Loot - General Discussion

[humbleopinion]

Olivier Martinez aka Mr. Halle Berry

He burned up the silver screen as the ooh  la la Lover of Diane Lane in Unfaithful.

Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen in Forever an Amazon Prime Comedy drama that only had 1 season.

Maya is terrific but if you don't like Fred Armisen the show may be fingernails on a chalk board..

[AngieBee1]

I laughed in the episode they introduced Jean-Pierre and mentioned he boxes. Yes, we know Olivier's own boxing background because we saw the results when he beat the snot out of Gabriel Aubry.

With S2 I wonder if they will get rid of Rhonda and/or Ainsley. They should create a new character with the personality of both because the show does not know what to do with them.

[MerBearStare]

I think my favorite recurring joke on this show is how everyone always says David Chang's full name, even to his face.

[twoods]

That ending was a gut punch. Poor Nicholas- he deserves better after doing so much for Molly. 
Howard’s awful girlfriend is finally gone. Good riddance. 

[MartyQui]

Poor Nicholas…that whole opening scene of him making Molly’s world perfect contrasted with her blowing off his big break was so sad.  I hope he poured that champagne down the drain.  You can buy it for $350.00.

[Not4Me]

On 7/22/2022 at 11:24 PM, MerBearHou said:

Can’t believe how different Olivier Martinez looks.  

On a shallow note, I’m also surprised how much he’s changed. That said, get it Molly!

[twoods]

I was so happy and then it all went away in a flash. What the hell with that stupid ending. I almost threw my remote at the TV. 

Edited August 12, 2022 by twoods

[Ms Blue Jay]

On 8/4/2022 at 11:07 PM, humbleopinion said:

Olivier Martinez aka Mr. Halle Berry

He burned up the silver screen as the ooh  la la Lover of Diane Lane in Unfaithful.

Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen in Forever an Amazon Prime Comedy drama that only had 1 season.

Maya is terrific but if you don't like Fred Armisen the show may be fingernails on a chalk board..

Thanks, I actually love Fred, I will watch it.

"Unfaithful" is one of my favourites. But I think he is the ex-Mr. Halle Berry now ;)

On 8/6/2022 at 11:09 AM, Not4Me said:

On a shallow note, I’m also surprised how much he’s changed. 

Me too!   But it's been 20 years.....

I ended up really liking the show.  The soundtrack was the best part, but the main characters were wonderful too.  

Edited August 15, 2022 by Ms Blue Jay

[Kiddvideo]

I liked the season ok, but it’s too much like MacKenzie Bezos or Melinda Gates. I don’t get why it’s a scripted show, and the big cliff hanger was ex sex? Saw that coming as soon as she didn’t want him. 

[bilgistic]

I yelled out, "No!" when I saw Molly's ex-husband in the bed.

[msani19]

I can't say I was shocked when I saw the ex-husband in bed because it's the kind of thing TV shows do so much. I'm not even sure I'm interested in where they want to go with that. They aren't going to get back together, even if they try for a little while, it won't be the long-term relationship for her. It'll just be an annoying detour. Her ex is clearly a tool. Is he even still with the woman he cheated on Molly with, so he's still cheating? Why would she want to do that to herself again? Come on. 

I agree that the story is going into MacKenzie Bezos territory, which isn't a bad thing. She is doing some good things with that obscene wealth. Of course, it's more about structural issues than philanthropy, but that is for another day. It'll be a fun storyline for next season as they look for charities and organizations to contribute towards. Also, she'll never be out of money! So it's funny to even think "she's going to give away ALL her money". 

I enjoyed the show, started out a little slow for me, but the characters are good and there's room to explore them and their different interactions. The music was fantastic! Maya's outfits were kinda hilariously terrible to me! I don't know if it was a subtle extremely wealthy people have horrible style because these really expensive designers just make ugly a$$ clothes, but that was my takeaway 😀

[twoods]

Wait, that was the season finale? I thought there was another episode left! It was way too short.

[Insert Username]

What a stupid storyline. "There shouldn't be any billionaires" and "We should all give all of our money away" Typical Hollywood magical thinking (I notice that none of them are willing to give all of their money away for real. She would be better off using that money to help create businesses to employ people then to just give it away.

Also, are we seriously supposed to believe that no one tested that $3 billion machine?

That said, I love the dynamics and growing friendship of the three men. Their chemistry is amazing and the growth feels so natural. I am more interested in their journeys than I am of Molly's at this point. I am sorry that the women (except St Sofia) are still merely punchlines. Rhonda and Ainsley are treated like garbage by everyone else and deserve better, The actress playing Sofia literally has one expression and head wag in her repertoire. I don't know if it is just bad writing or bad acting, but she is constantly angry that someone, somewhere, might be having fun

[bourbon]

I binged it all this past week. It was a mixed bag for me. I didn't care for the Sofia character at first and glad they softened her somewhat, but I just really think Mj Rodriguez is not a good actress. She pulls faces instead of actually conveying emotion in her line readings. It bugs. 

I thought it got far too preachy at the end. I love Hollywood millionaires lecturing about billionaires. 

I was a Ben & Kate fan, too! Glad to see Nat Faxon here. He is surprisingly versatile and can pull off lazy slacker and Dad in Dockers equally well.

Adam Scott looks terrible. 

[ahisma]

Just binged it and enjoyed the heck out of it! I don’t like sitcoms, but whatever the name is for these comedic serials, they hit my sweet spot. Joel Kim Booster and Ron Funches were the absolute MVPs. 

On 8/16/2022 at 12:19 PM, Kiddvideo said:

I liked the season ok, but it’s too much like MacKenzie Bezos or Melinda Gates.

That’s what I loved about it! Firstly, the joke is that both those women have put a lot more effort into their philanthropic endeavors than Molly ever has, but Molly was a great comedic representation of the clueless billionaire. (See also, the new Glass Onion movie.) Secondly, those two women represent a very active debate in philanthropy (also represented by Sofia vs Molly): should the world’s problems be addressed by where billionaires decide to give or should they be solved by those in the communities in need?   

On 8/17/2022 at 8:28 AM, msani19 said:

The music was fantastic! Maya's outfits were kinda hilariously terrible to me!

Agreed and agreed! The only thing Maya wore the entire season that I liked was her hot pink dress for the philanthropy award. The style was classic and gorgeous.

[Marley]

Just watched this show and liked it. I was annoyed by the Molly/Arthur stuff tho. It’s so predictable I already know how it’s going to go with them. If they wanna force them together then at least don’t go the typical annoying will they won’t they route where they just get derailed for a couple seasons by misunderstandings etc. it’s so played out. Shows need to do better.

[Vivigirl10]

I think this was a fun show and it gave the warm fuzzies with how kind and supportive they all were to each other.  When they first planted the seed about the Molly/Arthur pairing, I thought maybe I was misunderstanding?  He's a lovely character but I'm just not buying that Molly would look at him in a romantic way.  I feel like they are going in the direction of her giving her money away so she can fit into his life.  No way he'd fit into her current one.  

On 9/1/2022 at 5:12 PM, bourbon said:

but I just really think Mj Rodriguez is not a good actress. She pulls faces instead of actually conveying emotion in her line readings. It bugs. 

At the beginning of the series, she spoke so fast and her acting was so poor, I couldn't believe what I was watching.  She seemed to slightly improve as the show went on - or maybe I just got used to it?  Her fall back was to drop a shocking line and then tuck her chin and switch her eyes back and forth, conveying embarrassment or like she herself couldn't believe she made such a comment.  It was annoying.  I don't remember her being so bad in Pose. 

I'll probably watch the second season but I also can take it or leave it.  I'll see where they pick things up and what direction they go in.  Maya is just so darned likeable no matter what she's in.  

[Kel Varnsen]

Two episodes in and this show is pretty fun. The mansion staff having a pool party while Molly went to work was hilarious. Plus this is the 3rd Apple TV show I have watched that has had a crazy good soundtrack (Physical and The Last Thing he Told Me were the others).

The only weird thing is it is hard to hear Ron Finches (Molly's cousin) talk and not hear King Shark.

[Kel Varnsen]

On 8/17/2022 at 11:28 AM, msani19 said:

agree that the story is going into MacKenzie Bezos territory, which isn't a bad thing. She is doing some good things with that obscene wealth. Of course, it's more about structural issues than philanthropy, but that is for another day. It'll be a fun storyline for next season as they look for charities and organizations to contribute towards. Also, she'll never be out of money! So it's funny to even think "she's going to give away ALL her money

I finished the season last night and it seems like there is lots of potential for funny when comes to season 2. Giving away that much money would be a ton of work to make sure you can't give it to bad people or just organizations that don't have the ability to use it and that seems super interesting to me. Plus it opens the doors to bring in a lot of hilarious weirdos and other funny situations. I also find it super interesting that Mackenzie Scott is trying to give away l her money but can't seem to give it away fast enough, since most of it is Amazon stock and keeps making her more money.

[AnimeMania]

Loot Season 2      Wednesday, April 3, 2024       Apple TV+     

10 episodes/2 episode premiere

[BetterButter]

 

[AngieBee1]

Series two quietly debuted today. The first two episodes are up. Still funny, still great music.

[txhorns79]

Perfectly enjoyable show.  I love the view from Molly's new house. 

[aghst]

I caught up to this show over the last week or two.  I hadn’t watched because it had relatively lukewarm reviews, praise for Maya but not sure this was the best vehicle.

Well I wouldn’t say it’s as good as The Good Place but definitely watchable.  I couldn’t stay with Acapulco despite the rave reviews for that show.  Nobody as good as Maya on that show or on Shrinking for that matter.

Molly shows growth and comes to lean on the small staff at her foundation and they seem to like and want to support her.  A bit unrealistic given the huge power imbalance dynamics.  But it’s not so far fetched that you constantly roll Your eyes because Maya of course always portrays a winning, positive personality.

The second episode of the second season where Molly and Howard sets up Sofia with the architect seems genuine or as genuine as a rom-com trope can be.

Even though she’s pledged to give up all her wealth, they’re going to unwind the lifestyles of the rich and famous bits, the extravagant luxury, slowly it seems.  Like how she downsized to an oceanfront mansion.

[MartyQui]

I think I may be done…if they wanted to provide a place for the homeless, why buy a 600 room hotel that needs to be renovated?  They could buy the IHG hotel franchise with less than half of Molly’s money.  But I guess then it wouldn’t be a comedy.

[Lois Sandborne]

It's true, everything related to the show's premise (Molly giving away her billions of dollars) is pretty badly done. I really love the cast though; I'm a big fan of Maya, Joel, Nat Faxon, and  Ron Funches. Plus the level of luxury porn this show gives, HGTV could never. So I'll keep watching.

[aghst]

It's fun, not too weighty.

Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz must be fans.  That one hit must have paid a lot of bills.  According to Wikipedia, they're still together, in their early 70s, married in 1977.

 

[txhorns79]

9 hours ago, aghst said:

It's fun, not too weighty.

All the crazy facial expressions Maya Rudolph made while sitting with Benjamin Bratt were pretty darn funny.

[ribboninthesky1]

Bless the person who handles the music licensing for the show - they are doing an excellent job. 

I rewatched season one before starting season two - it's still a funny show, but it  seems like Molly is disconnected from the team.    

 

[overtherainbow]

This show is flipping hilarious! But seriously, did it fall of everyone's radar or something?

Last week's fashion show episode was gut busting and I loved the jab at cringy influencer culture. 

The only thing I don't care for is the random shoehorning in of Swiftie stuff (I take it the writers are big Taylor Swift fans).

[chitowngirl]

On 4/18/2024 at 8:55 PM, txhorns79 said:

All the crazy facial expressions Maya Rudolph made while sitting with Benjamin Bratt were pretty darn funny.

Agreed-but to me the funniest part was planning the wedding seating chart…we’ve all been there!

[Ilovepie]

Ok, rant coming. I am part way through season 2. I really want to love this show because I do love most of the characters and I love Maya Rudolph in just about everything. But it's got two problems I cannot get around: It's not very funny, and I cannot stand Sofia. I could forgive the not funny if it was more interesting, but I cannot get around the perpetually angry, mean Sofia. I cannot fathom how she speaks to Molly from the get-go. That is HER BOSS! Frankly, Molly should have fired her on episode one for speaking to her the way she did. And not only Molly, also the way she speaks to the whole team is rude, hostile and frequently cruel. She is almost humorless and completely unlikeable. For someone who has a heart for people, she doesn't seem able to apply that to the people she is working with on the daily. I don't care why. It's not acceptable and kind of ruins this show for me. I like every scene she is not in. Howard and Nicholas are my favorites, but the show as a whole is dragged down by Sofia for me. Woof - I feel better getting that out! 

I did laugh at Nicholas changing the lines in the sexually graphic play Molly invited his parents to. What was she thinking????

[DanaMB]

45 minutes ago, Ilovepie said:

Ok, rant coming. I am part way through season 2. I really want to love this show because I do love most of the characters and I love Maya Rudolph in just about everything. But it's got two problems I cannot get around: It's not very funny, and I cannot stand Sofia. I could forgive the not funny if it was more interesting, but I cannot get around the perpetually angry, mean Sofia. I cannot fathom how she speaks to Molly from the get-go. That is HER BOSS! Frankly, Molly should have fired her on episode one for speaking to her the way she did. And not only Molly, also the way she speaks to the whole team is rude, hostile and frequently cruel. She is almost humorless and completely unlikeable. For someone who has a heart for people, she doesn't seem able to apply that to the people she is working with on the daily. I don't care why. It's not acceptable and kind of ruins this show for me. I like every scene she is not in. Howard and Nicholas are my favorites, but the show as a whole is dragged down by Sofia for me. Woof - I feel better getting that out! 

I did laugh at Nicholas changing the lines in the sexually graphic play Molly invited his parents to. What was she thinking????

ITA. I have really tried, but I just don’t like her at all.

[aghst]

No problems with the Sofia character.

They seem to be trying to soften her character this season with her relationship.

If she remains a cartoon-like character, always just intense, then it would be a problem.

But these characters come together and support each other, though I don't know about Molly being a full-time philanthropist, being in the office all the time.

Even if she does go ahead and give away all her money, give up her lifestyle, she could delegate to someone she trusts to oversee the foundation.

[Ilovepie]

14 minutes ago, aghst said:

They seem to be trying to soften her character this season with her relationship.

They are trying a little, but then she goes and rips a cake out of someone's hands and throws it in the trash because she wants everyone to get back to work? This is the kind of mean behavior that I don't like - talk about a hostile work environment!

[twoods]

Had no idea season two started. The humor is still there and loving the music they keep using. So much nostalgia!

[chitowngirl]

There just seems to be no there there this season…

[anniebird]

49 minutes ago, chitowngirl said:

There just seems to be no there there this season…

I had a similar thought while watching the latest episode.

[MartyQui]

I agree about Sofia…she’s unlikeable, and the actress isn’t skilled enough to make unlikeable interesting.

I felt for Molly this episode…we’ve all crushed on someone who isn’t available, and Maya played that perfectly..

and on a completely shallow note, Nat Faxon’s teeth gross me out.

[overtherainbow]

Isn't the point for her to be unlikeable to have more character development? 

She was meant to show Molly that there is more to life than her bubble. Now Molly is meant to show her that it's okay to have a little fun and not take everything so seriously. 

She was too intensely focused on the mission last season so I like how she is now slowly becoming more humanized and her flaws laid bare now that there is a sort of love interest, like she's too much of a workaholic and can be too cold with people.

She's grown on me.

[sjankis630]

I am a little meh on this season. I will admit that I don't always give this show my full attention when I watch it so that could be part of it. 

I did enjoy watching Maya Rudolph go thru her emotions this last episode. To see her face when she was making the meal as Arthur was recounting how happy he was with his new girl was great. Of course then it was great to see her go off on them at the actual meal. If I catch this show during a slow time I will watch but it doesn't seem like something I would go out of my way to see.

[cloeymoon]

I have loved season 2, but the whole thing with her being into Arthur has taken me out a bit. I just don’t buy it, I mean she was about to get with Benjamin Bratt and yes I know the whole point is Arthur being a “regular” guy. But no chemistry is there, while he and his new gf are really cute together. 

[aghst]

I can buy it, she was married a long time, from when she would have dated to now, when she's of a certain age.

The marriage ended because her ex-husband cheated on her with a much younger woman.

So Molly might not be feeling so confident and maybe looks more at someone she sees everyday, as opposed to that French winery guy.

Some wealthy women, including actresses, have gotten together with men who aren't rich or famous.

Maybe part of the attraction is that she doesn't think he'd cheat on her, like the Adam Scott character did.

[MicheleinPhilly]

For some dumb reason, the whole "Ainsley stuck in the Dubai airport" thing made me laugh A LOT. I think it's because I don't really see her purpose in the show so seeing her just camped out and being on a first name/dining buddy basis with the security agent just seemed so on brand for her. 

I don't see an iota of romantic chemistry between Molly and Arthur but know they are probably endgame. He's sweet and kind and supportive and comes across as a big, dumb puppy dog and I think that's what makes him attractive to her since she was married to the opposite. 

And despite Willa seeming very nice and normal thus far, if someone that I was dating for a few weeks sent me like 20 text messages when I had only been gone for a day, I'd be peacing out VERY quickly. 

[chitowngirl]

Episode 9:  I knew the rocket was going to blow up behind Molly, but I was not expecting the twist! 

[aghst]

2 minutes ago, chitowngirl said:

Episode 9:  I knew the rocket was going to blow up behind Molly, but I was not expecting the twist! 

Yeah they telegraphed the scene, with Molly's back to the screen that everyone else was watching and she's giving this speech about why she just can't with John anymore and they keep showing the rocket for longer than necessary.

How is John going to explain that he just let the rocket go up and blow up, knowing there was a strong chance it would?

With real-life wannabe astronaut billionaires, they're trying to tout their rocket companies so any kind of adverse event would be bad for them financially.

Plus it makes him look not only fallible but devious, letting the world believe for a good while that he got killed.

In any event looks like they're heading for a cliffhanger with Molly wanting Arthur and possibly her somehow still wanting John, even though she told John that they were done.

It's kind of a predictable path.

And Sofia just can't remain happy, has to break up with Issac because he wants to be a musician again after being an architect.

I'm not so sure about Nicholas and Howard's stories either.  I guess it's nice to see some supporting characters bond?

Maybe they need to beef up Molly's plots, like add something other than her love life.

[twoods]

Sofia is insufferable. There was so much character growth, but then she made a life event that was about her boyfriend into something she can’t add to her “already full plate.” It takes two to be in a relationship and not everything is about you. He deserves better.

I was worried that they went too dark with the ex blowing up, but instead it cemented that Molly was over John no matter what nonsense he pulls. Billionaires really do have it all, don’t they?

Nathan and Howard continue to be fun together and supportive. I would love to see more of them next season.

Edited May 24 by twoods

[DanaMB]

1 hour ago, twoods said:

Sofia is insufferable. There was so much character growth, but then she made a life event that was about her boyfriend into something she can’t add to her “already full plate.” It takes two to be in a relationship. He deserves better.

I’ve reached the point where I just can’t stand her. So miserable

 

1 hour ago, twoods said:

Nathan and Howard continue to be fun together and supportive. I would love to see more of them next season.

They are my favorite part of the show. 

[aghst]

Predictable season finale, Molly kisses Nathan, who kissed her back but her girlfriend was in the house.

And Sofia reconciles with her boyfriend too.

Molly being confronted by other billionaires is like something out of The Simpsons, I think they were called the Stonecutters, a takeoff on the freemasons.

Billionaires are awful but a few of them have made the giving pledge.

[chitowngirl]

It was a lackluster sophomore season….