Love: It Begins
February 20, 2016 5:52 PM - Season 1, Episode 1 - Subscribe
L.A. thirty-somethings Mickey and Gus go through the process of continuing their lives after breakups.
Our protagonists Mickey and Gus both choose to break up with their significant others. Cut to a month later to introduce all our recurring characters and the daily lives of our protagonists.
At her work, Mickey is saddled with the ridiculous duty of firing Rob, but forgets about it until after she's taken Ambien. The phone call does not go well.
Former boyfriend Eric gets into new-age spiritualism and brings along Mickey to seek forgiveness. However, in what is probably my favorite scene in this episode, Mickey doesn't fully buy into the vague talk about love when her lived experience doesn't really match up to ambiguous feel-goodism. The new-age people are really understanding and chill about her outburst though.
Gus gets pushed around at work in the unsurprisingly child-exploitative world of Hollywood. After feeling down he attends a party at his apartment where he laments not letting loose during his youth.
As the party winds down, two exchange students attempt to have a threesome with Gus, but that only leads to awkward scenes and uncomfortable revelations.
The next morning our protagonists are introduced to each other.
Thoughts:
* I'm guessing the set up of this show to be something like "romantic comedy in slow motion," which is similar to the very good You're the Worst. Romance is a huge genre, but for a long time in television it was mostly relegated to subplots. I mean when you talk about best couples on TV you're talking about like Jim and Pan from The Office or Coach and Tami on Friday Night Lights or whatever your own personal choice is. Neither of those shows are exclusively focused on relationships and the way love builds up like romantic movies are. 2014's You're the Worst is probably the closest to something resembling a romance, but even there, the comedy takes a more starring role.
* This show certainly does have the feel of a Judd Apatow thing.
* I would imagine Crime and Punishment is a hard book to get through on cocaine.
* I like most of this cast. Gillian Jacobs is the reason I wanted to give this show a try. After Wonderfalls Tracie Thoms was in a procedural I never watched so it's nice to see her face pop up again. And Apatow alum Dave Allen returns with somehow facial hair that is more crazy than before.
* "An archetype is … well, I don't really have the exact definition but I do know what it means because I just used it." This happens to me a lot. Just don't ask me to define a word, I'll just panic internally.
Our protagonists Mickey and Gus both choose to break up with their significant others. Cut to a month later to introduce all our recurring characters and the daily lives of our protagonists.
At her work, Mickey is saddled with the ridiculous duty of firing Rob, but forgets about it until after she's taken Ambien. The phone call does not go well.
Former boyfriend Eric gets into new-age spiritualism and brings along Mickey to seek forgiveness. However, in what is probably my favorite scene in this episode, Mickey doesn't fully buy into the vague talk about love when her lived experience doesn't really match up to ambiguous feel-goodism. The new-age people are really understanding and chill about her outburst though.
Gus gets pushed around at work in the unsurprisingly child-exploitative world of Hollywood. After feeling down he attends a party at his apartment where he laments not letting loose during his youth.
As the party winds down, two exchange students attempt to have a threesome with Gus, but that only leads to awkward scenes and uncomfortable revelations.
The next morning our protagonists are introduced to each other.
Thoughts:
* I'm guessing the set up of this show to be something like "romantic comedy in slow motion," which is similar to the very good You're the Worst. Romance is a huge genre, but for a long time in television it was mostly relegated to subplots. I mean when you talk about best couples on TV you're talking about like Jim and Pan from The Office or Coach and Tami on Friday Night Lights or whatever your own personal choice is. Neither of those shows are exclusively focused on relationships and the way love builds up like romantic movies are. 2014's You're the Worst is probably the closest to something resembling a romance, but even there, the comedy takes a more starring role.
* This show certainly does have the feel of a Judd Apatow thing.
* I would imagine Crime and Punishment is a hard book to get through on cocaine.
* I like most of this cast. Gillian Jacobs is the reason I wanted to give this show a try. After Wonderfalls Tracie Thoms was in a procedural I never watched so it's nice to see her face pop up again. And Apatow alum Dave Allen returns with somehow facial hair that is more crazy than before.
* "An archetype is … well, I don't really have the exact definition but I do know what it means because I just used it." This happens to me a lot. Just don't ask me to define a word, I'll just panic internally.
I love this typo. It conjures images of John Krasinski and a frying pan at a paper company.
We can just pretend I did that on purpose.
posted by john-a-dreams at 7:59 PM on February 20, 2016
We can just pretend I did that on purpose.
posted by john-a-dreams at 7:59 PM on February 20, 2016
Binged this today, love the concept but christ the cringe factor was too much at times. Not my favorite show.
posted by windbox at 11:12 PM on February 20, 2016
posted by windbox at 11:12 PM on February 20, 2016
Binged this today, love the concept but christ the cringe factor was too much at times. Not my favorite show.
I binged it yesterday as well, and agree about the cringe factor, both intentional and unintentional.
I'm guessing the set up of this show to be something like "romantic comedy in slow motion,"
I'd agree with this, though with some nuances. It's good (there's time to explore details and subplots, for example) but it also means that the bad aspects of the genre stretch way out past what you have to put with in a 90 minute movie. With this show I have definitely hit my lifetime quota of watching socially awkward dudes get wildly unrealistic amounts of female attention, for example. I mean, I get why awkward guys are making these movies and shows and I can relate to the wish fulfillment, but I'm ready for something else.
That said, there was a lot that I liked about this show. The first episode wasn't in my opinion the strongest in the series, though it still had some fantastic (and cringey) moments, like when Mickey tells her ex-boyfriend's mother that she isn't his "friend" because she still has his come inside her, and the archetype line that was quoted above.
posted by Dip Flash at 8:58 AM on February 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
I binged it yesterday as well, and agree about the cringe factor, both intentional and unintentional.
I'm guessing the set up of this show to be something like "romantic comedy in slow motion,"
I'd agree with this, though with some nuances. It's good (there's time to explore details and subplots, for example) but it also means that the bad aspects of the genre stretch way out past what you have to put with in a 90 minute movie. With this show I have definitely hit my lifetime quota of watching socially awkward dudes get wildly unrealistic amounts of female attention, for example. I mean, I get why awkward guys are making these movies and shows and I can relate to the wish fulfillment, but I'm ready for something else.
That said, there was a lot that I liked about this show. The first episode wasn't in my opinion the strongest in the series, though it still had some fantastic (and cringey) moments, like when Mickey tells her ex-boyfriend's mother that she isn't his "friend" because she still has his come inside her, and the archetype line that was quoted above.
posted by Dip Flash at 8:58 AM on February 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
With this show I have definitely hit my lifetime quota of watching socially awkward dudes get wildly unrealistic amounts of female attention
Yeah, this is why I was a little uncomfortable with the threesome scene. This show seems so naturalistic in other parts but there it was so much wish fulfillment.
posted by john-a-dreams at 1:57 PM on February 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
Yeah, this is why I was a little uncomfortable with the threesome scene. This show seems so naturalistic in other parts but there it was so much wish fulfillment.
posted by john-a-dreams at 1:57 PM on February 21, 2016 [8 favorites]
I watched the first two episodes last night and enjoyed them, except for the parts where I was cringing so hard I had to look away. And oh God that stupid threesome scene. Yeesh.
Paul Rust's performance as Gus is absolutely fascinating to me because he reminds me of a young man I know who is on the autism spectrum. He is really good at observing and mimicking the speech and mannerisms of a typical "bro"--he can switch it on and off, usually lapsing into bro-imitation when he feels kind of rattled or insecure, as a kind of coping mechanism I guess. He's uncannily good at it, but because it is an imitation and not his own personality, there is always something a bit jarring about it. Anyway, THAT is what Gus reminds me of and what makes me cringe the worst.
I thought it was a nice touch that he seemed to be able to mostly be his real self when talking to Mickey.
I really loved the part where Gus's ex-girlfriend is winding up to say something extremely hurtful to him and Mickey steps between them, sending Gus away and telling the ex-girlfriend quietly, "Whatever it is you're about to say to him, he really doesn't need to hear it right now."
I'll keep watching, even though it's a bit uneven. I think I would probably watch Gillian Jacobs in anything, TBH.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 5:38 PM on February 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
Paul Rust's performance as Gus is absolutely fascinating to me because he reminds me of a young man I know who is on the autism spectrum. He is really good at observing and mimicking the speech and mannerisms of a typical "bro"--he can switch it on and off, usually lapsing into bro-imitation when he feels kind of rattled or insecure, as a kind of coping mechanism I guess. He's uncannily good at it, but because it is an imitation and not his own personality, there is always something a bit jarring about it. Anyway, THAT is what Gus reminds me of and what makes me cringe the worst.
I thought it was a nice touch that he seemed to be able to mostly be his real self when talking to Mickey.
I really loved the part where Gus's ex-girlfriend is winding up to say something extremely hurtful to him and Mickey steps between them, sending Gus away and telling the ex-girlfriend quietly, "Whatever it is you're about to say to him, he really doesn't need to hear it right now."
I'll keep watching, even though it's a bit uneven. I think I would probably watch Gillian Jacobs in anything, TBH.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 5:38 PM on February 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
As a dude, I found all of the girls crushing on Paul Rust a little weird, as well. Not that an attractive girl couldn't crush on him, but so many? Although, who am I to say. For those of you who find men attractive, is Paul Rust secretly hot/cute? Maybe my internal man-ttractive meter is just off.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 7:33 AM on February 22, 2016
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 7:33 AM on February 22, 2016
Lots of women (and men!) crush on Paul Rust/Gus types. Of course they do. (So weird when people ask questions like this.) Lots of people go for the nonthreatening quiet nerds. I can see why the girls chose Gus for the threesome. If I was a young women running out of time on making my L.A. threesome experience happen, nonthreatening nerd is the route I'd take, too.
However, I'm not seeing why Mickey would be attracted to Gus. I know I'm not far into this show at all, but right now I do not see two people on equal footing with long-term relationship potential. But I like it so far and I'll keep watching anyway.
(For those who couldn't place Gus's ex-girlfriend, Natalie, the actress has been on a bunch of AT&T commercials.)
posted by aabbbiee at 8:22 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
However, I'm not seeing why Mickey would be attracted to Gus. I know I'm not far into this show at all, but right now I do not see two people on equal footing with long-term relationship potential. But I like it so far and I'll keep watching anyway.
(For those who couldn't place Gus's ex-girlfriend, Natalie, the actress has been on a bunch of AT&T commercials.)
posted by aabbbiee at 8:22 AM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Lots of women (and men!) crush on Paul Rust/Gus types. Of course they do. (So weird when people ask questions like this.)
I'm not questioning whether a person would find Paul Rust attractive. I'm asking whether he is considered conventionally attractive, which seems to be how the show perceives him. Do you also harumph this question when it arises in regards to Woody Allen films? The idea that a male creator of his own tv/movie project would use a creative project to project sexual wish fulfillment is not somehow new or unique to this show, and I'm not introducing an idea that's never been discussed. In fact, I blame this less on Rust and more on Apatow, who has established this as a bit of a pattern in his films.
Again, I'm not saying that an attractive person couldn't be attracted to Paul Rust. But I am saying that throughout the show (which lasts, what, a week?), no fewer than six very attractive women throw themselves at him. I do find that a bit odd, and to me it distracts from the unique connection that Gus and Mickey seem to have.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 10:48 AM on February 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
I'm not questioning whether a person would find Paul Rust attractive. I'm asking whether he is considered conventionally attractive, which seems to be how the show perceives him. Do you also harumph this question when it arises in regards to Woody Allen films? The idea that a male creator of his own tv/movie project would use a creative project to project sexual wish fulfillment is not somehow new or unique to this show, and I'm not introducing an idea that's never been discussed. In fact, I blame this less on Rust and more on Apatow, who has established this as a bit of a pattern in his films.
Again, I'm not saying that an attractive person couldn't be attracted to Paul Rust. But I am saying that throughout the show (which lasts, what, a week?), no fewer than six very attractive women throw themselves at him. I do find that a bit odd, and to me it distracts from the unique connection that Gus and Mickey seem to have.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 10:48 AM on February 23, 2016 [3 favorites]
As a dude, I found all of the girls crushing on Paul Rust a little weird, as well. Not that an attractive girl couldn't crush on him, but so many? Although, who am I to say. For those of you who find men attractive, is Paul Rust secretly hot/cute? Maybe my internal man-ttractive meter is just off
I'm a woman and thought he was really unattractive and his personality was extremely off putting and not cute.
I liked the show, but mostly for Gillian Jacobs and lots of the supporting cast, including Bertie.
I thought all the super conventionally attractive women running after Paul Rust was kind of ridiculous and more wish fulfillment. If he had been a really great guy that would have been one thing, or smart and awkward in a Woody Allenish way, but he was just a jerk, and had horrible hobbies like that music group and the fascist magic club. I saw him described as a passive narcissist and that's exactly right.
posted by zutalors! at 11:56 AM on February 23, 2016 [4 favorites]
You guys are giving away information about later episodes but this is only the thread for episode one. I have only seen two episodes and I'm only going to refer to things that happen in episode one.
I'm asking whether he is considered conventionally attractive, which seems to be how the show perceives him. Look, that's not the question you asked. Your question was "For those of you who find men attractive, is Paul Rust secretly hot/cute?" And two people responded with different answers, both legitimate, because there's no empirical response to this question. Which was the point of my response. I mean, really, the reason I think Paul Rust is cute is because he's not conventionally attractive.
However, I disagree fundamentally that this show is presenting Paul Rust as conventionally attractive. Right from the beginning, Gus is presented as terrible at sex and too passive. They're not pulling any punches on his shortcomings, but they're not pulling any punches on Mickey's flaws either, despite the fact that she's gorgeous. So I am interested to see them explore this while also (as I said above) I am dubious that these two people have any kind of long-term future.
Apatow productions often involve a schlubby male lead who falls in love with a gorgeous female lead, and there's in-film commentary on how he's not conventionally attractive and she's out of his league, but ultimately she finds his schlubbiness heartwarming and falls for him. This is unlike Woody Allen, because Woody Allen movies exist in an alternate reality where Woody Allen is conventionally attractive and everyone just accepts that without question.
I do not disagree that there is annoying wish fulfillment on this show, and it sounds like it gets worse in that regard.
posted by aabbbiee at 2:26 PM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm asking whether he is considered conventionally attractive, which seems to be how the show perceives him. Look, that's not the question you asked. Your question was "For those of you who find men attractive, is Paul Rust secretly hot/cute?" And two people responded with different answers, both legitimate, because there's no empirical response to this question. Which was the point of my response. I mean, really, the reason I think Paul Rust is cute is because he's not conventionally attractive.
However, I disagree fundamentally that this show is presenting Paul Rust as conventionally attractive. Right from the beginning, Gus is presented as terrible at sex and too passive. They're not pulling any punches on his shortcomings, but they're not pulling any punches on Mickey's flaws either, despite the fact that she's gorgeous. So I am interested to see them explore this while also (as I said above) I am dubious that these two people have any kind of long-term future.
Apatow productions often involve a schlubby male lead who falls in love with a gorgeous female lead, and there's in-film commentary on how he's not conventionally attractive and she's out of his league, but ultimately she finds his schlubbiness heartwarming and falls for him. This is unlike Woody Allen, because Woody Allen movies exist in an alternate reality where Woody Allen is conventionally attractive and everyone just accepts that without question.
I do not disagree that there is annoying wish fulfillment on this show, and it sounds like it gets worse in that regard.
posted by aabbbiee at 2:26 PM on February 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Sorry - it's hard to remember what happens in which one, was trying to keep my comment general though. Attractive women running after a guy hardly seems like a spoiler though.
posted by zutalors! at 2:32 PM on February 23, 2016
posted by zutalors! at 2:32 PM on February 23, 2016
Do you also harumph this question when it arises in regards to Woody Allen films? The idea that a male creator of his own tv/movie project would use a creative project to project sexual wish fulfillment is not somehow new or unique to this show, and I'm not introducing an idea that's never been discussed. In fact, I blame this less on Rust and more on Apatow, who has established this as a bit of a pattern in his films.
I'd save some blame for Rust, who is credited as a writer and producer on the show. I vote for serious wish fulfillment -- in the first episode alone he has sex with the soon to be ex-girlfriend, gets invited to a threesome with the college girls, and has the cute meeting with Mickey. (I mean, his real life might be all that and more, but the show doesn't read as particularly realistic, in large part because of this exact tension between his sad-sack, socially awkward portrayal and the conventionally hot and outgoing women who throw themselves at him.)
However, I'm not seeing why Mickey would be attracted to Gus. I know I'm not far into this show at all, but right now I do not see two people on equal footing with long-term relationship potential. But I like it so far and I'll keep watching anyway.
I very much agree with this. I won't speak to what happens in later episodes, but I don't see the first episode setting them up as equals or co-attractants at all, other than they are both coming out of weird and unhappy relationships. The episode shows both having bad (or at least awkward) sex, but in not at all equivalent ways.
posted by Dip Flash at 7:09 PM on February 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'd save some blame for Rust, who is credited as a writer and producer on the show. I vote for serious wish fulfillment -- in the first episode alone he has sex with the soon to be ex-girlfriend, gets invited to a threesome with the college girls, and has the cute meeting with Mickey. (I mean, his real life might be all that and more, but the show doesn't read as particularly realistic, in large part because of this exact tension between his sad-sack, socially awkward portrayal and the conventionally hot and outgoing women who throw themselves at him.)
However, I'm not seeing why Mickey would be attracted to Gus. I know I'm not far into this show at all, but right now I do not see two people on equal footing with long-term relationship potential. But I like it so far and I'll keep watching anyway.
I very much agree with this. I won't speak to what happens in later episodes, but I don't see the first episode setting them up as equals or co-attractants at all, other than they are both coming out of weird and unhappy relationships. The episode shows both having bad (or at least awkward) sex, but in not at all equivalent ways.
posted by Dip Flash at 7:09 PM on February 23, 2016 [2 favorites]
Love it when Judd Apatow brings people back from Freaks and Geeks. Great to see Dave Allen, but don't forget Steve Bannos too!
posted by Become A Silhouette at 8:47 PM on March 5, 2016
posted by Become A Silhouette at 8:47 PM on March 5, 2016
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I love this typo. It conjures images of John Krasinski and a frying pan at a paper company.
posted by axiom at 6:29 PM on February 20, 2016