, and it’s hard to hold Simon accountable for the time he wasted on someone who was never going to commit in the right way and always managed to attract all of his attention anyway. I’m glad that we did get to see Rob when she came with him to the doctor and put on a glove as if she was going to examine him before the doctor told him about his chlamydia, and it turns out she works just fine as a supporting character not wallowing in her own sob story. After we saw Benjamin continually disappoint Simon, it was affirming to see him opt not to give it another shot with him but instead go after his new crush. I liked this focus on Simon and wouldn’t mind a similar spotlight being given to Cherise, Clyde, or even Mac.

What I’m Watching: High Fidelity

High Fidelity: Season 1, Episode 7 “Me Time” (B+)

Opening this episode with Rob praising the merits of being single while literally standing next to Clyde, who’s clearly very into her, demonstrated that she really has no idea what it was that she wants. Pointing out that he only calls her aside from that ride she needed was legitimate, though I’m sure he wouldn’t have done that had he realized that she’d use that to bring him in to support her opposite her ex and his new fiancée. The quick discussion about the top five masturbation songs following Rob’s “me time” comment was far more palatable than what happened next, which quickly turned sour once Rob spotted Mac at the bar. Lily was bold to come out and introduce herself to Rob without Mac by her side, and I love that Rob spent a few minutes imagining the many things she wanted to do to her rather than respond politely. Offering to leave the bar if they were making her uncomfortable was nice, and she warmed to Rob very quickly, suggesting double dates and freely discussing her past relationship with Mac. Clyde wasn’t so clued in, unsure of why Rob would say that he was joking about volunteering that he really did and not at all aware that they used to date. He was sincere in sharing his feelings after she made jokes about him being a fake boyfriend and that he would want something real, and her failure to respond to that may doom their chances. Him leaving after punching the guy Cameron was fighting with wasn’t a great ending, and I’m not sure how soon he’ll be back.

What I’m Watching: High Fidelity

High Fidelity: Season 1, Episode 6 “Weird…But Warm” (B+)

I’m definitely pushing for a Rob-Clyde romance, and it was great to see him come in to the store and pretend that he already had each of the records on display. Cherise and Simon eagerly referring to him by the type of pants he was wearing was entertaining, and I’m glad to see they’re on board too. Rob spent most of this episode investing in a different man, so excited to see Liam during his recording session and then to get to go to one of his shows. She was the one who pointed out that he was a rock star and didn’t need to treat whatever was going on between them as a relationship, but he seemed genuinely interested in her. Inviting her to come with him to Mexico was a big deal, and for her to say yes was even more unusual. Telling her that it wasn’t happening anymore at least felt sincere, but it’s going to serve as an important warning for her not to get too attached. After Cherise continued obsessing over the band she wants to form, she gave good chase to the record-snatchers, and she wasn’t happy at all with Rob’s decision to let them borrow what they took. Deciding to leave the show together after Cherise got completely ignored was a good step forward for the two of them, and having them make conversation by suggesting a top five list was perfect. Simon still seems to be interested in the barista, and I suspect he’ll make a move sometime soon.

What I’m Watching: High Fidelity

High Fidelity: Season 1, Episode 5 “Uptown” (B+)

I loved the opportunity to see Clyde again in this episode, which proved especially trippy since I had literally just finished the latest installment of “Mrs. America,” which also features the underrated Jake Lacy in a small role. Asking Rob if she was just calling him for a ride and then being okay with it was a great start to a wondrous adventure they had together which had her and not just him concluding that it really was a very fun day. Parker Posey, a recent fixture on “Lost in Space,” was the perfect choice to play the eccentric artist Noreen, whose brilliant plan to replace her soon-to-be-ex-husband’s priceless record collection with a framed crisp twenty-dollar bill was about to make Rob both the happiest and richest record store owner in the near vicinity. Unfortunately, Rob’s conscience got the best of her, and Clyde knew exactly how to assess what kind of person Tim really was. Jeffrey Nordling, who played a far less despicable but still unlikeable spouse on “Big Little Lies,” was a great fit for the role of Tim, immediately displaying his know-it-all attitude and his unwillingness to even acknowledge Rob’s presence in the room until she said something he didn’t like and he had to warn Clyde off from getting too serious with any woman. Maybe it was Noreen’s unwillingness to let him pee, but I love that Clyde decided to steal the Bowie record and make Rob incredibly happy. I hope we see a lot more of him, and maybe Rob can stop her endless top five lists to try and enjoy herself for a bit.

What I’m Watching: High Fidelity

High Fidelity: Season 1, Episode 4 “Good Luck and Goodbye” (B+)

Coming back to this show after a two-month break, I appreciated this episode and the way it started to delve into some of the supporting characters. Rob running into Simon in life at a different coffee shop he was going to just so that he could flirt with the barista inspired him to explain that he never left their relationship, and that they act as if they’re still together despite his being gay. That conversation being far more therapeutic than Rob expected prompted her to forge ahead with her plan to confront the rest of her exes, which was met with moderate to minimal success. Justin was easy because he was casual and apparently not a heartbreak for Rob, who actually ended that relationship. Despite this show taking place in the present, Rob isn’t there, and as a result she had no idea what being verified on Instagram met, or that her ex Kat was pretty damn famous. Inviting her to what she thought was a private meeting but turned out to be a giant promotional event found Rob around people she heats wearing a very warm coat, reminded of all the things she didn’t like about Kat. Being told that she’s obsessive and too in touch with her feelings did not sit well with her, but Simon and Cherise didn’t exactly disagree with that analysis. Confronting Mac and begging him to tell her that he hadn’t proposed yet wasn’t her greatest moment, and inviting viewers to tune in for what might happen “next week on the sad lady show” was a fair assessment. Rob and Simon were both shocked that Cherise was actually helping, and I’m eager to see that band she wants to create get off the ground someday.

Take Three: High Fidelity

High Fidelity: Season 1, Episode 3 “What Fucking Lily Girl?” (B+)

I liked that the unfortunate news that Rob received at the end of the previous episode instilled considerably more energy and angry enthusiasm in her, making her very animated as she marched around obsessing about her ex’s new girlfriend. Cameron didn’t make the situation much better when he showed up at the store trying to sell back some records and adding the information that Lily and Mac met in London a year ago and moved to New York together. She was never going to be appropriately distracted by someone like Liam, and she almost ruined it for herself when she wouldn’t stop talking about the specifics of how she couldn’t get over Mac and all Liam wanted to do was kiss her. She still didn’t give in and abruptly exited the situation to go back and reflect on the state of her life with Debbie Harry. Her phone call claiming to be her neighbor’s first girlfriend didn’t go very well at all, but I do like when she reacts in a big way to anything that surprises her. Not much time is spent on our supporting characters here, and as a result I was pleased to see Simon and Cherise interacting when they went to the show, with him asking her why she hadn’t released any music, a question that she appeared to dodge. He also gave Liam some information that Rob didn’t seem to want him to know but ultimately was probably pretty helpful to establish expectations, which didn’t even come to fruition.

Round Two: High Fidelity

High Fidelity: Season 1, Episode 2 “Track 2” (B)

The second episode of this show wasn’t quite as triumphantly memorable as the first, but I think that’s okay because it’s distinctly headed somewhere. There were only a few flashbacks, explaining that Rob freaked out in a huge way when she found a ring in the drawer, spending a long time at the bar when she told Mac she was only going out for a minute. Instead, we spent time in the present, when she, Simon, and Cherise further demonstrated their commitment to poor customer service in trying so minimally to sell a record to one of the only customers they had seen in a while. It was nice that, in their own pushy and unwelcome way, Simon and Cherise were intent on taking care of their boss, showing up to the “emergency” that was her apartment and asking questions about the road trip she purported to be taking, hence the playlist she was making. I liked the top five heartbreaks list in episode one and didn’t feel that creating a playlist was quite as strong or effective. What was emphatic, however, was the casual brunch she was having in which her friends broke the news that Mac had moved back and that they had dinner with him, only to accidentally mention the “Lily girl.” His mere presence was already having a pretty disastrous effect on Rob’s wellbeing, and the idea that he’s dating someone and introducing her to his friends is going to dominate her every thought for the foreseeable future.

Pilot Review: High Fidelity

Check out my one-minute take on every new pilot, which is embedded below and you can also watch by subscribing to movieswithabe on YouTube.