I mostly
enjoy this episode, despite not having much Andrew Rannells. It’s reminiscent of the early season 4
episodes in that it splits its time between New York and a character in another
location, although Japan is obviously a very different place than Iowa. Work-related spoilers for one character.
At the
end of last season, Shoshanna’s ongoing employment struggles resolved in an
unexpected way when she got the opportunity to work for an American company’s
corporate office in Japan. Since then,
she’s been living and working there, utterly loving it, and this is our first
chance to actually see her in that environment.
We meet some of her friends/coworkers and get a taste of what she’s been
doing out there. Back in New York, Adam
gets a small role on a TV show and Hannah is disgusted to find the spank-bank
of ex-girlfriend photos Fran keeps on his phone.
While the
Japan stuff is painted with pretty broad strokes, I find it fun. In an earlier episode, Jessa comments that
Shoshanna has become “even more of a cartoon character” since moving there, and
that’s definitely the vibe of the whole plot.
Still, I like seeing her in a new place and how she fits in there. Among the girls, she’s often portrayed as the
afterthought, so it’s nice to see her taking center stage here. This story also features stateside calls from
guest stars Jason Ritter (as Scott, Shoshanna’s long-distance boyfriend) and SNL’s Aidy Bryant (as Abigail, the
American head of the company.)
Adam’s
minor guest spot – on a crime procedural – is enjoyable, both for an appearance
from Lucy Liu playing the lead on that made-up show and for a new example of
Adam’s acting. I think it’s fun when
actors play characters who are actors; it’s interesting to see that sort of
“once removed” performance. Mostly,
though, this subplot is an excuse to further the Jessa/Adam tension, since the
two of them (plus Ray) watch the episode together. I get that, despite her protests, Jessa
really is interested in Adam, but she has
been clear in her intentions not to do anything about it. I dislike that Adam claims to go along with
her insistence that they just be friends and then looks for any opportunity to
cross that line with her. Yecch.
As for
Hannah, I understand where she’s coming from, even though, as usual, she
doesn’t go about it in a very effective way.
She points out the difficulty she’s had accepting her “non-traditional
body shape,” and seeing the very typically-sexy bodies of these women Fran used
to date makes her feel inadequate in a way that porn probably wouldn’t,
precisely because she knows Fran did
used to date them. I’m largely left
wondering whether Fran’s exes are aware that he’s kept their pictures to jerk
off to, as I find that the most unsettling aspect of the story. It’s not revenge porn by any means, but it is
a potential violation.
Just one
Elijah scene today, in which Hannah goes to the coffee shop to discuss her
dilemma with him and Ray and attempts a solution with them. Elijah makes some very Elijah-y
contributions, including the faint-praise reassurance, “Hannah, you’re still
hot… to Fran,” and, at her attempt at a coy smile, “Not the Katie Holmes.” Funny, but too short.
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