This is one of my favorite new shows. From SNL writers and they use a ton of NYC theater people. Season 2 just dropped. I urge you all to watch it and laugh!
I plan to watch since I found out Helen Yorke is involved. I think she is so talented and funny.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
I'm into the second season. Overall, I think its cute, but tonally, I find it all over the place. I'm still not really sure who the family is. I'm not sure I care. I've read reviews that say the humor doesn't always land and they keep kicking the same jokes. I agree. I'm unsure if this show knows what it wants to be.
The leads (Brooke and Cary) appear to be trying to be misanthropic, but at times it feels like an also-ran Difficult People without the bite. Then magically a boyfriend appears for Cary, which seems like a shaft to the audience since one of Cary's major hurdles was how his trauma impacted his ability to have a healthy relationship. It would have been nice to see that evolve rather than just arrive.
Pat and Chase seem underwritten yet get a lot of air time in broad strokes which doesn't help the tone of the show. They come in and out and they take the air out of an episode. Personally, I don't see what is so appealing about Pat that would warrant her instantaneous fame. She was better as a bit player in the first season. In Season Two, I find her cloying and not in a good way.
The cast is incredible and working with what they are given. It often feels strained to me. I'm unsure this will get a third season. I think the lapse in filming didn't help matters.
I'm continuing to watch to see if it comes together.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
I’m similarly mixed on season 2. I loved almost everything about the first season, but I’m finding it hard to stay interested this season. The characters really sing when they spend more time together, and there’s not enough of that so far.
I’m 5 episodes in and have found 2 of them very funny, and the others just fine. Episode 2 with the gay dad and son misunderstanding plot was actively one of the worst half hours of TV I’ve watched recently. Maybe I’m just not as into the show as I thought I was, but there’s a noticeable dip in the funny this time around.
I'd have to disagree. I'm LOVING this season. And I'm kinda sad we're getting it all at once, and I'll def go back and rewatch. Maybe it just strikes my funny bone, but I love it. When Carry says "I have a boyfriend" and then someone passes and says "Fa**t" I laughed out loud for awhile. That's just so biting and brilliant. I also loved "Difficult People," so. I also love Carry's best friend.
I can see the negatives in the sense that the show is all about their failings, so after awhile you're like, can they win a little?
I don't find Pat annoying at all. She's very that Mid-western relatable woman that would have a talk show. Maybe not at that level, but very much a cooking show or something.
But I do feel like they kinda dumped the Chase Dreams idea. Like the idea that this family is second tier to him. But maybe that's just a second season hurtle. I HOPE we get a third season. I mean if Search Party can still live on and on, we can get this.
I loved Difficult People and wish it were still on. I love all the actors on the show so I'm giving it time to finds its groove. I thought sending Chase to school was the creatives finding a way to get rid of him as that angle wasn't working, but he's back. I keep forgetting he is a part of the family which I think is weird. Whenever, Brooke and Cary are shown being sweet to him, it feels weird.
I don't think the family is written well. I think the airplane episode was an attempt to show them as a family, but it fell flat for me. That was an episode that to me felt strained. The constant "can I talk to you in the bathroom" and the heat/sweating just wasn't clicking for me. It felt like the actors were literally sweating to make that episode work. I felt the "reveal" about the dad was labored and unfunny. I think it was written to be hysterical and jaw dropping. Didn't work for me.
I do like Cary's best friend. He actually feels authentic and his bits work. I like Brooke's ex. He has a gravity that grounds his comedy and his pathos. I think this show is unsuccessful in straddling the line between slapstick, dark humor and drama. It feels very marked to me without a smooth transition. It jerks between all three whereas when it is done well I feel like a character effortlessly moves into it and it catches you by surprise.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
Betty, I hear our complaints but disagree. This show makes me so happy. It's just so clever and funny. When Carey says "I have a boyfriend" and then some guy passing says "f*g*tt" I was crying laughing. So happy it's getting a season 3.
I’m definitely interested to see how season 3 goes, since season 2 (mostly) as we saw it on HBO was as written for Comedy Central. HBO picked them up after the whole season was written, so all they did was add some additional dialogue and swearing (definitely how they got away with the multiple “f*gg*ts”). Knowing they have a full season on HBO money/oversight will likely produce an even edgier version.
I think my expectations were not all that high given where it all began, so I was surprised how funny the writing was. Normally I am somewhat critical but for some reason I am viewing the show for what it is. One could say it is rather thin as far as the characters and relationships but I do not seem to mind that for some reason. As a gay person It has an appeal to me where other gay people might have a different reaction. And I find myself thinking…..I can’t believe they went there which I love.
SmoothLover said: "I think my expectations were not all that high given where it all began, so I was surprised how funny the writing was. Normally I am somewhat critical but for some reason I am viewing the show for what it is. One could say it is rather thin as far as the characters and relationships but I do not seem to mind that for some reason. As a gay person It has an appeal to me where other gay people might have a different reaction. And I find myself thinking…..I can’t believe they went there which I love."
It definitely has its charms. I don’t means to sound like I’m shredding it. I’m glad there will be a third season to really stretch its wings under the HBO umbrella.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
I mean, if we can get 5 seasons of Search Party, which is kind of a delightful mess, but still surprised it has run so long, then we can get this. I can't wait to see what they do in the third season. I think they went in a different direction with the ending and I'm curious to see where the characters go. Sad they gave us 2 at a time, so now we've run out so quickly.
RippedMan said: "I mean, if we can get 5 seasons of Search Party, which is kind of a delightful mess, but still surprised it has run so long, then we can get this. I can't wait to see what they do in the third season. I think they went in a different direction with the ending and I'm curious to see where the characters go. Sad they gave us 2 at a time, so now we've run out so quickly."
I just love Helene Yorke. I think she is the best part of the show. I think she is so stinking talented and she is given the most to do, which I'm not mad about. It taps into all her strengths.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
I think they’re all wonderful and perfectly cast. I think they’re in an interesting mode of a terrific idea but how do you flesh out these characters. They are sketch comedy writers so I think they might struggle with how to expand the idea.
The last few eps of the second season everything seemed to come together. I laughed out loud in every episode. The writing seemed to find its footing and the actors really crystallized. I can’t wait for the third season.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
The two lead characters live in their own brains so it makes them seem two dimensional; but that really is one of the main things the show is commenting on. It also allows the characters to get into all sorts of predicaments head first. It is a bit like Lucy trying to get in to show business. I do think the male character is a bit more empathetic. The warmest moments come from looking out after their younger brother.