Veep: Season 7, Episode 1 “Iowa” (B)
It’s been almost two years since this show last aired, and now it’s back for its final seven episodes. Season six was broadcast while Trump was president, but it feels that, in the time since, real-life events have become so absurd that this show can’t be quite as funny anymore since it’s paralleling reality all too much. What was featured most in this episode that felt different from before was the focus on school shootings and just how little Selina cared about them, which I guess was supposed to address the way in which politicians offer meaningless thoughts and prayers and move on to other ideas. The comedic way in which it was portrayed was mildly off-putting, though it shouldn’t be surprising for these characters. Selina in particular demonstrated minimal motivation to do anything that took any work, namely coming off with a single reason that she wanted to be president. Taking the words of a man who was complaining specifically about her and twisting them to her advantage was absurd but typical. Dan is callous as usual, and Amy’s going crazy with his dismissive attitude towards their potential parenthood. I’m happy to see that Mike is still involved on the show in a completely extraneous capacity, with Leon taking over for him by helping to make communications infinitely smoother. Hugh Laurie will also apparently be back as Tom James as a challenger to Selina, but my favorite opponent is Jonah. Every scene featuring him was funny, and I like that Diedrich Bader and Patton Oswalt are on board as Bill and Teddy, respectively, and that Richard is somehow simultaneously working for two campaigns. Invoking Woody Allen and obsessing over his stepfather, played by John Carroll Lynch, giving him a D in math were extremely humorous instances of his unintelligence. I look forward to more of that this year.
Showing posts with label Iowa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iowa. Show all posts
Thursday, April 11, 2019
Thursday, January 14, 2016
What I’m Watching: The Good Wife
The Good Wife: Season 7, Episode 11 “Iowa” (C)
I didn’t like this episode, and I found neither of its primary plotlines terribly compelling even though they tried very hard. I can’t comprehend why Eli would feel the need to tell Alicia that he essentially ruined her life by deliberately deleting Will’s voicemail, since he could easily have conveyed the same sentiment about wanting her to be happy without being so detailed. There’s no way that she’ll ever forgive him for it, and he honestly doesn’t really deserve it. Saying that the nightmare was being in Iowa was harsh, and she managed to take off her sunglasses, take out her headphones, and put on a smile long enough to apologize for the comment and make it seem like it was all a big misunderstanding. Ruth pushing Peter to do the Full Grassley was a risk, and it didn’t appear to pay off when he had first zero and then twenty-eight supporters on the caucus floor. Getting caught on camera spitting out his umpteenth loose meat sandwich was obviously a misstep, but it’s absurd to think that he would be able to eat food at every single stop he made in the state (I guess that’s why most candidates don’t do it). Coming in dead last with just four votes is a pitiful way to end the campaign, and even Eli championing Alicia’s merits is unlikely to resurrect the spirit if a comeback is still at all possible. Jackie, who did not have very nice things to say about the state of Iowa, thinking Howard was senile because he didn’t remember $2.2 million in an account and trying to get power of attorney over him was a mildly amusing subplot, and now David Lee has gotten himself into big trouble for trying to hide money from Alicia and not telling Howard about it. I wonder if the elder lawyer is going to fight his newly-imposed emeritus status after Cary found a clever way of getting out of trouble for their discriminatory hiring practices without throwing himself under the bus.
I didn’t like this episode, and I found neither of its primary plotlines terribly compelling even though they tried very hard. I can’t comprehend why Eli would feel the need to tell Alicia that he essentially ruined her life by deliberately deleting Will’s voicemail, since he could easily have conveyed the same sentiment about wanting her to be happy without being so detailed. There’s no way that she’ll ever forgive him for it, and he honestly doesn’t really deserve it. Saying that the nightmare was being in Iowa was harsh, and she managed to take off her sunglasses, take out her headphones, and put on a smile long enough to apologize for the comment and make it seem like it was all a big misunderstanding. Ruth pushing Peter to do the Full Grassley was a risk, and it didn’t appear to pay off when he had first zero and then twenty-eight supporters on the caucus floor. Getting caught on camera spitting out his umpteenth loose meat sandwich was obviously a misstep, but it’s absurd to think that he would be able to eat food at every single stop he made in the state (I guess that’s why most candidates don’t do it). Coming in dead last with just four votes is a pitiful way to end the campaign, and even Eli championing Alicia’s merits is unlikely to resurrect the spirit if a comeback is still at all possible. Jackie, who did not have very nice things to say about the state of Iowa, thinking Howard was senile because he didn’t remember $2.2 million in an account and trying to get power of attorney over him was a mildly amusing subplot, and now David Lee has gotten himself into big trouble for trying to hide money from Alicia and not telling Howard about it. I wonder if the elder lawyer is going to fight his newly-imposed emeritus status after Cary found a clever way of getting out of trouble for their discriminatory hiring practices without throwing himself under the bus.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
What I’m Watching: Girls (Season Premiere)
Girls: Season 4, Episode 1 “Iowa” (B)
I haven’t exactly been anticipating the return of this show, mainly because, despite a strong season finale, last season really lost me. Returning to it now, what I notice most is that none of the main four female characters are particularly likeable. Hannah took that dive a while ago, and heading off to Iowa to pursue some sort of responsibility for her life doesn’t seem like it’s going to change too much. Hannah used to be an extremely compelling character, and there’s just something that’s changed that has made her shrill rather than endearing. That’s more than true of Marnie, who has been heading in this direction for a while now and who doesn’t do a great job of earning sympathy for herself when she breaks down crying after people didn’t listen to her playing since she’s sleeping with her fellow musician and lying to his girlfriend’s face about it. It’s nice to see Ray and Shoshana talking again, even if it was awkward, and I love the fact that both of Shoshana’s parents are named Mel Shapiro, much to their chagrin. Jessa getting her elderly friend to admit that she loves her more than her own blood relative was twisted in her typical way, and I certainly hope that we’ll see more of Natasha Lyonne’s Rickey, who has more than a little bit of contempt for Jessa. Honestly, the character to watch in this installment was Adam, who is occasionally deeply affectionate with Hannah and just as often so entrenched in his work and his perception of self. Somehow, a boy has become this show’s most magnetic character.
I haven’t exactly been anticipating the return of this show, mainly because, despite a strong season finale, last season really lost me. Returning to it now, what I notice most is that none of the main four female characters are particularly likeable. Hannah took that dive a while ago, and heading off to Iowa to pursue some sort of responsibility for her life doesn’t seem like it’s going to change too much. Hannah used to be an extremely compelling character, and there’s just something that’s changed that has made her shrill rather than endearing. That’s more than true of Marnie, who has been heading in this direction for a while now and who doesn’t do a great job of earning sympathy for herself when she breaks down crying after people didn’t listen to her playing since she’s sleeping with her fellow musician and lying to his girlfriend’s face about it. It’s nice to see Ray and Shoshana talking again, even if it was awkward, and I love the fact that both of Shoshana’s parents are named Mel Shapiro, much to their chagrin. Jessa getting her elderly friend to admit that she loves her more than her own blood relative was twisted in her typical way, and I certainly hope that we’ll see more of Natasha Lyonne’s Rickey, who has more than a little bit of contempt for Jessa. Honestly, the character to watch in this installment was Adam, who is occasionally deeply affectionate with Hannah and just as often so entrenched in his work and his perception of self. Somehow, a boy has become this show’s most magnetic character.
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