Excellent show: the acting, writing and especially the directing were all exceptional. "Looking for the Future" is an all-time great episode of TV. Unfortunately, I think there was more apathy than hate for Looking. The show got vindication from whatever hate was levied against it though when people got their wish with the L Word and QAF reboots. Those shows were much more despised because they tried to be all things to all people.
Patrick/Richie/Kevin was such a realistic 30ish triangle because of how unsoapy it was. You could buy Patrick's attraction to both men, and follow his reasoning to why he had problems committing to them both. There were only a few scenes where Richie & Kevin interacted (why would they?) and I appreciate that the show didn't write ridiculous plots every week to force confrontation.
I do feel that the creators took too much of the Agustine hate to heart and defanged him too much in season 2. I did enjoy his story with Eddie though, even if I didn't fully buy his fast transformation. I though subverting expectations with Dom by having him date a 60 year old instead of a 20-something was clever..
As for the article...I'm trying to be diplomatic but there are parts where I question how closely he watched or understood the series. At I first wrote off the line where he stated "Agustín’s desire to add a third to their relationship" as just a clunky worded sentence. He wanted a threesome not a throuple.
Perhaps I'm being too harsh, but the line comparing Patrick to Carrie Bradshaw as being the central charterer in his friends' lives was a huge red flag. I don't think there was a single scene in season 1 where Dom or Agustine discussed Patrick when he wasn't onscreen. In season 2 Agustine gossiped with Eddie about Patrick's affair with Kevin, but that was to show their growing intimacy with each other, not a "where's Poochie?" moment. There's no question that Patrick was the main character, but Dom & Agustine had fully formed lives and their own desires.
In the end, I think she show was hurt by being in the rotation with Veep, Silicon Valley & Girls. Those 3 were probably HBO's 3 buzziest half-hours post SATC, but their satirical tones were a bad match with Looking. If season 2 was paired with Getting On or Togetherness, it might have got another season or 2 because of lowered expectations.
By
bongobong ·
