S01.E02: Divorce

[Tara Ariano]

Lillian wants a divorce when she hears that they're all the rage; Frederick and Garfield are smitten with a charming visitor.

[Primetimer]

Two episodes in, let's evaluate how this freshman series is faring thus far.

Read the story

[Kromm]

I actually liked this more than Jordan Veilleux did. While I kept hoping it would go as totally over the top as the first episode, and was disappointed when it didn't, I thought the humor was more "even" through the episode than the first episode. More worked, less failed.

Pussy Van Anderstein could have gone FAR more over the top, for example. They thought they were taking her way over... but honestly it just wasn't that funny.

The gay husbands were good though. The little bit we saw of Peepers being snooty. Hamish being even creepier.

I liked the small indication that Beatrice only ACTS dumb, whereas Lillian probably actually believes she's the smarter sister and probably isn't.

The character of Garfield goes a bit too far for me. I suppose this kind of comedy works with a Piss Boy (Mel Brooks reference), but it would be better if he wasn't actually what he seems to be. Also I like Jason Ritter, but watching Frederick seems like it might get tiresome eventually.

So yeah, on balance maybe it's treading the middle. But I do think even if the laughs were smaller this episode, more of them landing is a good sign.

Edited July 2, 2015 by Kromm

[thuganomics85]

I'm kind of surprised that it's the only the second episode, and they actually went for an episode where a lot of the humor was based off a someone getting "ravished", but basically, it was rape.  I mean, he clearly didn't want it to happen and was messed up after it.  I guess this show really isn't going to play it safe.  Not sure if I felt like it worked, but I do think I get what they were trying to do.

 

The "procreation sex" with everyone either disgusted or bored with each other, was hilarious.  But I actually like that on other levels, Beatrice and Hamish (that's her husband, I think) do get along.  Clearly don't have feelings for each other, but there is a bond.  Actually, I felt like this time around that they showed that Beatrice is completely daft, but not as willingly mean as Lillian is.  She can be mean, but a lot of times, it's either an emotional response or she doesn't know it.  Lillian though, seems to enjoy being horrible.

 

Not enough Peepers for me.  Not sure what is going on with Celine, but all I know for now is that Christina Hendricks can look good while pulling out the guts of an animal.

 

I still surprised over how much I get a kick out of Jason Ritter.  Never knew he could be intentionally funny.

[Kromm]

But I actually like that on other levels, Beatrice and Hamish (that's her husband, I think) do get along.  Clearly don't have feelings for each other, but there is a bond.

Hamish is the creepy surly bearded guy played by Brett Gelman who's part of the Downstairs staff and who knows Chair from the outside.

Beatrice's husband is Albert.

Interestingly enough, by the way, notice that the gay husbands appear to have no last names, while the sisters are still named "Bellacourt". It's another indication this is aping the Kardashians, where even though someone like Kim technically had the last name of each of her husbands... nobody really cared.

[ganesh]

Ritter stole most of his scenes on Drunk History. 

 

The afternoon is for defecating and learning Latin, not lawnboating. I like how they're playing it straight because it's so absurd. It's kind of like Airplane

[iMonrey]

 

Also I like Jason Ritter, but watching Frederick seems like it might get tiresome eventually.

 

OH. Is he the son of John Ritter? {Headsmack} I didn't realize who that was. 

 

I've been ravished!

[Kromm]

OH. Is he the son of John Ritter? {Headsmack} I didn't realize who that was. 

 

I've been ravished!

Hey, if the name wasn't already a tipoff, there's also the fact that he looks exactly like dear ol' Dad!

He's got a great resume too (Joan of Arcadia, Parenthood, Gravity Falls)

Tyler Ritter, his brother, also acts and also looks exactly like John too (if you saw that short lived sitcom last year, The McCarthys, Tyler was the main star of that).

[Wax Lion]

Okay, I actually liked this a lot better thank Jordan did. At least, I felt like they weren't going for the most obvious jokes but challenging the audience. I wasn't sure at first how to feel about Garfield being raped by Poussey. At first I thought the joke was playing on the idea that the idea of a guy being raped is inherently absurd and hilarious but after the initial crying montage I thought the POV was how horrible everyone was for dismissing Garfield's trauma. Overall I think the humor is trying to undermine how we romanticize the era and all that talk of "ravishing" as a when they're clearly talking about rape.

 

Still, I agree it could have been funnier if Poussey were more over the top and a little more obviously a gender switch for the idea of the mysterious stranger coming to visit the estate and creating a romantic whirlwind.

 

Jasson Ritter's face for when Poussey introduced Frederick to a prostate massage was hilarious.

 

ETA to add paragraphs and: Did they quietly recast the show? I was on IMDB and it lists Lauren Ash as playing Hortense and when I looked further it had Artemis Pebdani playing Hortense in one episode. Too bad, Pedbani's hilarious but Ash is due for some credit after being so good on Super Fun Night.

Edited July 5, 2015 by Wax Lion

[ganesh]

Artemis has been Hortense for both episodes, no?

Edited July 6, 2015 by ganesh

[iMonrey]

They re-cast the role of Hortense after the pilot. Pilots are shot months ahead of the rest of the series. When Comedy Central finally committed to the series, the original actress wasn't available anymore.

[VCRTracking]

Yeah she's the new Vice President on Scandal I think.

 

I like Will Sasso and the other guy as the incredibly sexist and racist Irish cops questioning Lillian.