As a seasoned television critic with a penchant for witty banter and a soft spot for female friendships, I found “Laid” to be an engaging, if somewhat uneven, watch. The show’s clever use of pop culture references and the undeniable chemistry between Stephanie Hsu and Jean Smart (AJ) made it a delight to follow, at least for the first few episodes.
In recent years, the term “body count” has undergone a change in meaning, transitioning from denoting casualties in warfare to signifying the exact tally of romantic or sexual partners someone has encountered.
It’s one of those idioms that is kinda gross no matter how you think about it. Any time an expression goes from combat kills in Vietnam or genocide victims or losses in a school shooting to … how many people someone has slept with, it should give somebody rhetorical pause, especially given the frequency with which it’s used for so-called “slut-shaming.” But sometimes language is like that!
In Peacock’s latest dark comedy, Laid, the creative team, led by Nahnatchka Khan and Sally Bradford McKenna, have taken a vivid style of expression to its literal limit. This show originates from an Australian format that was ahead of the trend when it came to using “body count” in a sexual context, although the connection between being “laid” (having sex) and being “laid to rest” (dying) is not a new linguistic concept.
The series, with its innovative take on its concept, is greatly enhanced by the lively banter between leads Stephanie Hsu and Zosia Mamet. However, as the central idea became less about creative interpretation and more about logical explanation, my interest began to wane. As the show approached its overly-explanatory final episodes, I found myself yearning for a concise, definitive ending.
Instead, Laid prepares itself for arguably one of the least essential second seasons in recent memory (or perhaps since The Day of the Jackal last month). I’d definitely continue to watch it due to Hsu and Mamet, but not because I find the concept as intriguing as I did after the first eight episodes.
In the storyline, Hsu portrays Ruby, a party organizer based in Seattle who finds herself stuck in a series of disappointing online dating encounters. Despite being reassured that she’ll eventually find the ideal match, people also caution her about her self-centeredness and preoccupation with issues from her past.
In a surprising turn of events, I find out that one of my old flames has passed away – a guy who was so insignificant in my past memories that I barely recall him, despite the fact that I’d long since moved on from our relationship, which I had ended rather casually. It’s hard to believe he still harbored feelings for me over a decade later.
Then another of her exes dies, this one right in front of her.
It appears that a concerning trend is emerging: The individuals, both male and female, with whom Ruby has had intimate relations are passing away, one after another. This isn’t limited to her recent encounters or those involving only physical contact. Instead, it seems like the number of people Ruby has been sexually active with is resulting in a growing list of fatalities.
The only person Ruby trusts enough to let in on her mystery is her roommate and bestie AJ (Zosia Mamet), an obligatory true crime obsessive (like Mamet’s character in The Flight Attendant, Ruby has a special interest in Zosia Mamet doppelgänger Amanda Knox) in a not-especially-romantic long-term relationship with unsuccessful video game streamer Zack (Andre Hyland). Additional assistance will eventually come from Richie (Michael Angarano), a bar trivia manager whose role in the story I won’t spoil. But since he’s a major part here, I’ll acknowledge him.
In the near future, Ruby intends to locate several of her former partners, as it seems their lives are at risk. The question is whether she can uncover the truth about them before it’s too late to pursue her new potential love interest, Isaac (Tommy Martinez). Isaac appears to be everything Ruby desires in a partner, yet she doesn’t want him to meet an untimely end.
As a gaming enthusiast diving into the world of “Laid”, I may not have seen the Australian original series it’s based on, but I can certainly appreciate its parallels with other works. The recurring theme of reconnecting with past loves is something I’ve encountered before – think shows like “Lovesick” or movies such as “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past”. The overarching concept seems to draw inspiration from series like “Russian Doll”, “The Big Door Prize”, and “The Curse” on Netflix and Apple TV+. The long-form romantic comedy vibe reminds me of recent shows like Max’s “Love Life” and Netflix’s “One Day”. And when Death takes a physical form, targeting specific individuals in rather gruesome and implausible ways, the “Final Destination” franchise immediately comes to mind.
In a typical romantic comedy setup, it’s usually advantageous to have engaging, charming male characters. However, in the series Laid, most of the men are rather unremarkable, lacking the spark that is common in such roles. Notably, many of the past relationships and subsequent deaths of these characters are humorously depicted, but their personalities are quite shallow. On the other hand, the primary male characters, played by Angarano, Martinez, and Hyland, lack distinctiveness and there’s little chemistry between them. They tend to blend together without making a lasting impression.
As a gamer diving into the world of “Laid,” I acknowledge that its focus on female friendship seems deliberately intended, even if it appears to consume more screen time than typical male-centric plots. The romance between Hsu and her male counterparts might not be as fiery, but the undeniable chemistry between Ruby and AJ more than makes up for it.
From my point of view as a TV critic, I appreciate that this television series revolves around characters who are avid viewers of other shows on TV. The bond between them is largely built upon intricate and amusing allusions to various programs, which often left me grinning. To illustrate, there are two instances where they draw out jokes related to Ryan Murphy’s “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” that seemed custom-made for a fan like myself. Their aim was clearly achieved.
Over approximately five to six episodes, the show Laid predominantly features AJ and Ruby expressing their reactions to Ruby’s circumstances in a visceral manner, frequently using exclamations like “What?!” and “Really?!” as they grapple with increasing bewilderment. Despite some fatigue developing over time, these emotional responses appear remarkably fitting.
However, turning a metaphor into a tangible scenario can be quite different from making it overly realistic, complete with numerous character deaths. As you ponder over it, the high mortality rate becomes increasingly challenging, especially when trying to balance realism with comedy in your storytelling. The show seems to find levity in so many deaths that by the time it reaches a scene intended to evoke strong emotional responses from Ruby, the impact feels forced and unconvincing.
There’s a limit to how much I can tolerate “Ruby is selfish” being used as an explanation for her actions. However, Laid consistently offers the same simplistic analysis episode after episode. It seems like it’s implying that Ruby’s issues with her exes are rooted in the idea of complex karmic retributions akin to the Groundhog Day concept – maybe if Ruby can comprehend that everyone is the main character in their own story, not just supporting characters in hers, she could untangle these relationships.
However, as she delved deeper into seeking precise explanations and origins, the symbolic layers started fading for me. It’s a little disheartening when a series chooses to present only one solution, even if it’s not meant to be taken literally. I found myself wishing it could be easily resolved to prevent the gradual loss of interest in untangling something that seems more intriguing tangled. In truth, I eventually concluded, I don’t actually want to discover the truth behind it anymore.
I mostly enjoyed the season without frequently uttering my habitual comment about how it would have been better as a movie – that is, until the suspenseful finale which made me think the show, titled “Laid”, was actually intended to be a film rather than a multi-season series. Despite Hsu and Mamet’s exceptional performances, I find myself thinking that sometimes, limited series should indeed stay limited.
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2024-12-17 19:25