Bonus: Commend
I sometime have a hard time critiquing Parenthood in a fair way because the Bravermans’ politics and beliefs are directly in line with mine. I’m sure a lot of people watched this episode and felt disappointed that it was so relatively cavalier about abortion (assuming Amy actually did get one), but as a liberal feminist (like I needed to tell you that), I thought the trips to Planned Parenthood, the open dialogue and the writers allowing this to be Amy’s choice over Drew’s were subtle and powerful, and only slightly derailed by Amy’s dad being a dead ringer to Kenny Bania.
Read more: Parenthood: This Week’s Chuckle, Cry and Cringe
I did not like Bridesmaids — but that might have been my own fault. I went into 2011’s big summer hit comedy with extraordinarily high expectations that because it was a movie that starred funny women it wouldn’t rely on female competition as a comedic vehicle for the entire duration of the film, nor would it be set on giving Kirsten Wiig a love interest to solidify her happiness… obviously, I was way off. I had a similar reaction after watching the Girls pilot (which I documented to great lengths); yes, it is a comedy series created by, written by and starring mostly young women, but damn it, why do they all have to be so miserable (not to mention grating)? I just wanted to have my brand of feminism’s cake and eat it too, and that’s where For a Good Time, Call… comes in.
Read more: For a Good Time, Call…: Better by the Minute
Stan: “I just feel really bad, for punching my child in the face.”
Terry: “Don’t ‘beat yourself up’ over it. You’re still a gay bear sex god.”
Stan: “I just wish I understood why Tommy’s acting up! I mean, his sister was brutally and infamously murdered, and then I got like ten people killed for no reason, and then his horrible mother disappeared, and then a prostitute — no disrespect — moved in and then out again, and I punched him in the face even though he’s a little kid. I mean, I’m just mystified.”
Terry: “Well, speaking as the only well-adjusted sex worker in the entire world, that we all pretend is real but is really just a hypothetical feminist unicorn we want to exist and one day maybe will, maybe I can just tell you what the problem is.”
- Jacob Clifton, who goes on to give some truly excellent feminist criticism, The Killing 2-10 “72 Hours” Weecap
It’s interesting — Peggy’s taking an unconventional path, and her mother’s punishing her for it, while Megan’s choice — finding a rich husband — is certainly more common for a woman back then, but she’s also being condemned for it.
- Couch Baron, pointing out the frustrating truth, Mad Men 5-7 “At the Codfish Ball” Recap
