The Bisexual: Season 1, Episode 6 (B+)
It doesn’t appear that this show has been renewed for a second season yet, which is a shame since I really would like to see more of it. A very nice morning with Sadie and Leila turned much more complicated when Sadie revealed that she was trying to get pregnant. Ultimately, it seems that having a baby with Sadie is something that she wants. Gabe searching for the identity of her donor was awfully easy, and I think Leila took her selection of an Iranian man as a compliment even if it hit her as a shock at first. Having Ruby get a call that her blog was bought by Vice in the middle of their launch party was pretty obnoxious timing, and now Sadie and Leila are going to have to do just as much professional rebuilding as they do in their personal relationship. Gabe proposing to Francisca when she was packing up because her visa was expiring was far from romantic, as was her “sure” reply. He got so mad at his sister and reamed her out for trying to set him up with other women, but then Francisca shrugged off his concerns to remind him that it’s not a real marriage and they didn’t even have to tell anyone, which was obviously not what he had planned. Leila gave Gabe a hard time by joking that his struggle was exactly like that of a Middle Eastern lesbian, but then they had a truly sentimental moment at the end with him putting his head in her lap. Their dynamic is just as compelling as Leila and Sadie are. Bring on more of this show!
Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Desiree Akhavan as Leila
Showing posts with label The Bisexual. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Bisexual. Show all posts
Saturday, January 5, 2019
Tuesday, December 25, 2018
What I’m Watching: The Bisexual
The Bisexual: Season 1, Episode 5 (B+)
I liked this episode a lot, providing an informative and entertaining flashback to 2005. Leila meeting Deniz at a bar and telling her that she could be her wingman was an odd start, and after she tried to kiss her boyfriend, she ended up being a much better fit for her new friend, who thought she was gay but hadn’t ever said it out loud before. As if Deniz wasn’t negative enough, then we got Sadie, who burst onto the scene with a whole lot of anger yelling at the woman checking her in because she had just quit her job. Leila had a bunch of superb lines in this hour, including her idea for the window that you can see through, which Sadie rightfully pointed out was like a door. I also liked “I’m a businesswoman named Amanda. I just love business.” After she impressed Sadie by throwing a drink on her, the genesis of their relationship made sense, and their passionate end-of-episode hookup where Leila just got naked behind her showed that maybe there is something left between them. Gabe looked different – and less happy – with a grizzled beard trying to sell his book, and he was just as awkward trying to make jokes with his publisher. He’s not any better off currently, though at least he had an opportunity to talk about an exciting possibility in his life and find out that the person closest to him didn’t want him to be able to succeed independently. I’m looking forward to the finale and hopeful that we’ll get more of this show after that.
I liked this episode a lot, providing an informative and entertaining flashback to 2005. Leila meeting Deniz at a bar and telling her that she could be her wingman was an odd start, and after she tried to kiss her boyfriend, she ended up being a much better fit for her new friend, who thought she was gay but hadn’t ever said it out loud before. As if Deniz wasn’t negative enough, then we got Sadie, who burst onto the scene with a whole lot of anger yelling at the woman checking her in because she had just quit her job. Leila had a bunch of superb lines in this hour, including her idea for the window that you can see through, which Sadie rightfully pointed out was like a door. I also liked “I’m a businesswoman named Amanda. I just love business.” After she impressed Sadie by throwing a drink on her, the genesis of their relationship made sense, and their passionate end-of-episode hookup where Leila just got naked behind her showed that maybe there is something left between them. Gabe looked different – and less happy – with a grizzled beard trying to sell his book, and he was just as awkward trying to make jokes with his publisher. He’s not any better off currently, though at least he had an opportunity to talk about an exciting possibility in his life and find out that the person closest to him didn’t want him to be able to succeed independently. I’m looking forward to the finale and hopeful that we’ll get more of this show after that.
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
What I’m Watching: The Bisexual
The Bisexual: Season 1, Episode 4 (B+)
Leila doesn’t have too much luck in romance, but at least she’s getting out there. She’s not shy about marketing herself as a bisexual just getting out of a ten-year relationship trying not to be an emotional intimacy whore, and anyone who wants to date her is probably best off knowing that going in. Her first partner of the episode wasn’t opposed to the notion of spitting in her mouth, something that she saw in porn, even if he wasn’t able to muster the saliva she really wanted. Admiring the relationship that Gabe’s sister had got her thinking in a different way, and everything was going pretty well in her first same-sex encounter since Sadie until Tania decided to casually tell her that she was self-involved. Rarely the one to be offended rather than to offend, she still stuck around and cuddled her so that she didn’t feel bad about herself. Leila’s efforts to create a friendlier workplace environment were also not too successful, with her being chewed out along with Sadie and then being angrily scoffed at by Sadie for attempting to implement the mutual respect agreement. I like that she didn’t let Gabe get away with saying that because she is bisexual she doesn’t have to settle down, and that the two of them have really established a dynamic where they can be open and honest with each other, sometimes brutally and unkindly. Sadie’s pregnancy efforts make for an interesting subplot, even though we haven’t seen much of it just yet.
Leila doesn’t have too much luck in romance, but at least she’s getting out there. She’s not shy about marketing herself as a bisexual just getting out of a ten-year relationship trying not to be an emotional intimacy whore, and anyone who wants to date her is probably best off knowing that going in. Her first partner of the episode wasn’t opposed to the notion of spitting in her mouth, something that she saw in porn, even if he wasn’t able to muster the saliva she really wanted. Admiring the relationship that Gabe’s sister had got her thinking in a different way, and everything was going pretty well in her first same-sex encounter since Sadie until Tania decided to casually tell her that she was self-involved. Rarely the one to be offended rather than to offend, she still stuck around and cuddled her so that she didn’t feel bad about herself. Leila’s efforts to create a friendlier workplace environment were also not too successful, with her being chewed out along with Sadie and then being angrily scoffed at by Sadie for attempting to implement the mutual respect agreement. I like that she didn’t let Gabe get away with saying that because she is bisexual she doesn’t have to settle down, and that the two of them have really established a dynamic where they can be open and honest with each other, sometimes brutally and unkindly. Sadie’s pregnancy efforts make for an interesting subplot, even though we haven’t seen much of it just yet.
Friday, December 7, 2018
Take Three: The Bisexual
The Bisexual: Season 1, Episode 3 (B+)
Leila is the type of person who creates drama where there doesn’t need to be any, and her incessant need to focus on something that might otherwise fly under the radar creates plenty of humorous and incredibly awkward moments. She doesn’t like to be defined, either, telling Gabe that seeing a man doesn’t make her straight, and that she hates the term bisexual, which of course is this show’s title, because it makes her think about Tila Tequila and Anne Heche. Her reasons for not being as into sex with a man because of the cleanup were both understandable and entertainingly phrased. She completely freaked out when Deniz showed up and she had to get Jon-Criss to pretend he was Gabe’s friend so that she wouldn’t suspect anything about her having slept with a man. It’s too bad that her obsession with clubbing got her caught with him by the worst person possible, Sadie, who wasn’t even close to understanding when she realized, and Jon-Criss wasn’t too happy when she tried to shut him out either. I enjoyed seeing more of Francisca, who dug at Gabe by telling him that he was “getting round” when he was taking more baklava and did an incredibly dry reading of her “Apples to Apples” or “Cards Against Humanity” card, whichever game it was that there playing. It seemed like she was about to kiss Leila when she mentioned being bisexual while Gabe was in the room, which hardly would have been sensitive and fortunately didn’t actually happen.
Leila is the type of person who creates drama where there doesn’t need to be any, and her incessant need to focus on something that might otherwise fly under the radar creates plenty of humorous and incredibly awkward moments. She doesn’t like to be defined, either, telling Gabe that seeing a man doesn’t make her straight, and that she hates the term bisexual, which of course is this show’s title, because it makes her think about Tila Tequila and Anne Heche. Her reasons for not being as into sex with a man because of the cleanup were both understandable and entertainingly phrased. She completely freaked out when Deniz showed up and she had to get Jon-Criss to pretend he was Gabe’s friend so that she wouldn’t suspect anything about her having slept with a man. It’s too bad that her obsession with clubbing got her caught with him by the worst person possible, Sadie, who wasn’t even close to understanding when she realized, and Jon-Criss wasn’t too happy when she tried to shut him out either. I enjoyed seeing more of Francisca, who dug at Gabe by telling him that he was “getting round” when he was taking more baklava and did an incredibly dry reading of her “Apples to Apples” or “Cards Against Humanity” card, whichever game it was that there playing. It seemed like she was about to kiss Leila when she mentioned being bisexual while Gabe was in the room, which hardly would have been sensitive and fortunately didn’t actually happen.
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Round Two: The Bisexual
The Bisexual: Season 1, Episode 2 (B)
This episode wasn’t quite as enticing as the first, but we’re definitely still seeing more of the same awkwardness and confusion from Leila. Running into Sadie and Hye Me with Gabe by her side was incredibly uncomfortable, and she did as much as possible to make the situation so much worse than it needed to be. Her encounters with men continue to be one of this show’s most interesting elements, as she seems set on getting over that initial hump of having done the deed for the first time. She was very upfront the last time things almost happened about the wonder of this being a new experience for her, and this time wasn’t any smoother even if her prospective partner seemed less put off by the idea and her forward request for a particular position. Gabe’s own romantic exploration isn’t going all that well since he seems set on pursuing something that everyone around him tells him can’t possibly end the way that he wants it to. For only having seen two half-hour episodes so far, this show spends an awful lot of time out at parties, showing Leila at her most relaxed, escaping from the boring repetitiveness of everyday life and opening her up to the kind of person that she’d like to be even if she doesn’t actually resemble anything like it. Watching her try to figure that out continues to be compelling, and the fact that Leila doesn’t seem to be any closer to finding herself only makes it more worthwhile.
This episode wasn’t quite as enticing as the first, but we’re definitely still seeing more of the same awkwardness and confusion from Leila. Running into Sadie and Hye Me with Gabe by her side was incredibly uncomfortable, and she did as much as possible to make the situation so much worse than it needed to be. Her encounters with men continue to be one of this show’s most interesting elements, as she seems set on getting over that initial hump of having done the deed for the first time. She was very upfront the last time things almost happened about the wonder of this being a new experience for her, and this time wasn’t any smoother even if her prospective partner seemed less put off by the idea and her forward request for a particular position. Gabe’s own romantic exploration isn’t going all that well since he seems set on pursuing something that everyone around him tells him can’t possibly end the way that he wants it to. For only having seen two half-hour episodes so far, this show spends an awful lot of time out at parties, showing Leila at her most relaxed, escaping from the boring repetitiveness of everyday life and opening her up to the kind of person that she’d like to be even if she doesn’t actually resemble anything like it. Watching her try to figure that out continues to be compelling, and the fact that Leila doesn’t seem to be any closer to finding herself only makes it more worthwhile.
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Pilot Review: The Bisexual
The Bisexual (Hulu)
Premiered November 16
I had no idea that Desiree Akhavan had made a television series, but if I had imagined what one would be like, this would definitely be it. Akhavan made her feature film debut behind the camera and in front of it in “Appropriate Behavior” in 2014, portraying her discomfort navigating the world as a bisexual Persian-American. This year, she returned as director for “The Miseducation of Cameron Post,” a compelling story of a teenage girl sent to a gay conversion therapy camp. It’s interesting but not at all unexpected that she would choose a British network and setting for her first foray into television, with this series premiering on Channel 4 in the UK a little over a month ago and then dropping all six of its episodes on Hulu this past Friday. As Leila, Akhavan is just as awkward and unapologetically blunt as she was in her debut film, ready to break off a serious relationship because her girlfriend proposed marriage and then jumping to re-propose to her when a heterosexual encounter led to terrible confusion. Opposite her, Brian Gleeson, son of Brendan Gleeson, is terrific as her roommate Gabe, who of course asked about “Blue is the Warmest Color” as soon as he was around lesbians only to have them mention “The L Word” before warning him of its context. This is a great showcase for Akhavan whose “No, stay, she says” was the highlight of this half-hour for me. I’m up for another episode or maybe even all five.
How will it work as a series? Sticking gum in a black girl’s hair is probably going to come back to haunt her, especially because she’s still working for Sadie on a creative basis every day. I’m hopeful that she and Gabe won’t sleep together, but I do look forward to them navigating the complicated world of romance and love together as friends.
How long will it last? Reviews are good, even better in fact that they have been for Akhavan’s two narrative films. British television, by its nature, is usually short-form and unlikely to last too many seasons, and broadcasting to American audiences via Hulu should help grow its audience. I’d predict two seasons of this show before Akhavan moves on to bigger projects.
Pilot grade: B+
Premiered November 16
I had no idea that Desiree Akhavan had made a television series, but if I had imagined what one would be like, this would definitely be it. Akhavan made her feature film debut behind the camera and in front of it in “Appropriate Behavior” in 2014, portraying her discomfort navigating the world as a bisexual Persian-American. This year, she returned as director for “The Miseducation of Cameron Post,” a compelling story of a teenage girl sent to a gay conversion therapy camp. It’s interesting but not at all unexpected that she would choose a British network and setting for her first foray into television, with this series premiering on Channel 4 in the UK a little over a month ago and then dropping all six of its episodes on Hulu this past Friday. As Leila, Akhavan is just as awkward and unapologetically blunt as she was in her debut film, ready to break off a serious relationship because her girlfriend proposed marriage and then jumping to re-propose to her when a heterosexual encounter led to terrible confusion. Opposite her, Brian Gleeson, son of Brendan Gleeson, is terrific as her roommate Gabe, who of course asked about “Blue is the Warmest Color” as soon as he was around lesbians only to have them mention “The L Word” before warning him of its context. This is a great showcase for Akhavan whose “No, stay, she says” was the highlight of this half-hour for me. I’m up for another episode or maybe even all five.
How will it work as a series? Sticking gum in a black girl’s hair is probably going to come back to haunt her, especially because she’s still working for Sadie on a creative basis every day. I’m hopeful that she and Gabe won’t sleep together, but I do look forward to them navigating the complicated world of romance and love together as friends.
How long will it last? Reviews are good, even better in fact that they have been for Akhavan’s two narrative films. British television, by its nature, is usually short-form and unlikely to last too many seasons, and broadcasting to American audiences via Hulu should help grow its audience. I’d predict two seasons of this show before Akhavan moves on to bigger projects.
Pilot grade: B+
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