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Debuting tomorrow.
Currently holding at 70 on Metacritic, which to me enters this into the court of public opinion. If the GP don’t go for it then it will be easily forgotten but if they love it then it has enough starpower to push it into even the big categories. So potentially this year’s Fosse/Verdon, its The Act or its Catch 22.
Three episodes will be released tomorrow, as Hulu follows its Handmaid’s Tale release strategy:
Episode One: “The Spark”
Artist Mia Warren and her daughter arrive in Shaker Heights, OH.Episode Two: “Seeds and All”
Elena’s relationship with Mia grows increasingly strained.Episode Three: “Seventy Cents”
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At Mirabelle McCullough’s first birthday, Mia makes a bombshell discovery.Episode 1 down. Unsurprisingly, I love it. It’s so easily entertaining whilst immediately establishing the characters beautifully and carefully communicating the key themes of the season. My biggest concern with this adaptation is that the book is one where not a lot of hugely dramatic stuff happens and then it all does. Thankfully, the show has expanded this with ease producing lovely narrative out of details like Pearl’s bike.
The big takeaway from this episode though is Reese Witherspoon, who is just exquisite. She is the character of Elena to an absolute tee, imbuing the exact right concoction of white guilt, perfectionism and passive aggression. Lazy critics on this forum are inevitably going to say this is the same character as Big Little Lies and it’s true she so easily could have been. But Witherspoon understands and conveys the crucial difference that lies in these characters’ intentions which are worlds apart. When Madeline helps Jane in the pilot of Big Little Lies it’s driven by liberal guilt sure but there’s a genuine warmth to it also which is why they become friends. Elena doesn’t have that drive – poverty makes her uncomfortable as it ruins the perfect world she desires. Helping Mia is helping herself.
Washington is also very good as a woman about to bubble over with suppressed emotions. Initially, I was concerned she was going to be treated as too passive a persona but by the end she was almost stealing the entire episode, shining greatest in the non-verbal moment of knocking on the wall to Pearl.
The casting director should be winning that Emmy. Why? Because the kids are not only so fitting for their roles already (and not grating actors yay) but also actually look like each other and their parents. It’s such a small thing but it makes it so instantly easy to engage with the world when you can take one look at The Richardsons and The Warrens and see a family.
I’ve rambled more than I intended to but yeah this is a strong start. Final thought: I really like the main title design
ReplyCopy URLI’ve seen the first two episodes and I love it. The perfect show for me right now. The lead characters are rich, mysterious and flawed, and I’m here for it. The children (except for the obvious) are all pretty bland, but I’m pretty much used to that at this point. Pearl and Reese’s one daughter (her name escapes me) are somewhat unconventional, but at the same time I’ve already seen those characters 100 times on TV. But that doesn’t bother me at all.</p>
Reese is great per usual, but we need to talk about Kerry Washington. She’s simply MARVELOUS in this. I didn’t expect her to be this good! I honestly didn’t think I’d be able to shake off Olivia Pope while watching this, but there was not a single ounce of Pope here. Washington’s facial mannerisms are so nuanced, as are her gestures. You can tell that she has a deep understanding of who Mia is. I’m really looking out for her in the lead actress race.Also, the opening titles are gorgeous; the music is so damn good.
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ReplyCopy URLA Fervent Believer in the Church of Viola Davis
Episode 2 complete and it’s confirmed Kerry Washington is doing absolutely wondrous work.
Also, I feel like I could write pages and pages on how fricking great the scenes with the two of them drinking were. So brilliantly written to exhibit yet not confront the oscillating tensions and Witherspoon delivered that monologue about motherhood stunningly.
ReplyCopy URLI’ve been waiting for this series to launch since I first heard of it, and my expectations were so high for it. And honestly, it surpassed what I was waiting for.
Reese and Kerry are amazing in it and every scene that they share together I’m on the edge of my seat. The scene on the couch between the two of them is pure gold! I can’t wait to see them getting everything they deserve come awards season.
ReplyCopy URLLoving this too. I have to say. First episode Kerry Washington did one of her best work on screen. However, episode two I give to Reese. She was great at the book club scene n the couch. Both are doing incredible work. And to those reviews saying this is typical Reese role. I find her completely different. Yes, she is playing a control freak but another actress would of played same beats. She’s doing different things with Elena .
ReplyCopy URLEpisode three (Seventy Cents) was the best. Some things that happened leave me thinking “of course this is happening” and maybe it wasn’t super special, but there are some great emelents in these three episodes and the cast are doing a good job. I was totally blind about the book so I didn’t know that the baby would be a major plot.
Expecting the end to be very emotional and powerful.
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