Well, I was definitely wrong thinking one of these was the episode I didn’t like. That’s what happens with a fuzzy brain. Instead, these were another two strong episodes and, I would argue, “Goodbye My Damaged Home” is among the best overall. I detailed most of my thoughts about these episodes, particularly Ep. 7, in the audio segment above, but here are some things I noticed and will touch on quickly.
In these episodes we got a lot to mull over with not a lot to scratch our heads over or be disappointed by, and that’s an easy win for an episode (or two). In Ep. 6, matching Young Kirsten and Grown Up Kirsten calling out for young/old Alex was inspired. A little more backstory about Gil (David Cross) and Pingtree and how Kirsten learned to care for Alex the way that Jeevan cared for here was also instructive.
Less thrilling was adult Kirsten doing that thing we all hate when TV shows depict it — running off alone, headlong into danger. Simultaneously, Sarah and the rest of the Traveling Symphony stumbling around in the rain (like it was acid rain or something) and then falling into the hands of Brian from the Museum of Civilization — with a gun this time — was also fairly strained. I understand that pieces had to be moved into place, but the show has been more deft about it until this episode.
Still, we did get more of The Prophet, and I do think Daniel Zovatto is excellent, a magnetic presence every time he’s on screen.
Kirsten’s interpretation of the “spaceman”/spaceperson as being trapped in a time loop adds a little bit of information. There was action, too, though your mileage may vary on the final battle with the four Bandanas (formerly Red Bandanas aka meth heads) and how Kirsten killed them all before getting woozy from the blow darts. Hmmmm. Well, I still think it was a strong episode but that scene wasn’t may favorite (I think, oddly, that I disliked this episode more initially than on a second viewing — and no, it’s not the one coming up which I really don’t like). There was, I think, a subtle distribution of information in this episode that was easy to overlook on a single viewing.
It also set up a truly great episode in Ep. 7, “Goodbye My Damaged Home,” which I talk a lot about in the audio portion, including my lust for Frank’s apartment (which he could never afford on a journalist’s wages, Vanity Fair assignment or not…I mean, if I had to die in an apartment, a concrete and glass modernist gem wouldn’t be so bad, I think). I loved all the creative decisions, from Kirsten walking through the door in the woods to Frank rapping out “Excursions” from A Tribe Called Quest.
This was essentially Frank’s backstory episode and it proved even stronger on a second viewing. It’s a small thing, but finding out that Siya had told Jeevan that after 60 days it was time to go — that was a big detail I had missed. The nuance there — that the virus was likely over and the window for escaping before the living start turning on each other — was very smart and telling. And easily missed, apparently.
I even noticed the return of the strawberry Yoo-Hoo in this episode. I guess they really were getting down to the dregs of the food.
Again, I said enough in the audio portion at the top, but I’ll reiterate this: The emotional impact of doing the play, knowing that Frank had made his decision and that he got to say, “This strange and awful time was the happiest of my life,” and “You’re the only friend I’ve ever had,” made so much come together. Jeevan refusing to say his line because he didn’t want to say goodbye was also lovely, right before the intruder came in .
As for the intruder, sure, you could say, in an episode where we find out only 1 in 1000 live, how does this guy come into this exact apartment, but I don’t care. I was all-in on that choice. I think that’s exactly the introduction of evil/the outside world that was needed and I was there for it.
OK, I’m guessing this week’s comments will be good. Have at it.
A quick reminder: As this week illustrated, with me offering up two new Box Set candidates (or, if you’re not planning on joining us, then just a couple of hopefully useful (Re)View posts), there will be an ongoing set of shows to deconstruct and discuss together. Or just learn about. I’m certainly not convinced that the tent is anywhere near full, so if you have TV loving friends, you can always tell them about this Substack and that plenty of shows will be upcoming, so there’s still time to jump on the bandwagon. That helps keep it going and I’m appreciative of anyone spreading the word.
The Box Set: "Station Eleven."