A Teacher

Not bad so far. It's uncomfortable because it's a sad reality.

I am not one to binge-watch a series which has become a popular activity these days. I prefer to consume a show in the weekly format. But I make an exception for this one, as I found myself inadvertently hitting "play next" through episode 4, which is the latest episode when I discovered this provocative show. The content offers so many layers, mostly questionable, just like pork rinds. You know the stuff is bad but the packaging makes it so engaging to consume so you keep at it anyway. Kudos to the lead actors and production crew for packaging up this content in a way that's weirdly entertaining, disturbing, and thought-provoking. For starters, this show would not be the same if the gender roles were reversed. As much as some people would like to believe, men and women are not equal and this show reminds you of that. Now I await episode 5 next week and thank Hulu for making the rest of the episodes available on a weekly basis.

As a teacher, I am in no way condoning the relationship in this show. What I do want to comment on is everyone's criticism of how poorly developed Claire's character was. As a woman that has struggled with fertility and had several miscarriages, I can relate to the inner turmoil Claire is experiencing. Her mental state is clearing affected by the stress infertility can have on a woman. It can completely change your personality. Perhaps the series could have delved more into that, but having experienced it myself, I could see how damaged and lost her character was and how she was doing things that she may not have done otherwise. She felt alone, like less of a woman, and abandoned by her husband for his musical "career". It's unfortunate that she turned to the arms of a student in order to feel something, but when I watched her navigate her situation, I could relate to the depression and irrational decision making. I feel like the writer did a good job portraying a woman with immense internal sorrow and struggle, But perhaps failed to portray her in a way that others who haven't been through this experience could relate to.

Well once you realise it's not risky or salacious and is something lame like The CW or Alibi would show, you quickly thank the episodes are so short. Mara is a great actor and Robinson never does anything wrong per se, also the rest of the cast chip in accordingly with what is needed. However that's all very well for acting, it's the age problem, none of them look TEENAGE, (Robinson is 24 and looks it) they don't come across as being preyed upon in fact quite the opposite. Subsequently the so called emotion the viewer is meant to feel is thusly ineffective. I don't see why TV production companies keep on doing this, yes they want a marquee name but at what cost? Surely it would be more fruitful to have a cast actually play the age range required.

I rank this as a 7 because I think it's well-done but I can't say that loved watching it, because the subject matter is a bit uncomfortable. It's like watching a train wreck with a bunch of characters that you kind of like, kind of don't like and ultimately disapprove of... and then it goes from bad to worse. Well-done storytelling and acting. Kate Mara is very good.