S01.E02: Kiss

[formerlyfreedom]

Quote

During their first night aboard, Ruby's mind is consumed by sex, while Billy probes for personal details she's reluctant to give up. Comforted by the fact that her husband believes she's on a weeklong yoga retreat – and determined to make Billy jealous – Ruby brazenly connects with Derek, a stranger on the train. Meanwhile, Billy works to shake a persistent figure from his past. 

Airing Sunday, April 19, 2020.

 

[Blakeston]

Merritt Wever and Domhnall Gleason are both terrific actors, but neither of them can make this dialogue seem natural.

[SHD]

I really want to see the spots they filmed at in Chicago, but I don’t know if I can stick with this show. Nobody is likable and I don’t care why they’re doing whatever they’re doing.

[Irlandesa]

I actually liked this episode much more than the pilot. 

But if Ruby ran away to cheat, she was a fool to not just go with it with the stranger on the train.

[scrb]

Among the extras, the creator talks about the pact, that if both of them texted “run” to each other, they’d immediately run away from whatever they were doing.

 She’s supposedly choosing to be happy.

Just as Billy is wondering why she would leave what is on the surface a happy family, it seems like they may take awhile to show why Ruby was ready to bail in that moment.

Was it a Caesarian scar that makes Billy hesitate to sleep with her?  Or the incessant calls from her husband?  Or them fumbling around in that train cabin?

Once he saw that wallpaper on her phone, he has to know what situation she left.  So he Googles her and her husband.  More pictures of apparently a great hubby and family.

Billy OTOH is running from something, was drinking and crying when he sent the text.

So Lawrence figures out she’s not where she said she was.  This time, it’s not about taking delivery of the speakers, it’s taking kids from one activity to another. So some kind of suburban drudgery.

Then on arriving to Chicago, where Ruby decided maybe Billy isn’t all that and she will just go back, she learns her swell hubby has canceled her cards — good thing she bought that lipstick while she could.

And leaves a salty greeting on his voice inbox about Ruby abandoning the family.

So it’s no longer just a whimsical adventure for her.

[whiporee]

Harry Cranes are gonna Harry Crane, I guess.  His wife leaves and he’s worried about his tennis game.  Plus, he doesn’t know where the school is. 
Then cuts off her cards. One thing, though.  Those are joint accounts.  She can just call and have them reactivated — you don’t get to just shut your souse off from joint money because you’re mad.  
As for the plot, I don’t know. I liked the pilot, this one less. The leafs are a lot of fun when they are having fun, but the rest of it is pretty bleh.  And I never need to hear someone else detail how they’ll seduce someone. It’s like an early 2000s AOL chat room.  

[Arcey]

My mind went somewhere else with the credit card situation. I thought something nefarious took place with Billy (is that his name? I'm so uninterested in this show, I don't even remember the main character's name! ). And I thought Leonard's message was in her head, out of guilt, not what she was actually hearing.

I doubt I'll be watching more of this show. I did like that they showed the backstory moment of his state of being when he first texted "run" and how Fiona was involved.

[Blakeston]

2 hours ago, whiporee said:

Then cuts off her cards. One thing, though.  Those are joint accounts.  She can just call and have them reactivated — you don’t get to just shut your souse off from joint money because you’re mad.  

Maybe he reported them stolen? Once someone has done that, so far as I know the card can't be re-activated.

The only reason I'm sticking with this show is because I think it might improve. I think that because a) it got some very strong reviews, and b) Phoebe Waller-Bridge put her name on it.

I'll be quite disappointed if it stays at this level of quality.

[CarpeFelis]

Obviously Laurence heard the train announcement at the end of her “I’m on a yoga retreat” phone call, but cutting off her access to funds was next-level vindictiveness. If he wants her to come home, how the hell does he expect her to do that with no money? 

It’s still horrible to run out on your kids, but it’s starting to look like running out on Laurence might be self-preservation. I’ve read some reviews that say Ruby is just bored with her life, but I think it’s more than that. Right from the initial phone call in the Target parking lot Laurence came across as demanding. Just from the clues we’ve been given so far, I think he’s controlling, perhaps even abusive:

• Cutting off the cards, obviously. Again, taking vindictiveness above and beyond. This one is a bright blinking neon red flag.
• Talks to her like she’s his errand girl (geez, he doesn’t even KNOW where the school is?). At the very least, he takes her for granted.
• ...and while we’re on the subject of errand girl: Ruby lying to both Billy and Derek that she’s an architect. Apparently she’s actually a housewife, bored out of her mind, and sick of Laurence’s demands. My guess is she wanted to become an architect but Laurence put a stop to that.
• It was pointed out multiple times that Ruby is self-conscious about how her body has changed (due to childbirth and aging) since she was with Billy in college. Her social media was full of references to yoga, working out every day, etc. I don’t think this is just vanity. I think Laurence has very specific expectations of how his wife should be (in both looks and behavior) and she’s been hearing putdowns and/or nagging about it from him for years. It wouldn’t surprise me to find out he also makes comments comparing her with younger women.
• His social media was telling, too. Mr. Successful, Well-rounded, Philanthropic and Generally Perfect. Nobody’s that perfect. Abusers in particular often come across as pillars of the community—until they’re behind closed doors.

Of course this could just be my own dirty lens talking (my first husband was abusive), but I also think it would take a lot more than just being bored for most moms to seriously consider running away from their own kids, much less actually do it.

P.S. I would love to see Derek be a recurring character.

[scrb]

I don't know how common it is but professional women keep separate accounts from their husbands or keep an account for themselves in addition to joint accounts.

Supposedly more common among Millennials.

Now was Ruby trying to use only debit cards at that ATM or was she trying to use credit cards for cash advances as well?

I think it would be easier to cancel credit cards, especially those which are secondary credit cards.  Not sure about cutting off access to joint bank accounts through.

Whether Lawrence is abusive or not, you can tell she wasn't into his constant texts and calls.  Sitting in that parking lot, she dreaded looking at her phone which kept pinging.

Until she saw the text from Billy.  Her hand was slightly shaking as she typed out "run" in response and sent it when normally, she's a fast 2-hand tester.

[SHD]

3 hours ago, CarpeFelis said:

 

• His social media was telling, too. Mr. Successful, Well-rounded, Philanthropic and Generally Perfect. Nobody’s that perfect. 

That’s how everyone tries to present themselves on Facebook - LOL

If this IS an abusive situation, I wish the writers would’ve at least given one piece of solid evidence of it so that I could root for Ruby and her escape. 

[mrsbagnet]

I kinda liked Derek. At first I thought he was going to be a boring dimwit, but he turned out to be fun. I was impressed with his sexy talk skills.

Edited April 21, 2020 by mrsbagnet

[ElectricBoogaloo]

I liked Derek. Not only did he provide a break from all the Billy/Ruby stuff but he was totally willing to play along and pretend he'd had sex with her to help her out, no questions asked. And even after that, he was down with drinking games. Plus he was hotter than Billy!

Edited April 21, 2020 by ElectricBoogaloo

[BC4ME]

I think I'm out. I usually try to stick with shows but this one has been too much of a disappointment. I watched one more than I wanted to as it is trying to give it a chance.  If it's gotten good reviews, then well, it's just not my personal cup of tea. I was curious to see what was said here last week but never thought to check the comedy section.

[humbleopinion]

Better than Episode 1.

I’ll stay for Episode 3.

I am sending mental vibes out to my Ruby/Billy....

It would be like a lightening strike if my Billy/Ruby reached out ....kinda wish I had a pact set up....oh so long ago.....

Plus you gotta have a slush fund of cashola for episodes of temporary madness, Ruby...

Edited April 22, 2020 by humbleopinion

[qtpye]

On 4/20/2020 at 1:09 AM, scrb said:

Among the extras, the creator talks about the pact, that if both of them texted “run” to each other, they’d immediately run away from whatever they were doing.

 She’s supposedly choosing to be happy.

Just as Billy is wondering why she would leave what is on the surface a happy family, it seems like they may take awhile to show why Ruby was ready to bail in that moment.

Was it a Caesarian scar that makes Billy hesitate to sleep with her?  Or the incessant calls from her husband?  Or them fumbling around in that train cabin?

Once he saw that wallpaper on her phone, he has to know what situation she left.  So he Googles her and her husband.  More pictures of apparently a great hubby and family.

Billy OTOH is running from something, was drinking and crying when he sent the text.

So Lawrence figures out she’s not where she said she was.  This time, it’s not about taking delivery of the speakers, it’s taking kids from one activity to another. So some kind of suburban drudgery.

Then on arriving to Chicago, where Ruby decided maybe Billy isn’t all that and she will just go back, she learns her swell hubby has canceled her cards — good thing she bought that lipstick while she could.

And leaves a salty greeting on his voice inbox about Ruby abandoning the family.

So it’s no longer just a whimsical adventure for her.

Maybe Billy is jealous that she on the surface seems to have this ideal life while his is a mess? He thinks she is a successful architect with a picture perfect family only looking for a good fuck and then ready to return to his life? Perhaps he is feeling like he will be abandoned.

 

On 4/20/2020 at 12:12 PM, Blakeston said:

Maybe he reported them stolen? Once someone has done that, so far as I know the card can't be re-activated.

The only reason I'm sticking with this show is because I think it might improve. I think that because a) it got some very strong reviews, and b) Phoebe Waller-Bridge put her name on it.

I'll be quite disappointed if it stays at this level of quality.

I kept on thinking that PWB would be so much better in this role and I usually like the actress that is playing her now.

[DrSpaceman73]

On ‎4‎/‎20‎/‎2020 at 2:15 PM, CarpeFelis said:

• Cutting off the cards, obviously. Again, taking vindictiveness above and beyond. This one is a bright blinking neon red flag.
• Talks to her like she’s his errand girl (geez, he doesn’t even KNOW where the school is?). At the very least, he takes her for granted.
• ...and while we’re on the subject of errand girl: Ruby lying to both Billy and Derek that she’s an architect. Apparently she’s actually a housewife, bored out of her mind, and sick of Laurence’s demands. My guess is she wanted to become an architect but Laurence put a stop to that.
• It was pointed out multiple times that Ruby is self-conscious about how her body has changed (due to childbirth and aging) since she was with Billy in college. Her social media was full of references to yoga, working out every day, etc. I don’t think this is just vanity. I think Laurence has very specific expectations of how his wife should be (in both looks and behavior) and she’s been hearing putdowns and/or nagging about it from him for years. It wouldn’t surprise me to find out he also makes comments comparing her with younger women.
• His social media was telling, too. Mr. Successful, Well-rounded, Philanthropic and Generally Perfect. Nobody’s that perfect. Abusers in particular often come across as pillars of the community—until they’re behind closed doors.

That is a whole lot of assumptions.  Could be right, we will see, but I did not get that impression. 

For one thing she said "I came here to fuck", which seems like an odd statement to make if someone is escaping an abusive relationship

Also if she was escaping an abuser, I would think she would have money saved up or another account or a back up plan for funds if she ever did leave. 

Also would believe this version more if she was the one to tell him to "run" first, rather than vice versa

I do hope this is more than just bored housewife with a douche husband though.  Otherwise this story seems very boring and cliché. 

this second episode did not add much in my opinion. 

The husband changing his outgoing message though, that was pretty low.  Telling everyone who randomly calls your wife ran off after one day and not having more of an explanation?  Disrespectful

I thought we get more background on Billy this episode, especially based on the opening.  Very little though

Not that impressed so far.  will give it more time but the story so far does not impress me much.  If this is just basically a glorified rom-com miniseries about a woman in a bad marriage hooking up with a college boyfriend.......uh, not impressed. 

ALso would surprise me since PWB is associated with this and that would be a big step down from her last series. 

Edited April 26, 2020 by DrSpaceman73

[Irlandesa]

3 hours ago, DrSpaceman73 said:

ALso would surprise me since PWB is associated with this and that would be a big step down from her last series. 

She's an executive producer on the show but I don't think she's as involved with this show (writing/show running) as she was with Fleabag or the first season of Killing Eve. 

And the post-PWB Killing Eve seasons were not, IMO, all that great.

[Hanahope]

One thing I noticed on Ruby’s social media is that it was all Laurence and her kids.  No photos of Ruby.  She had no life, it all revolves about her husband and kids.  Some women can get very depressed over losing their lives, being completely swallowed up like that.