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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.
Following last week’s release of two Made for Love Season 3 episodes (“Diane… We’re in Trouble” and “Another Byron, Another Hazel”), more is revealed about the main women who reside at the Hub. This week’s fifth episode is titled, “You’re Not the First”. It is written by Nutting and directed by Daisy von Scherler Mayer.
In this review, I will be discussing Made for Love Season 2 Episode 5. There will be no spoilers here, as the title of this article suggests. Nonetheless, please read ahead at your own discretion to avoid any possible revelations.
Plot Synopsis
According to WarnerMedia, here is the synopsis for Made for Love Season 2 Episode 5.
After encouraging Byron to visit Montana for the first time since he was a teenager, Hazel meets his brother – and learns some disturbing truths about their past. As Lyle and Fiffany accelerate their escape plan, Other Hazel makes contact with the outside, and Judiff conducts a search of her own.
WarnerMedia
Discussion
At thirty-one-and-a-half minutes, “You’re Not the First” provides a well-paced narrative that balances the subplots of Made for Love‘s multiple primary and secondary characters. In the main story of the episode, we learn more about Byron Gogol’s (Billy Magnussen) background as Greg Benson… or so we are told. As I watched Season 2 in its entirety (including next week’s two-part finale), I had some feeling to compare the character to an individual far from a billionaire figure such Zuckerberg and Bezos but more so akin to a Willy Wonka. If we’re looking at the Burton version of the character, then let’s consider Gogol as similar; someone who left home to be a new person, someone who has a whole building full of workers who live forever.
Speaking of the Same, I want to return to that topic of discussion. With Hazel Green (Cristin Milioti), we don’t just have the actual character but now other “copies” of her. There is the Other Hazel, who wants to take over a human body; as well as Alice, the woman Byron had brought to The Hub prior to Hazel’s being there — hence the episode title. This also calls upon this concept of the spiral and uncanniness, where we are going through so many cycles and coming back as something that appears familiar yet is strangely different. As one character states, “Transitions are very hard”. Moreover, we can sense that Byron himself is never really satisfied with the women he brings home.
I love that the writers decided to bring back secondary characters such as Judiff (Kym Whitley) and Donnie (Dontez James). Everything about this season seems to build up to a strong story that will only get chaotic, with the FBI involved, along with citizens who want to help Hazel out in her current predicament. I believe this is the best we see the story as of now (next week’s finale left me with mixed emotions, but we’ll get to that soon).
From the aesthetic standpoint, everything about this episode is lovely, such as Milioti’s hair and make-up or the sufficient detail given to Greg Benson’s bedroom.
The Crew of Made for Love
Made for Love is created by Alissa Nutting, Dean Bakopoulos, Patrick Somerville, and Christina Lee. The series is based on Nutting’s novel of the same name.
Lee, Nutting, Bakopoulos, Somerville, Liza Chasin, SJ Clarkson, and Daisy von Scherler Mayer serve as the executive producers. Janet Knutsen, Cristin Milioti, and Andres Anglade serve as the producers. Shepard Boucher serves as the series’ co-executive producer, while Lisa Satriano serves as the co-producer.
Jovan Robinson serves as the executive story editor. Andy Morrish serves as the editor for the episode, while Emily Nine serves as the assistant editor. Nathaniel Goodman serves as the director of photography.
Keefus Ciancia scores the music, while Christine Greene Roe serves as the music supervisor. Jason Lingle and Jeff Lingle serve as the music editors.
Leslie Woo serves as the casting director. Courtney Bright and Nicole Daniels serve as the original casting directors. Julina Baber serves as the casting associate, while Jalal Haddad serves as the casting assistant.
Jordan Ferrer serves as the production designer, while Jennifer Eve serves as the costume designer. Michael Kennedy and Eddie Williams serve as the visual effects supervisors. Tarn Fliehler serves as the art director, while Christy McIrwin serves as the set decorator. Dara Jaramillo is the head of the make-up department, while Arleen Chavez is the head of the hair department.
The Cast of Made for Love
Cristin Milioti portrays Hazel Green, while Billy Magnussen portrays Byron Gogol.
Dan Bakkedahl and Noma Dumezweni appear as Gogol employees, Lyle Herringbone and Dr. Fiffany Hodeck, respectively. Caleb Foote is credited as Bennett Hobbes, while Sarunas J. Jackson plays Jay/ Jasper. Ray Romano plays Herbert Green.
Paula Abdul guest stars as Anydoors. Chris Diamantopoulos appears as Agent Hank Walsh, while Kym Whitley makes a full appearance as Judiff. Ned Bellamy makes an appearance as Leroy Fish, Aaron Benson’s neighbor. Angela Lin plays Dr. Hau. Ashley Madekwe voices Zelda the dolphin. Travis Van Winkle plays Aaron Benson — Byron’s (formerly Greg Benson’s) brother.
Carlos Antonio stars as FBI Agent Victor Estevez. Dontez James plays Donnie, a character introduced in the pilot — “User One”; while Edy Modica plays Xtra, Donnie’s partner.
Performances and Character Developments
There are many terrific performances throughout this episode, e.g. Herringbone and Hodeck’s (Dan Bakkedahl and Noma Dumezweni, respectively) attempt to escape the pasture cube, Judiff’s (Kym Whitley) as teased in Episode 203, her dynamic with Donnie (Dontez James), and Jasper’s (Sarunas J. Jackson) chemistry with Zelda the dolphin (Ashley Madekwe).
However, I do want to highlight Herbert Green’s (Ray Romano) development throughout the season. While in the first season, we learn that he has cancer, I believe there is something in his relationship with Hazel that urges him to be a better father, someone who was not there for her during her adolescence and young adulthood. The choices that he makes in the latter half of Season 2 are only human, and his role is integral to how Hazel grows as a human being. However, these same decisions only complicate matters further, as there are misunderstandings and miscommunications conveyed between father and daughter (and/or whom he believes is his daughter).
Also complicated is Hazel and Byron’s dynamic as partners (or former partners?). Hazel wants to learn more about the billionaire, even going so far as to teach him what real love is. Although, other viewers of the show have expressed their doubts about Byron actually caring for Hazel’s well-being, and this could be confirmed in what happens at the end of this episode. In terms of their Other selves, I am curious as to how people will react to them taking over human bodies.
Final Thoughts on This Week’s Made for Love
“You’re Not the First” is an insightful episode of Made for Love, introducing a coming-together of its established characters and further developing each of them. I am curious as to what the rifles behind one door are for, as this is not addressed at any other point in this season. The overall narrative of Season 2 gets crazier in its following few episodes, so stay tuned for that.
Made for Love Season 2 is now streaming via HBO Max!
Have you seen Nutting’s series? If so, then what are your thoughts on it so far? Let us know! For more dark comedy-related news and reviews visit and follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Also, if you’ve read to the end of this article and want to know more about Made for Love, you can purchase Nutting’s novel via our Amazon Associates link here!
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.
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