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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
Nutting, Bakopoulos, Somerville, and Lee’s HBO Max dark comedy series Made for Love continues its three-part premiere with its second episode. “Another” has been written by the four and is directed by Alethea Jones. The article you read ahead of you will contain spoilers. Therefore, please be cautious if you have not seen or caught up with the series.
Plot Summary
The episode follows Hazel Green-Gogol (Cristin Milioti) as she reunites with her father, Herbert Green (Ray Romano). He has been looked down upon and ridiculed for being “the town pervert.” However, in actuality, the locals in his area are close-minded. Hazel searches for a way to escape from her tech billionaire husband Byron Gogol (Billy Magnussen), only for her to return to him.
Discussion
“Another” explains how the Made for Love implant was able to be inserted into her head. The series shows how such a technology can be made as an invasion of privacy for individuals. However, this is only worse when the concept of love comes into play. Initially, Herbert is in denial at what his daughter is experiencing but soon learns about the gravity of her situation.
The episode is creative in its depiction of the female protagonist’s trauma. Memories begin to flood back into her head. She remembers a time in her life with Byron where she held him a birthday party. During one moment in this event, she smashes into a piñata (with a photo of his face pasted on it) multiple times. She also has a flashback in which two boys bully her for having a deceased mother. Young Hazel (Juliet Rusche) then wakes up her father, who is passed out drunk in broad daylight, then he allows her to drive them to buy breakfast.
What I believe the episode’s main focus is could be Herbert’s sex doll, Diane. The series seems to examine different issues about technology, and not just the digital kind. It should be argued that sex dolls are products manufactured by machines. Thus, by definition, the show apparently makes light of this issue. Shane (Chris Bagnall) tries to run off with Diane, only for local bartender Liver (Augusto Aguilera) to save this from happening.
Final Thoughts
Romano’s character makes a hilarious performance, especially with what we’ve seen at the conclusion of the pilot episode. Another laughable aspect of the episode that I dearly adored was Hazel’s confrontation with Herringbone (Dan Bakkedahl). He offers a means of escape via a sack over her head and her in the trunk of his car. The fact that he does this and that she isn’t actually stupid appeals to my sense of humor. Her failure to escape by taking his keys avoids such a cliche, and her use of her dad’s shotgun makes the scene even funnier.
Overall, HBO Max’s Made for Love does something that doesn’t aim for anything award-worthy. Instead, it intends to do its own thing by not forcing any major hilarity. I must commend the writers if this is their intention because I believe the series’ true success will lie here.
What are your thoughts on this series? Do you like the story so far? Let us know! For more HBO Max, comedy, and science-fiction-related news and reviews, follow The Cinema Spot on Twitter (@TheCinemaSpot) and Instagram (@thecinemaspot_). Also, you can now find us on Facebook (TheCinemaSpotFB)!
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
