HBO's Looking

[Faulkner]

One thing I WILL say is that I don't yet feel the friend chemistry between the three leads. I feel like the group scenes between Patrick, Dom, and Augustin are the weakest/falsest on the series. The scenes of them in their dating/working/outside social lives feel much more authentic.

[EricMontreal22]

I do somewhat agree with that. I got some of the right feeling from, when, say Patrick phoned Augustin after the bad sex experience, but when it's the three of them together, and not just two, it feels less real to me and more "scripty"

[John]

How is the chem between Jonathan Groff & Russell Tovey. There was a preview that said viewers will want them to hook up

[EricMontreal22]

There'sa lot of them in episode three that aired last week, if you've not watched. I think it's decent. I like Tovey and for whatever reason I find him more hot on this show than in Being Human.

Is the full thing on youtube? I saw a clip on Hulu but couldn't access it but heard that Groff was asked, yet again, if it was a gay Girls.

[cassadine1991]

I remember seeing several interviews where they ask him that

Here's one of them

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWXGCXqAfh0

[SFK]

Girls is WAY more sitcomy, last week's episode almost in particular, and far closer to SATC in tone. I hate it when the media feels the need to make similes to other shows, just let it be itself.

[difficultdiva]

Looking does upload their episodes in YT. Well, at least the first episode.

[EricMontreal22]

I think just the first one--that's something HBO has started doing with new shows (which is smart, I think.)

I enjoy Girls still but, maybe they took the criticisms of last season to heart -- it's actually a bit too sitcom-y for me this season. I have no issue with people not liking it -- it's just this constant comparison thing that bugs me. It's not enough like Girls. Or I've seen people list all the ways it's EXACTLY like SatC (because it's about single friends in a certain city and they even have a threesome in one scene! Umm ok....)

One thing I have really appreciated is the camerawork/directing of the episodes (maybe no surprise since Haigh from Weekend directed the first three, though it looks like he's only directing two of the remaining ones--which is still a large amount of episodes for one series.) Often with these somewhat "mumblecore"/indie style shows I find the directing just sloppy (Girls suffers from this--and I say that as a fan.) But, while it looks fairly spontaneous, you can tell with Looking its meticulously planned.

The AV Club reviewer has perhaps emphasized this strength too much in his reviews, but I think he makes some good points about subtle techniques that really work (some may be due to scripting and editing too, like in the pilot when you're introduced to each of the three leads at sequential times in their morning -- ie one is just waking up in bed, next shot another is getting ready to leave the house, next shot the third is heading to work.)

Here's a bit from the episode three review about the different techniques:

"What’s really impressive is how each episode, all of which have been directed by Haigh, has a defining shot type. The first episode is about the two-shot, that hard-fought representation of two guys actually coming together. The second is about the long shot, those immersive sequences where the audience soaks up the moment. “Looking At Your Browser History” is about the rack focus. Even when two guys do share a shot, only one is clearly visible at a time. With the focus veering between Patrick and Kevin in one scene and Agustín and the escort the next (Dom and Lynn get good old-fashioned one-shots, but the effect is similar), you can’t help but feel the ping pong, the flirty back and forth of two strangers getting to know one each other. Patrick speaks, Kevin reacts, Kevin speaks, Patrick reacts. Everything else fades into the background."

http://www.avclub.com/review/looking-at-your-browser-history-107070

Edited February 6, 2014 by EricMontreal22

[ThePrinceOfSunspear]

The boss's ears are distracting me....otherwise he's sorta cute.

Wow 4 episodes in and finally there's some real chemistry between a possible couple? And for once the friendship between Groff and the other guy was pretty genuine.

[difficultdiva]

I'm so glad Patrick ran into Ritchie.

Agustin, even though he's going to mess up his relationship with Frank, called out what Patrick was letting himself do with Kevin. He was involved in some fantasy relationship with his boss.

Kevin is hot, but he is still his boss AND in a relationship.

I want Dom and Lynn to be together.

Another great episode.

[Taoboi]

Just got done waiting. (yes, I know I should be in bed).

Loved that.

Did a little shriek when I saw Richie. Though I see chemistry with Patrick and Kevin.

I see why people already seem divide between the two.

So happy that Patrick stepped out and lived a little.

Doris rocked. And NOW it looks like a friend unit which is kewl.

Also loved Dom and Lynn together.

[difficultdiva]

I clapped my hands like a happy seal, once I saw that it was Richie in the club.

I can see why viewers are torn between Kevin vs. Richie regarding Patrick. Groff was able to show how attracted Patrick is to both characters, but I think that pursuing a relationship with Kevin will just mess up Patrick even more.

Kevin's definitely attracted to Patrick, but he's also still somewhat committed to his current boyfriend. Patrick would be putting himself and his career on the line for Kevin to maybe realise that he doesn't want to let go of his current relationship?!

Then there's Richie. Patrick's messed up with him, but he still gives him a chance. I think that Patrick will definitely have to open himself up, in being honest about who he is, the things that he wants and really filter out the things that his friends (particularly Agustin) may positively or negatively say about his pursuit of Ritchie.

At times, I think that Agustin wants Patrick to not be able to find "the one" for him, because then he wouldn't be always there for Agustin and his troubles.

I do find it interesting that Dom's not so involved in Agustin's and Patrick's lives as much. I think he realised after the visit by his horrible ex, that he has got to take charge of his life and he can't let himself be misdirected anymore by his disappointments, sex drive and/or his decade's young pals.

[Taoboi]

That was one of the things that I've been loving reading critics (who have all of a sudden been writing after 4 episodes LOL!!!) is that Patrick seems to be torn between the ideals in his head (Kevin) and the reality that is outside of his ideals...not that that is a bad thing for him...in front of him (Richie). So it goes down to whether he will let himself grow or stand in place if standing in place means he just might remain alone.

My apologies. Last night's episode really has touched a nerve in me. LOL.

As for Patrick opening up, *cough*next week*cough*

I wouldn't call Augustin a toxic friend...yet. However, he is not my favorite of the trio.

Definitely want to see Dom succeed, but I have a thing for guys who want to follow their dreams and open restaurants. LOL. And it looks like maybe he will find a love connection.

[difficultdiva]

I don't think that Agustin's "toxic". I just think that since he's still all over the place, in regards to his professional and personal situation, he may be hoping that if things go sour with Frank, Patrick will be there to help him pick up the pieces. Without having to also deal with Patrick having a boyfriend.

See, that's what I currently see happening with Agustin and what had happened with Dom from so long ago.

We have Agustin, who has a support, cute and sweet boyfriend, Frank. Yet, he's still not happy (with himself). So, in my eyes, it looks like he's looking for something outside of himself, that will explain (to him, at least), why he's miserable.

Dom, let EIGHT YEARS of his life go by, without any sort of achievement. Yes, he's still hot and could get any hot guy he wanted, but he's bored and miserable about his life. He's trying to change it.

Patrick's on the cusp and at least he's aware that he's got to take some kind of leap.

Edited February 10, 2014 by difficultdiva

[SouthOfSoap]

I'm still watching this. It's ok - I'm waiting for the show to flip the switch. The potential is definitely there for this to be great.

As for the comparisons to Girls - I think that is for 2 reasons:

1. The show is paired with it in scheduling and HBO does that with shows they deem similarish even if they are not, so that invites comparison.

2. Everything gets compared to Girls - critics are doing the same thing with Broad City which is nothing like Girls.

I like Girls alot, just not sure how it became a yardstick show. The comparisons to Girls has less to do with Looking and more to do with Girls.