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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.
This week’s set of Made for Love episodes shows once again how hilarious the show can be. The fourth episode of the HBO Max dark comedy series is titled, “I Want a New Life.” Stephanie Laing is the director, and Kim Steele and Sarah McCarron are the writers. Strap your seatbelts tight, as this review may go a little in-depth on some spoilers.
Plot Summary
After the events of last week’s second and third episodes, Hazel Green-Gogol (Cristin Milioti) wakes up in bed. Her father, Herbert (Ray Romano), suggests that she pay rent — and some respect to his sex doll, Diane — for her stay at home. On her way to make some cash, she runs into an old friend named Bangles (Patti Harrison). As this happens, Hazel’s ex-husband Byron Gogol (Billy Magnussen) watches and listens in on her every move. Meanwhile, Dr. Fiffany Hodeck (Noma Dumezweni) grows concerned for her “test subject” dolphin, Zelda. She contacts a colleague to ensure everything is going according to her plans.
In flashbacks one decade earlier, Hazel tries to make money in college by deceiving other students and Bangles. Here, she eventually meets Gogol himself. Inviting her to a dinner date, he proposes and asks to elope with her immediately.
The Non-Place
The episode demonstrates what the “non-place” is, as discussed last week. Hazel and Gogol eat Italian cuisine in a special room of sorts. Inside, they can go anyplace in the world at the snap of their fingers without ever having to leave the box. To the side of the Eiffel Tower, to the icy surfaces of Antarctica, on the desert sands of Egypt, the vast gardens of Southern France, etc. Physically speaking, none of this is real, and neither of the two has moved at all.
The “non-place” allows people a sense of placelessness and an end to a means of travel. As digital theorist Roberto Simanowski says, “[N]o one knows better than great writers that we don’t have to go abroad to experience what is foreign.” What’s crazy about Gogol is he’s limited to the spaces he’s confined himself to and knows nothing beyond it. However, is he a great writer of his digital network?
In the past, Gogol proposes he take Hazel to The Hub — a larger version of the box. During this date, he also reveals what he knows about her, which is eerily something that technology does to an individual. I feel as if Gogol’s company is a synecdoche for the digital world, how we can easily access any piece(s) of information at our disposal. Gogol’s lack of experience in knowing others and what’s around him inevitably becomes his weakness. He thinks he knows Hazel but does not really. The billionaire supposes mimicking her actions helps, and he does so by drinking beer and also plans to offer her donut holes the next time she comes around.
Desire
In the early events presented in this episode, Gogol talks to Hazel about success and desire. When they first meet, he says of success: “It’s being able to spot opportunity and understand human desire.” He does well in the former, although in the latter, he fails drastically.
In the present, Hazel, Herbert, and Bangles use a secret language that they’ve made up and used in the past to talk about seeking a lawyer. Without Gogol’s knowledge about this language, he’s unable to gather any information. I don’t think this character has any good human traits at all, even we can even call it human. His desire isn’t his, but rather the yearning of another person. He assumes she dislikes her lifestyle and convinces her, “[T]he things that most people feel satisfied about just bores you. It’s disappointing, and you can never let anyone take care of you.” As I wrote earlier, this character lacks experience, which would give him the subjectivity that leads to a different view of the world.
Final Thoughts
At this point in the series, I’ve fallen in love with Cristin Milioti’s character. She has potential and much to offer. I’d love to see how she re-adjusts to the real world. This doesn’t seem like a huge problem to her. In one scene at the Green home, she smokes with Bangles from a dab pen. She’s beginning to remember what it feels like to be with friends.
The introduction of Harrison’s character and her dynamic with Milioti and Romano is a splendid sight. From Bangles over the past decade to her wild behavior with the Greens, I love her addition to the series. I was quite fond of her talking about dropping out from college and later having an abortion after being impregnated by a man named “Jalapeño Dick.” However, my favorite scene with her has got to be when she flashes her most private human parts to Hazel. Because the Made for Love chip is implanted in her head, even the billionaire can see what Hazel sees. Moments like these show that this invasion of privacy can backfire. The invisible viewer is exposed to whatever is in front of the user, and what else can he do but look?
Overall, “I Want a New Life” has excellent writing and it contains more than just dialogue about men. Hazel and Bangles’s back-and-forth lines can easily pass the Bechdel Test, and I’d love to see more of Harrison in the future.
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.
