S02.E03: Pressed Duck

[Pallas]

In Paris, Julia seeks help from an old friend.

[Juneau Gal]

A charming, melancholy, heart breaking episode. I have very much enjoyed the first three episodes and wonder where everyone else is. Did the new season sneak up on everyone and viewers don’t know that it has dropped?

[EtheltoTillie]

John-Paul Sartre aka JP. So funny. But a great way to present an existential crisis for all the characters.  Who was the actor?  I can’t find him on IMDb.  I’d have to go back and look at the credit sequence.  

I binged all three eps already.  I think this season is even better than the last. Yes where is everybody?  

Edited November 19, 2023 by EtheltoTillie

[EtheltoTillie]

Oh, I spelled Jean-Paul Sartre wrong LOL. 

[txhorns79]

I felt bad for Alice.  I get that she probably would not have received much, if any, sex education, growing up, but wow. 

I'm not sure yet what to make of Rachel Bloom.  I liked her on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, but I wonder if she is wrong for this part on this particular series.  It's kind of like, they can dress her in period clothing, but the way she plays the character is a little too modern for an early 60s-set show.   

I did love Avis' face at being propositioned for a threesome. 

[EtheltoTillie]

3 hours ago, txhorns79 said:

I'm not sure yet what to make of Rachel Bloom.  I liked her on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, but I wonder if she is wrong for this part on this particular series.  It's kind of like, they can dress her in period clothing, but the way she plays the character is a little too modern for an early 60s-set show.   

I think it’s the anachronistic way the character is written. She’s standing in for Feminism with a capital F. Speaking of anachronistic F words, would the Childs really use the F word so freely to discuss their sex life with others?  

[txhorns79]

6 hours ago, EtheltoTillie said:

Speaking of anachronistic F words, would the Childs really use the F word so freely to discuss their sex life with others?

They were amongst very close friends and the alcohol appeared to be flowing freely.  Otherwise, I would agree with you that it seemed a little too raunchy for this particular show. 

[7-Zark-7]

On 11/19/2023 at 10:34 PM, EtheltoTillie said:

Speaking of anachronistic F words, would the Childs really use the F word so freely to discuss their sex life with others?

Neither feminism nor fuck were anachronistic words in the 1960s. I recall reading that Julia would casually curse among friends.

_____________________

So far, I find these episodes to have little plot. In the first season, every episode lead to the creation of The French Chef despite all the obstacles. These first three episodes have are largely about dazzling viewers with beautiful shots of France and celebrities while belaboring the point that Julia needs to pull her thumb out and accept that the France she knew is no longer and get back to publishing books and making her show.

Having said that, I'll watch Alice's mother do anything. Those faces she makes are hilarious.

[LisaM]

I did crack up at the Reading host and his interview of Helen Gurley Brown. 

Really liked seeing Julia at Cordon Bleu. 

Also like how much screen time Avis is getting thus far. 

Ready for the European trip to end and for The French Chef to resume. 

Poor Alice! 

[iMonrey]

I've been mostly bored with these first three episodes. Having Julia and Paul off in France while the rest of the characters are back home doing their own thing just does not interest me. 

On 11/21/2023 at 10:05 PM, 7-Zark-7 said:

These first three episodes have are largely about dazzling viewers with beautiful shots of France and celebrities while belaboring the point that Julia needs to pull her thumb out and accept that the France she knew is no longer and get back to publishing books and making her show.

Yeah, it's like get back to making the show. That's what was interesting about the story last season. I really lose interest when the show veers off into the personal lives of the supporting characters. 

[Kirsty]

I thought this was one episode too many in France. Characters didn't have enough to do in this episode.

Back in the USA, the actor playing the pompous host of the book show is very good. His character looked so uncomfortable and miserable during the tv interview!