I'm on vacation, but I got to see tonight's "Hung" (and last week's, which I didn't write about) before I left. No time to offer any thoughts beyond my fear that Tanya is setting herself up for major trouble with Lenore, but for those of you watching, I figured I'd offer up a chance to talk about what's going on. What did everybody else think?
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Hung, "This Is America; or Fifty Bucks": Suit up!
I'm on vacation, but I got to see tonight's "Hung" (and last week's, which I didn't write about) before I left. No time to offer any thoughts beyond my fear that Tanya is setting herself up for major trouble with Lenore, but for those of you watching, I figured I'd offer up a chance to talk about what's going on. What did everybody else think?
I was ok with the "Platonic ideal" rationale of not showing the show's namesake until this episode. Why show lady bits on screen?
ReplyDeleteWatching True Blood and Hung back-to-back, I can't help but see all sorts of Michelle Forbes/Rebecca Creskoff parallels.
ReplyDeleteIs it that the media needs to depict powerful, sexual women who don't defer to men as monsters? Or is that the easiest way to make a woman seem monstrous is to make her independent and sexually voracious?
I saw a preview screening of Lars von Trier's Anti-Christ, which I know is sparking some of these questions.
I'm glad the Jemma stuff is over, but I'm still annoyed by Lenore. Not surprised she'd try to steal Ray for herself, but Tanya really sucks at being a pimp. Her coworker recruiting scene reminded me of the Ray attempts at being his own pimp recently, but all he found was his ex-wife.
ReplyDeleteIt still doesn't seem like they know what to do with the two kids as characters. Making Damon gay seems too predictable and probably won't be alluded to again until the kids reappear 3 episodes from now or so unfortunately. They both remind me of the Osbourne children, so I wouldn't be surprised if the writers turn them into ripoffs of them soon too.
Does anybody actually watch this show?
ReplyDelete"Watching True Blood and Hung back-to-back, I can't help but see all sorts of Michelle Forbes/Rebecca Creskoff parallels."
ReplyDeleteYou read my mind. When I was watching Lenore tonight, I thought to myself "she's just like MaryAnn."
who called ray at the end of the episode...I couldnt see the phone screen. Im guessing it was either jemma or lenore...who was it!
ReplyDeleteI can't stand Tanya... her character is just so pathetic. Maybe I'm cold-hearted but I just don't sympathize at all. At this point I'm rooting for Lenore. IMO, Lenore is the best character on the show.
ReplyDeleteTanya is the most annoying character on tv. I'm mildly interested in the show but cringe everytime Tanya or Ray's kids are onscreen. If Ray had any sense at all he would drop her for Lenore. They are supposed to be running a business and Tanya is obviously clueless and inept.
ReplyDeleteIt was Lenore calling Ray at the end of the episode.
ReplyDeleteTanya is just not a good pimp. She doesn't have the temperament, and lacks the strong pimp hand, as it were. Clients clearly do not respect her, and Ray's loyalty to her is based on friendship, not respect for her business acumen. It's undoubtedly true that Lenore could make him lots more money than Tanya is, because she's ruthless, lacks conscience, and really cares about money. What working with her would turn Ray into is up for debate, and probably not anything good, but he would be making more money for sure.
ReplyDeleteI love it when Tanya is featured because she is so bad at her job. That's what makes the show interesting to me. She can't find a place in the world, so she's trying pimping. And like, everything else, she is failing. But, she's interesting when she does so.
ReplyDeleteI'm rooting for Lenore to drink Tanya's milkshake...and to then turn both his wife and son into escorts as well.
ReplyDeleteI laughed out loud when Thomas Jane said the HBO equivalent of his Arrested Development line, "I just want my kids back!"
ReplyDeleteEvery week I watch, and every week I wonder why.
ReplyDeleteA thought I had when Lenore and Jess first met in the salon, and after last night, it's reinforced: Lenore will convince Jess to hire a "happiness consultant." And ... end of season 1.
I love this show. Every episode I find interesting. I don't know why you people who don't like it watch it and then bother to criticise.
ReplyDeleteThe character interactions are subtle and the show is not about winners, it's about people learning how to reach out in small akward steps, and surprising themselves when sometimes things do work out when you try something daring.
just watched Hung today
ReplyDeleteand I can't help but feel as though Ray will be set up with his ex-wife through Lenore before the season is out (although I hope the show doesn't go this route)
Why did they pick those awkward kids to play in hung, they don't look anywhere close to Jess or Ray.. their hair colors makes me want to die
ReplyDeleteJesus Christ I fu**ing hate tanya, in fact this might be an infinitely better show with Lenore as Ray's pimp since those are the only two characters I do like, besides Jemma. Makes me sad that that probably won't happen. And lmao at the comment above mine, nice euphemism with awkward.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm not mistaken, next week is the season finale? That will make it pretty difficult to set Jess up with Big Donny in 27 minutes of screen time.
ReplyDeleteBut I do agree that plot point will come up down the road...hoping and assuming Hung gets picked up for a second season if it didn't already.
They've gone so far to make Tanya look pathetic (Piers in Havana?), I assume they're setting up a triumph for her where she outmuscles Lenore and proves her pimpworthiness.
ReplyDeleteFor a show with strong acting from the leads and an impressive behind-the-scenes group, there are a lot of boilerplate characters and plot devices thrown in.
I can't stand Lenore, but she's fun to watch. I'm rooting for poor, pathetic Tanya to pwn her soon.
ReplyDeleteI felt so bad for Ray when Jemma turned down his letter, and then later when he finds out she paid to humiliate him. I don't think he's quite learned his lesson about mixing business with pleasure, though.
I would hate to see him become a superstud by the next ep, too. I hope both he and Tanya continue growing into their roles because once they become good at it, the show will be less interesting, I fear.
"I can't stand Lenore, but she's fun to watch. I'm rooting for poor, pathetic Tanya to pwn her soon."
ReplyDeleteWell I for one dont, cause if/when she does, its not going to be one of those epic True Blood pwnages, it'll probably be more like one of those stuttering-indie-flick-pwns, compared to which I prefer a Dirty Sexy Money-slick Lenore seven days a week.
I keep waiting for something interesting to happen on this show but it never does. Will it ever? Lenore is the most interesting thing on the show, but in a show with a premise of flipping the sex object from female to male, why are we seeing full frontal nudity only of the woman?
ReplyDeletebecause his dick really isn't that big and they'd have to use prosthetics
ReplyDeletehypocrisy? tad bit
but it's life
> I can't stand Tanya...
ReplyDelete> her character is just
> so pathetic.
There are those who are straight, and those who are gay, and those who love Jane Adams.
- paraphrasing what someone once said about Emma Thompson
The problem with having Lenore be Ray's pimp is that Lenore's character is fully formed, and the only place for her to go is down. She would drag Ray down with her, which is not where I think the show wants to go. Tanya is far more interesting in her flaws, IMHO, and I would much rather see her grow and overcome people like Lenore vs. Lenore turning Ray into a male version of herself.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I don't think it's hypocritical of them not to show Ray's endowment since we're supposed to be intrigued by how big it truly is. Once they show us, the mystery's gone, and then you have the inevitable "It's not that big!" disappointment :-D
I like Jane Adams ( she plays a neurotic mess so well) and I enjoy her interaction with Ray. I think one of the points of the show is to show Tanya's inept inability to sell, "Happiness Consultants." Tanya's struggles are part of the plot of the show. I enjoy watching her.
ReplyDeleteI think both Jane's play well off one another.
Will Ray go with Lenore? As someone stated, if he does, he will be making more money but Lenore is dangerous.
Lenore does add some spice to the show.
Heche is not my favorite character in any shape or form. I would've preferred if they had gone with Kristin Bauer (who if I recall did the 1st pilot and then it was decided to cast Heche).
Will Jess and Ray meet up in the finale on the 9/13? I would feel that would be rushed.
Also, a final thought, as Anon 7:51pm 8/31, stated it is about people who are struggling (which reflects what is happening economically in real life) and attempting to take steps towards a better life through the means available.
-There are those who are straight, and those who are gay, and those who love Jane Adams.
ReplyDelete- paraphrasing what someone once said about Emma Thompson
Well, at least I'm consistent in life.
I'm also part of the Jane Adams fan club. Have you seen her in the Anniversary Party. Like someone before me said -- she's great at the neurotic mess.
ReplyDelete