A Man. And His Blog.

One episode before the season finale, and it looks like LIP SERVICE is about to get interesting. This episode worked for one reason, and one reason only: It could have been the season finale – how the writing went terrific, when the  high point was reached with the birthday party, and how everybody’s life became fucked up, when all the secrets were revealed.

Frankie’s (Ruta Gedmintas) search for her past was a rather interesting this time, but it was predictable as hell that Cameron (Tom Mannion) was involved with Darren (Iain De Caestecker) in some war. I hope that the story will find its conclusion in the season finale, because it doesn’t need to be dragged along for years to come. And I already see it coming that Darren might be Frankie’s brother, which kinda explains his behavior in recent episodes, but kinda just shows that the writers didn’t really want to tell that story during the last four episodes. Also, the Frankie/Cat (Laura Fraser) situation gets a continuation. Their scenes in their old school was nice and somewhat romantic; that Cat learns more and more about Frankie than ever looks kinda good on their relationship, but I’m a bit annoyed about their teenage angst: both remain cowards and still can’t tell each other how they feel (the only story saved for the finale it seems).

Finally Ed (James Anthony Pearson) told Tess (Fiona Button) about his feelings for her, but of course it had to happen during a difficult time. Since Tess didn’t get much drama during the last four episodes, it is time for her to get news about Chloe and her plans of marrying that Spanish-chick. Two things were awkward though: First, the return of Chloe (Lisa Livingstone) wasn’t necessary – Tess didn’t need to be crazy as shit for this episode, nd she didn’t need to be in an emotional state of mind, when Ed told her that he loves her. Second, the whole Botox thing was ridiculous – she learns that Chloe used Botox, and suddenly Tess things she’s to ugly for this world? No, that didn’t work for me at all.

Jay (Emun Elliott) and the aftermath of fucking Frankie: Fortunately Becky (Cush Jumbo) learns about it in this episode. But seriously, that was just another scene, why the whole episode could have served as the season finale. It is to be expected that Jay and Becky will break up, and it is to be expected that the series will have a better focus on Jay now. That all the secrets happen during (or outside) Tess’ birthday party was great too, and for the first time I even liked Sam (Heather Peace) and Sadie (Natasha O’Keeffe). The former, because she is about to have her heart broken, and I’m starting to sympathize with her, the latter, because she behaved like a normal woman this time (with her heart about to be broken as well, and she actually looked cute in her Pocahontas disguise).

So, why wasn’t this episode the finale? 7.5/10

Botox and everybody forgetting about her birthday brings Tess to cry

And here's another break-up coming up

Okay, now I’m hoping that the average is over now, and the series starts to get interesting again. The start of the second half of the season was solid, had some interesting stories and finally involved the two guys a bit more.

I still think that focusing on the “one true love” between Frankie (Ruta Gedmintas) and Cat (Laura Fraser)  is a mistake in the show. It is still annoying me, and the fact that Frankie thinks Cat was and is always the one for her makes me already expect the two getting back together very soon. And the episode actually did some good work in stepping beside this plot, and delivered a more friendship-y relationship. I was wondering when Cat was realizing that she might be getting it good, when she is just friends with Frankie, and therefore has her in her life as such. But since Cat already lied to Sam (Heather Peace) about that (luckily not a lie, which was dragged along into the next episode), I should forget it again.

The relationship between Frankie and Sadie (Natasha O’Keeffe) is really fucked. And awkward. Their scene in the bath tub was confusing, and I didn’t know what to make of it. Moreover Frankie’s suicide attempt (WTF? Where did that come from?), which kinda was Sadie to thank for. Similar to the Sam character, I can’t really begin liking Sadie, and with her becoming more awkward, I don’t expect that their relationship will end in a good way. Either one of them or both will be pretty fucked at the end of the season (and secretly I hope the writers don’t carry Sadie over to the second season).

Tess’ (Fiona Button) story was alright. First her internet date, which was rather hilarious, then the crush she has on the woman across her apartment. Though I found it to be a bit childish at the end, it showed Tess from a happier side again, and after all, it was the only lighter storyline in the episode. And thanks for reminding me that Ed (James Anthony Pearson) is still in love with her, and even failed to realize that during his date with Melanie (Samara MacLaren). I almost forgot that. Not.

Only the ending was really shitty: Jay (Emun Elliott) and Frankie have a fuck? Nothing against bisexual storylines (which was rather cleverly teased with the Douglas/Skye thing in the middle of the episode), but like Frankie’s suicide attempt, it came from nowhere and without any reason. Since when does Jay have the hots for Frankie? Since when were the two so wasted to actually have sex? And didn’t tell Jay his friends that Becky (Cush Jumbo) might be the one to marry and have kids with? Why does he have doubts about that now?

Finally, I think that Frankie’s family situation and that everyone lied to her, might be a bit puffed up for the series. Somewhat overreached with the fact that Cameron (Tom Mannion) is lying to her, somewhat over the top thanks to the following suicide attempt. I hope the story will have a quick finish, I don’t really want it to keep the series busy for long.

Hm, now I think I trashtalked the episode, though I liked it. I don’t know what happened… 6.5/10

Mom thinks that rape is not nice

Don't take drugs in front of the fish

I knew it would happen, but I’ve had the hopes that it wouldn’t: LIP SERVICE is actually getting boring. Similar like THE L WORD, the writing doesn’t deliver much storylines and instead relies heavily on the characters and their relationships to each other. I’ve had fun with it while watching half of THE L WORD, but here it’s getting boring.

And like I said already, the series is focusing on the mess between Frankie (Ruta Gedmintas) and Cat (Laura Fraser). They still hate each other, they still try to forget their past, they still want to be friends without talking to each other. Frankie still wants her back, Cat still talks about her, even while having a night out (in bed) with Sam (Heather Peace). Those kind of storylines are annoying me with every new TV show I’m seeing – despite the one interesting part this story had in this episode: Frankie working with/for Cat. There was some nice chemistry in the scene, where Frankie was taking the picture, and where Cat actually started the discussion about Frankie being in Glasgow, adjusting to her old new life. But I’m not really waiting for an overkill of this story, especially since Frankie has her own story about her forgotten childhood (now she’s actually dead?), as well as Cat having a “normal” relationship again.

Again, Tess’ (Fiona Button) story could convince me that LIP SERVICE kinda is a good series. I liked her scenes in the firm she was working, and I liked how awkward it went, when she met Janet (Victoria Yeates), her old school “mate” from earlier. Only the fact that this part of the story didn’t seem so important for either Tess or Janet (I can’t imagine she will appear in another episode, her character was way too dull) made the episode a bit more boring though. Despite it being fun to see Tess kinda freaked out about everything in her life (first the dinner blown to hell, then Janet, the the break-up).

Yeah, the break-up was a nice scene. It was predictable that Lou (Roxanne McKee) would date Tom (Duncan Duff) some time, but now I’ sad that the relationship between Lou and Tess is over for now. I liked the two together, they had a good chemistry, and I was happy to see that the clichés of a lesbian woman being closeted (Lou) weren’t pursued anymore. I hope that Lou isn’t completely gone now – after all, the story is good enough to deliver some drama for the rest of the season.

While Frankie is looking for her past, and Jay (Emun Elliott) had sex with a druggy assistant, I didn’t like Cat’s side plot very much. Now she told her boss that she is a lesbian, and he pretty much takes the job away from her. I couldn’t stop rolling with my eyes, when Alistair (Gilly Gilchrist) indirectly told Cat to go for a vacation (and probably never come back). I wonder what it is with bosses having problems with the sexual preferences of their employees. Or maybe Alistair has the hots for Cat, and he is disappointed that she is gay. Anyhow, I didn’t really like this story at all.

The series needs to be more interesting for me to watch the second season. Right now, it is just meh and a bit sleepy. 5.5/10

Sex on drugs can be fun. One minute later, it can't be

Friends now, lovers later? Tess and Ed

And there we have it: While the premiere was slightly interesting, the second episode is even more underwhelming than expected. Not that I don’t have interested in the characters’ lives, but the stories could be more interesting, as well as the execution of some storylines.

The Tes/Lou dating for example. The latter is a minor celebrity, who doesn’t want to be outed as a lesbian, so there we have every single cliché of that storyline, including Lou (Roxanne McKee) blowing a dinner with Tess (Fiona Button) and her friends. I couldn’t do anything but rolling with my eyes, because I seem to see that story in every gay-themed series or movie. And it gets old. At least it was nice to see that Lou might be really interested in having a relationship with Tess, and went down on her – in a sexual way.

The drama between Frankie (Ruta Gedmintas) and Cat (Laura Fraser) goes a bit too far though. As expected, the series is feeding on this kind of relationship, where Frankie kinda wants Cat back, and where Cat thinks she is over that bad break-up and tries to live a normal life. I have the feeling that the writers will heavily continue that part of the story, since I can’t really like Sam (Heather Peace), and I think that Sam and Cat are not really a well-made couple (in a sense of TV couples – it looks like it’s gonna be a bad thing, just because of Frankie).

Apart from all that, it seems the writers have included a bit of a mystery story in the series. First the message from Frankie’s aunt in the beginning of the first episode, and now the thing with the photo album. I can almost imagine that the fatherly part of Frankie’s parents is still alive (which means a whole lot of other mess for Frankie) or maybe even some siblings she never knew about. But I don’t really like that storyline already, and I think it will only steal time for some proper storylines, which suit me as a viewer more. Let’s see what the writers have done with it, maybe I will like it more later.

Tess’ side plot with her new job was a bit worthless for her character development though. I can understand why she took the job, but at the end it seemed unimportant. At least her appearance as “Marie Chambers” was cool, and I’ve had to laugh, when she was giving answers. Apart from the fact that Marie Chambers (Anna Crilly) was pretty funny as a drunk.

And one final thing: Since the boys kinda had less screentime in this episode than in the last, the series could stop hinting that Ed (James Anthony Pearson) has the hots for Tess. I already know, so the writers can start with mentioning it out loud, before that subtile plot breaks my patience.

All in all, the episode was alright. The characters are still likable, the acting was better, but the stories not really. 6/10

Tess and her awkward face

Sadie, when she wasn't sexy

I was expecting a bit from the series, when I’ve heard first about it, and maybe I wanted a bit too much THE L WORD from it. Because the series premiere was a bit underwhelming at the end, but definitely not bad. Though the episode felt like mainstream and it didn’t want to be more than the British version of THE L WORD, I instantly started to like the characters, and the drama could be worth to watch, when the writers use all their best.

Despite some of the acting, I like the cast.All no-names, except Emun Elliott, whom I know from PARADOX, all charming, and of course good-looking for a lesbian show like this. But I don’t mind after having seen three seasons of THE L WORD and most of the CW shows these past years – you’re getting used to a beauty cast like this, and as long as they are acting well (which is the case here), I can live with it.

The stories for the beginning were fine. The episode managed to bring some character development, some character past, and some possible character storylines in, beginning with the mess that is Frankie (Ruta Gedmintas) and Cat (Laura Fraser), ending in Frankie’s family situation, which seems to be more fucked than her sudden relationship end with Cat two years ago. I just hope that the writers don’t drive on the stereotype road here, and bounce the two on and off a relationship, which will bring them to break-up again, make up again, then break-up again, and so on. Cat’s blind date Sam (Heather Peace) seemed to be nice enough for being a recurring character, and Frankie alone looks like as if she were the most sexual active lesbian in this world.

The side plots running aside were alright. I liked Tess (Fiona Button) from the get-go, and I liked what a mess she actually is, even though she lives the happier part of life. The situation with Chloe (Lisa Livingstone) was rather funny, and her makeout-session with Lou (Roxanne McKee) was sweet, despite the fact that it was one of the latest proofs in this episode that whole Glasgow seems to be gay (and not just the funeral receptionist Frankie was nailing, as well as the one or two chicks, who instantly knew she was gay).

Some of the drama was a bit  exaggerated though, like Frankie crying in the bathroom, or how Cat reacted when Frankie tried to kiss her. Other than that I hope that the two boys are getting some storylines in the future of the series, or LIP SERVICE will have the same problem THE L WORD has: They can’t do anything with the guys, which is why they are always third- or fourth-row characters. And gone way too soon.

A solid premiere for the series. Underwhelming if you loved THE L WORD, good if you overlook the CW beauty cast. I’m not really hooked, but I’m not disappointed. 7/10

It's a shitty job to be a can with a cap

Sometimes, the past can be funny and enlightened