I almost gave up on this series because the principal character (the one destined to be murdered) is so extremely and unremittingly repulsive because of his misogyny. He combines the sinister characteristics of Fagin with the worst sliminess of Uriah Heep. OTOH, all the characters (including the doomed man) are superbly portrayed by a cast that was unfamiliar to me, but who I will look forward to seeing again in season 2. In the end, the series was enjoyable and thoroughly worth watching.
10 episodes, streaming on Apple TV; not yet on DVD AFAIK.
It takes no courage to keep making feminist (misandrist) porn. Its long been cliche ridden stuff (Thelma and Louise, The Color Purple, and a million others). All the men are pigs and all the women heroic, yada, yada. Of course this is not the world we live in but the market for this stuff is strong, so... I pity young men.
ReplyDeleteHaving seen a few episodes, I can assure you that there are positive male role models in the series. Men are no longer being automatically excused from being decent human beings, which isn't a problem for the majority who already are, merely those who aren't and are frustrated at no longer being able to enjoy immunity from experiencing consequences to their actions. A little comeuppance isn't such a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteYou seem to be suggesting that men are being treated fairly ("positive role models") but then you close with the "comeuppance" conclusion. Are they being treated fairly or getting a comeuppance? The comeuppance word suggests you see them as getting a punishment, but this is justified on the basis of there once (you don't say when) being a world where men were "automatically excused" from being decent. Our real disagreement isn't over whether men are being slammed (so routinely we don't even notice) but over whether this is somehow a good thing. I think you believe it's good, or so I infer when you say it isn't a "bad thing." I believe your premise--that men were ever automatically excused for all failings--is a cartoon view of history. Popular, for it's obvious utility in the gender war, but hardly truthful. But even if this was a realistic version of history, the idea that tearing men down, as a staple in popular culture, is somehow going to lead us to a better world, is simply mistaken. I'm 68 and it's been going most of my life. I don't see anyone benefiting from demonization based on gender. I see an ever more toxic culture, where men and women respect each other less than at any other time in my life: Whether we can agree on the nature of the disease or not, gratuitously trashing men is not the medicine. (To repeat a thought from previous comments: This gender war is a great distraction from the war we ought to be having. That's the war for economic justice. How about we start relentlessly demonizing rich men and WOMEN? Let's make that the staple fare. Maybe realize that the gender war is passe and start uniting men and women of all races in one working class movement. There's an idea. Trump is already on this path. How do you like his version?)
DeleteOK, easier words: men are now facing consequences for illegal and unethical actions they used to get away with. The ones who are honorable have nothing to fear.
ReplyDeleteI assume you are talking about sexual misconduct? Still not sure how tearing men down by portraying them as monsters is helpful, but, regardless, sexual misconduct, while seen as the worst of our problems, is the least of our problems. A billion men and women now "get away with" benefiting from gross wealth inequality and environmental devastation; this is embedded in our daily activities as the "winners" (both women and men ) benefit within a system that rewards gross, if mostly hidden, exploitation on steroids. Also, the animal industrial holocaust, alone, inflicts far, far more suffering than anything you can possibly squeeze under the umbrella of "misogyny" in wealthy countries. Any concern? Just about zero. So, somehow things are very far out of proportion. I wonder how that happened.
DeleteI have no interest in continuing to point out that your assumptions about what you claim I'm saying are inaccurate. This is not a conversation, so there's no point.
DeleteStan!
ReplyDeleteI had to look up OTOH. It stopped me in my tracks.
Also, I had stop back by. Because my wife and I watched the first two episodes of this last night. We are enjoying it. Thank you for the recommendation.
One reason I wanted to stop by, too, is because you mentioned not recognizing the cast. Fiona Shaw (Angelica) is in Killing Eve (highly recommend) and also in Fleabag (highly recommend, but I think you watched that(?)).
Sharon Horgan (Eva) is recognizable to me, but only in bit parts. But the one to note IMHO is Eve Hewson (Becka). She has a growing resume of films/TV.
The best trivia, though, is she’s the daughter of U2’s Bono and his wife Ali Hewson. I only know this, because my wife loves her and has watched a few things with her.
Thanks for the great recommendation!
Jeremy
Glad you're enjoying it. It has an interesting blend of humor and pathos. I defy you to figure out before the final episode how his murder is accomplished. I thought the lead-in Rube Goldberg apparatus suggested a clever device, but I was wrong. Before the final episode there are multiple possible murderers other than the sisters...
DeleteI'll do my best. I'll let you know. ha.
DeleteOur family has finished the first season and all agree that it was a great whodunit as well as darkly comedic. The actors were well chosen for their parts. I've read that the second season is not as tight a drama, for what it's worth.
ReplyDelete