happytimebooks

It's such a trip. I really plays into the nuance of attachment, life vision, misaligned aspirations with "partners." Probably the best episode. Definitely some of the best cinematography. The ending scene was the best!

The story was terrific. The interaction with her Wall Street boss and her being very transparent and authentic about her mission with her boss and she says "do you get it," and he's like "no I don't" pretty much wraps up the Wall Street culture in a single scene.

The imagery of her wanting to escape through her bathroom mirror, the relationship with her mother, who calls out her boyfriend as somebody who stays put and is not a mover and goer, and the intensity that builds up during their conflict was amazingly executed.

I enjoyed the series thoroughly. I did not expect it to be a Sherlock, or have whizbang action like a James Bond flick. The mystery was quite intriguing, most of actors were believable and fluid, the plot details were interesting, and quite an exciting climax. I found myself unusually surprised several times.

This isn't top-notch intellectual, but it's far from dumb, and delightfully entertaining. Kind of like Barry. There may have been a few too many ancillary characters written into it. Both the main two characters were exciting to watch at all times for both different and similar reasons.

There was some cliché stuff that could have been written out, some slightly tired tropes, and some other annoyances (TikTok influencer, stowaways), too many spinning tops that aren't additive to the core energy and spirit of the story - that's why it doesn't get perfect score. Some characters weren't connectable (Winnie, Teddy, the mom and the priest) - that could have been better. The lawyer - very good. Interpol - outstanding.

Like White Lotus, the plot revolves around many unlikable upper-class people. And also like White Lotus (which is truly 10/10 magnificent art), it deserves a much higher score than it does, but half the population has a chip on their shoulder about upper class people and allow their resentful feelings to skew their objectivity, sometimes even consciously. That's what you see in some of the reviews here. Pity. But - we all have blind spots e.g. My unconscious shortcomings rarely allow me to appreciate dystopian shows so... different faults for different folks.

I love shows about the upper class or even interacting with them IRL. They're usually so much more interesting and challenging than the plain ol relatable middle class, the gritty proletariat, the superficial greaseballs, the buffalo-sauce-faced Midwestern jocks, the dipstick drug/crime sociopaths, and the dim-witted. The experience with upper class allows relics of my former inferiority complex to rise up, reminding me that I'm alive, which energizes me instead of shutting me down, or scaring me into the warm blankie of my protective turtle shell. You should try it!

The writing and show is aimed at the upper-middle class. And it's perfectly done. You probably won't get the subtle psychological nuances if you don't care about human behavior at all social classes. It's a perfect piece of art if you live a slightly similar lifestyle. Narcissism, addiction, Machiavellianism are rampant themes. If you don't like human psychology, watch your NASCAR race, reality show or soap opera.

All actors do a great job. Not one is inauthentic.

I think the haters never lived on the US coasts or understood affluent culture. You don't have to be wealthy and sophisticated to like his show, as long as you're not fully ignorant of today's culture, norms, values, and problems.

If you still want our society to wind back to the Leave It to Beaver Days; you'll hate the reality of the show or just plain not get it.

This is better than Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad. Because it's so societal-current.