Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce? Did you tune in?
I did. And so far, so good!
I’m not sure what I was expecting of Bravo’s first scripted series, Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce. The title and promos left me with mixed feelings. And while I’m a Lisa Edelstein fan (since House), and a Janeane Garofalo fan (since as long as I can remember), I’m not a fan of divorce though I believe it is often necessary.
And hey – I’m divorced, right?
I’m also not a fan of making light of the painful and serious implications of divorce in a culture that too often reveals itself to be self-absorbed, self-indulgent, and just plain silly when it comes to expectations in marriage. Yes, that would be us.
But, let me say… at least for this first episode, I was pleasantly surprised.
Sure, there’s a Sex and the City vibe to some of the scenes, with the addition of a distinct parental flair and 40+ update. So naturally, these girlfriend interactions hold appeal for any woman who loved the relationships on SATC. And of course, there’s an oh-so L.A. feel that may be foreign to me (personally), but is great fun to watch.
Overall, the writing was crisp, the characters quirky, and it looks to be a delicious ensemble cast. While my own Divorce Diet didn’t leave me looking like any of these lithe and lovely ladies – the emotional landscape is very familiar – confusion, embarrassment, anger, difficulty telling the kids what was going on, and in general, mixed feelings. It all seemed very real to me.
Here’s what I hope to see as the series progresses:
- Strong relationships forged among the women
- An honest depiction of what kids go through (and how each child differs in reactions)
- An honest depiction of financial disarray – even among the well-heeled
- Something of the in(s)anity of the judicial process
- Playful handling of Ms. Edelstein’s character as she explores her emotional and sexual freedoms
- These terrific women showing off their acting chops
As for protagonist Abby’s feelings about “the other woman” (estranged hubby’s much much much younger new girlfriend), it’s easy for most of us “of a certain age” to relate. No matter how great we feel (or feel like we look), we’re going to be apoplectic over the nubile young thing in the ex’s bed!
I’m also curious to see the ways in which these characters come together with the men they were once married to. (Again, I’m channeling Sex and the City, with the on again-off again relationship of Carrie and Big.) Some of Girlfriends’ Guide exes are friendly adversaries (or so it seems at this time), but in my own experience, I’ve observed more instances of “when I’m done, I’m done.”
Sure, it’s fiction. It’s entertainment. It’s “scripted.” All of the above require us to suspend our disbelief, and I for one am likely to do just that – long enough to stick around for a few more episodes.
How about you? What did you think?
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