Now That I've Binged All of Mid-Century Modern ...
... here are just a few of my thoughts on the show.
Warning: Below, be spoilers! If you haven't finished the 10-episode season, please keep scrolling by. If you have watched all of it, then by all means, feel free to agree or argue with me in the comments.
Now on to my blatherings:
Here on Tumblr, we need an acronym or abbreviation for this series to use as a tag. Because if we put it under the #midcenturymodern or the #mid-centurymodern tag, we'll have to weed through all the posts about interior decor and Googie architecture. Not that I don't love Googie architecture. Might I suggest #midcmod. Although, I guess we can also use #desertqueens. I'm open to recommendations.
I love how quickly the actors on the series seemed to find their characters. Most new series take at least 3 or 4 episodes before the actors get comfortable in their characters and truly feel like they know who that person is (you can tell because it often shows in their performances). But with this cast, they pretty much found it after the 1st episode. Kudos!
God, I'm going to miss Linda Lavin. 😔 She was such a great balance to the cast. Not just in the form of estrogen or age, but in the form of perspective. Like in ep. 6 ("Maid Serviced"), where she checked the guys about hiring a housekeeper for his looks and not for his ability to do the job, I appreciated it when she said something to the effect: "At my age, you have to fight to be seen. And I'm not going to fight to be seen in my own house." Respect. You go, Mama!
At first, I wasn't really feeling Pamela Adlon as Nathan Lane's sister, Mindy, because I thought she was too young to play his sis. But it turns out she's only about 10 yrs younger, so it's not that weird at all. Plus, the more we saw them together, the more I liked them as a duo. Especially when he put her in a headlock in ep. 8 ("Sour Pickleball"). 😏
I saw some people here on Tumblr bristle at the portrayal of Jerry (played by Matt Bomer) as the dumb, handsome one. But I kind of love this for him. Bomer is usually pretty serious or sarcastic in most of the roles he's known for, so seeing him kind of play against type is a bit refreshing. And it's clear that his "stupidity" comes more so from being sheltered in his Mormon/ultra-conservative upbringing than from simply being not very bright. I say let him cook.
My favorite episode of the 10 so far was the one where they go to Fire Island. I think it's ep. 5 ("Hello, Fisty's"). I appreciated how that episode subverted our expectations. Instead of the guys enjoying an evening of sensual debauchery, they got to share a part of themselves that reflected the person underneath the façade. A sexual interaction was replaced with a heartfelt one. 🫂
I know it shouldn't have been as funny as it was, but when Mindy made Jerry cry at pickleball in ep. 8, I literally laughed out loud. I don't know what it was -- it could've been how Bomer chose to play the scene -- but that moment was absolutely hilarious. Again, I can see how this role is allowing us to see Bomer's skill at comedy a lot better than anything we've seen him do in the past.
Speaking of comedy, call me a filthy foul-mouthed radical, but I appreciate how the show doesn't tiptoe around swearing or sexual interactions. I'm sure some folks at home will be clutching their pearls when they hear the first f-bomb dropped on the series. And don't get me started when they openly brought up pegging like it was nothing. But I like that it's a series clearly intended for mature audiences in every sense of the word. In that respect, it reminds a little of Grace and Frankie.
I hope if we get more seasons where we get to see more guest stars that we know the cast has worked with in the past. I loved seeing Judd Hirsch, Rhea Perlman, Richard Kind, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson on the show. If they get another season, I can only imagine how many people will jump at the chance to guest star.
I pretty much knew I would like this series when I saw that James Burrows was an executive producer and director on the show. I don't think I've ever watched a TV series with his name attached where I didn't like it.
With that said, the one running theme/joke that I'm not a fan of is the mini-dance breaks the guys do every now and then. It was kind of cute in the pilot episode, but every time after that, I would kind of watch through my fingers. 🫣 Now, I don't have anything against characters dancing in TV shows or film, but far too often ... well ... they just aren't very good and I often wish they wouldn't. I know that seems bitchy, because everyone should be allowed to dance if they feel like it. And it's totally realistic that this group would dance around their own home if the spirit moves them. But ... they really aren't very good and I find myself desperately wanting them to be better so I don't have to cover my eyes. All of them have lovely singing voices. And of course, they're fantastic actors. But as dancers ... um, yeah 😬. Well, they're certainly dispelling the stereotype that all gay men can dance.
So now that I've nitpicked about the one thing I don't like about the show, let me share my thoughts on ep. 9. ("Here's to You, Mrs. Schneiderman"). I was really shocked that the writers included Lavin's death in the show in the first season. I'm sure they probably had to, but instead of just easing into it, they really faced it head on and I respect that a lot. And can we give it up to Nathan Lane for his performance in that episode? 👏🏽 He was genuinely heartbreaking to watch and he played every beat so brilliantly. I knew Lavin passed before the show could air, but I just assumed that she died after they had finished filming, and they were likely going to address it if they got a second season. So the shock that hit me when they dedicated an entire episode to her in the first season was 🤯. It was so wonderfully written and genuinely moving that it just made me adore the show even more. Certainly this episode is more sad and sentimental than the other episodes, but it was not without the right dose of humor at just the perfect moments to make it match the tone of the series. God, I'm going to miss her. 😔
Even though it's just a 30-min sitcom, I can't reiterate how much I think the show gave us the laugh so many of us need right now with everything else going on in the world. I know some folks feel like the world has stopped or should be stopping and every day should be about focusing on fighting the power and death to tyranny and all that.
But I know my anxiety and overall psyche appreciates a break from the constant fear of dread, doom, and despair that permeates my thoughts every day. A laugh, a harmless distraction, a moment to remind us of our collective humanity is very much appreciated right now -- at least by me.
Also, I can't speak for anyone else, but I like sitcoms that deliver laughs while also delivering a reflection of our flaws, quirks, and humanity back at us. And by the time you reach the 5th episode, I think the writers had clearly found that sweet spot where comedy, pathos and heart intersect. And I couldn't be more grateful. 🫶🏽
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