![]() There’s care and attention paid to the show’s production design, from Jessie’s brightly decorated flat to Tom’s more modern, subdued place. Anamorphic lenses give the show a cinematic look, with a vibrancy rooted in Jessie’s own colorful aesthetic. Jessie is a big film nerd, and “Starstruck”’s style evinces a team who is equally enamored of the movies. Matafeo has such a fast delivery that it’s no surprise when Jessie claims “ His Girl Friday” as her favorite film she sprints through dialogue with an ease that would make Rosalind Russell proud. Matafeo and co-writers Alice Snedden and Nic Sampson never forget the “com” part of rom-com, with enough jokes in each episode that I felt like I needed to apologize to my neighbors for the shrieks of laughter. However, it’s not just the romance between Jessie and Tom that makes the series a must-watch for rom-com fans. ![]() But what makes “Starstruck” so watchable is how these two people are still so loveable and likable amidst their believable behavior and responses that might occasionally make you yell at the screen in frustrated empathy. The character is an actor who never seems to know the right thing to say if it’s not scripted - and sometimes not even then, given the frequent digs at many of his career choices by those around him. It would be easy for “Starstruck” to idolize Tom, but the series treats him as a whole, flawed person despite his celebrity status. Jessie’s continued presence in London should make things easier in her relationship with Tom, but, as her MVP BFF Kate ( Emma Sidi) tells her, Jessie is a “messy bitch.” Her prickliness adds internal challenges to the exterior culture clash between Tom’s world and Jessie’s, as she struggles with making a commitment. After the second season premiere (aptly titled “Stay”) replays their swoon-inducing kiss at the back of a bus, it quickly cuts to Jessie freaking out in a panic over the enormity of her decision (a perfectly reasonable reaction). In the season one finale, Jessie decided to stay with Tom in London, rather than fly home to her native New Zealand for good. ![]() The comedy continues to take advantage of the episodic nature of television, dipping in and out of the on-again, off-again romance of aimless Jessie (creator and co-writer Rose Matafeo) and famous actor Tom ( Nikesh Patel), hitting the highlights of holidays and pivotal moments in their lives over the course of a year. With its breezy running time of 22-ish minutes, the season coincidentally totals about as long as a movie rom-com, but “Starstruck” doesn’t feel like someone simply hacked a film script into sixths. The second season is nearly as strong as the just-about-perfect first go-round, offering a half-dozen more bingeable episodes (though lacking a moment as instantly iconic as Jessie’s post-hook-up dance to “Return of the Mack”). READ MORE: ‘Starstruck’ Season 2 Trailer: Rose Matafeo’s Charming UK RomCom Series Returns With Romance Beyond Flings However, with its outsized doses of wit and warmth, “Starstruck” delights above and beyond that basic premise, charming the pants off the audience and seducing them into watching six straight episodes in their pajamas. On its surface, the British import on HBO Max seems like a standard wish-fulfillment fantasy à la “ Notting Hill”: a “normie” finds unlikely romance with a star. What happens after you blow up your entire life to be with the person you love? The second season of “ Starstruck” explores the question that rom-coms generally leave unanswered after their happy endings, wisely acknowledging that a big romantic gesture doesn’t erase all the obstacles present between two people getting - and staying - together.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |