Article first published as DIVORCE Review on Seat42F.
DIVORCE is coming to HBO.
This dark ‘comedy’ created by Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe) is about a
long-married couple with a pair of kids who realize that their
relationship just isn’t working any more. As they try to disentangle
themselves, they find no shortage of complications and complicated
feelings, the idea of dissolution a lot prettier than the reality of it.
But, presumably, they’ll have plenty of time to figure it out, assuming
the show runs for a few seasons.
At the center of DIVORCE is our couple,
Frances (Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex and the City) and Robert (Thomas
Haden Church, Wings). They aren’t as screwed up as their friends, the
violent Diane (Molly Shannon, Saturday Night Live), her cruel spouse
Nick (Tracy Letts, Homeland), or the sad single Dallas (Talia Balsam,
Mad Men). But they are dissatisfied enough to engage in infidelity and
lack of communication, which culminates in the pilot in a decision to go
their separate ways. If only it were that easy or quick, the choice one
they will have to make repeatedly before they can fully get out.
One may be forgiven for thinking that Sarah Jessica Parker’s return to HBO
is simply a portrayal of the next evolution of her Sex and the City
character. After all, Carrie Bradshaw was neurotic and annoying, never
sure what she wanted, and self-sabotaging. That SJP made the character
likeable anyway is a testament to the fully fleshed out being that she
created, because on paper it’s hard to sympathize with Carrie, and it’s
very possible Carrie and her end-game beau, John, a.k.a. Mr. Big, headed
down a similar path as Frances and Robert sometime in their future.
Yet, DIVORCE isn’t a treated as a
continuation. Part of that is the much more melancholy friends
surrounding Frances, and part of it is the utter lack of cheeriness that
pervades the series. At Carrie’s lowest, one knew she would pick
herself back up. Frances doesn’t have the same guaranteed rebound,
definitely in a tailspin that will take awhile to work itself out, if it
ever does. There’s no happy ending or even happy middle on the horizon
in this show.
To some, that might be a turn off, and I’d understand that. But HBO
viewers are probably, on the whole, a little more discerning, in search
of the higher quality programming that makes them think and feel and
surprises them, not just a joyous formula. So I think it has a shot at
finding its audience.
DIVORCE is good. Not surprisingly so,
just as good as expected. It gives a realistic portrayal of something
society usually shies away from delving too deeply into. It does so by
painting a portrait of a couple that is at once both authentic and
dramatic. Neither of the duo are one thing, building years of unseen
backstory and emotional history into every conversation, every word
chosen. There is a bond here that is formed in a thousand ways over the
years, and each of them show in every line of dialogue.
I think Frances sees herself as both a
very average, normal person who anyone could understand, and as a victim
of a situation she isn’t completely sure what she wants to do with.
It’s egotistical, but not any more so than most people, and the
contradictions are of the most natural variety. SJP isn’t one of my
favorite actresses, but she can do amazing things with the right parts,
and this is one of them for her.
At the same time, THC perfectly balances
her and brings so much more to the table with Robert than a blank slate
for Frances to play off of. He is just as important, even if he’s not
as in focus, and the combination is a winning one.
DIVORCE premieres October 9th at 10/9c on HBO.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.