Venice the Series Ep. 2 – Guya, Huh? What?
December 21, 2009 by admin
Filed under Entertainment, Web
I discovered three things from watching the second episode of Venice, the series. One, Michelle Carter can portray a believable character. Two, by using the F-bomb, there is a definite, realistic, made-for-cable set up. And three, Hillary B. Smith’s boobs were not the only thing dramatically over the top in the final scene…not that I am complaining (about the boobs).
The opening scene provides a nice and immediate set up of Michelle Carter’s character as Gina’s assistant. The relationship between Gina and Michele is professional, yet personal and relaxed. The scene sets the dynamic quickly providing adequate exposition that Michele is an organized asset to Gina’s work schedule and possibly her personal life. Carter creates a realistic portrayal of the often unseen wizard working the machine from behind the curtain, someone so many of us couldn’t function without. I anticipate seeing more from Carter, so mission accomplished.
Gina’s choice of “fuck-tard” in reference to a client builds on the character’s previously established lack of sensitivity. Gina is emotionally bankrupt, and her mouth is writing checks her conscience can’t cover. Technically, allowing Chappell’s swearing is establishing the series as a representational cable alternative with daytime actors. I applaud the production team for rejecting the socially sanitary “jerk” and the like. I can almost forgive the morning after tank tops…almost…as the beyond PG-13 language is realistic in my world. I have been known to drop the occasional F-bomb myself. Ok, I admit it, at times I tend to carpet bomb as an offensive.
Constructively, I have to say the last scene with Hillary B. Smith and Tina Sloan just didn’t work for me. Unless they are setting up Smith’s Guya character as a grifter (and I sincerely hope so), the desire to be overly quirky both in writing and editing plays as if Guya doesn’t yet exist in Gina’s world. If Guya is not being played as a confidence woman that preys on the loneliness of wealthy widows, then her overt spirituality is being portrayed more of a carnival sideshow than with the metaphysical homage it deserves. If Guya is going to be the “tent pole” character for the Brogno kids, it’s difficult to take her seriously unless I know she is “playing” for a mark. Considering the talent of these two veterans of stage and the daytime screen, there has to be a reason for the heavy hand and the broad strokes. Could the final reveal of the tarot card be the foreshadowing of Tina’s character in season two as hinted on Twitter? I don’t know. And could there be a statement in the very last card, the fool? Perhaps. Frequent readers of my work know I am a huge fan of the use of lightheartedness and comedy, but I wish this wasn’t the first time Aunt Guya was introduced.
I want to be emotionally vested in these characters. I want to glimpse their personalities in reference to the whole and how they relate to the lead character. Right now it seems I am watching independent vignettes without the benefit of progressive personal harmony. I agree exposition is necessary, but exposition as it is relative to character association, not just exposition for exposition’s sake. Just as it was accomplished with Gina’s assistant, Michele, it is important to subtly lead new viewers, not privy to the genesis of this series, to the acknowledgment that Owen is Gina’s brother and that overly eccentric character is Guya, Gina’s maternal aunt. Their relationships, their interactions, and their combined behavior ramifications keep a viewer wanting more and willing to invest not only time, but money.
As a viewer and potential subscriber, I have honestly and constructively reviewed my Venice experience so far. It is no state secret that I want this endeavor to succeed; it’s potential in a new genre is overwhelming. The series is a work in progress, and as with all babies in infancy, can benefit from those not quite so close to the mother. I made a promise to be impartial and tell it like I see it. It’s my personal experience that large, rose-colored glasses have been of little benefit to anyone but Elton John. I look forward to seeing the vision hindsight brings.
Thank you for looking beyond the rose colored glasses and giving us a truly contructive and honest review. You hit the nail on the head…
Loved your review and agree HBS boobs are over top(but nice)but thought the scene was funny I’m looking forward to the rest of the season. L
Hit my points perfectly. I too support the series but just like I have with every storyline on TV (or more importantly every political move I have watched happen in my life time) will tell it like it is and prefer others do too. The cast is compelling and the threads seem interesting but the arcing is far to inclusive. An audience member can’t simply turn on the computer and tune in. You need to be well versed on the characters coming in and that is the pitfall of the way they edited things with Guya.
Like the tiny slip of not dropping in Owen being her brother in episode one. For me, episode two in it’s second half was like a completely different web series. The tone was not only disjointed but the characters were completely unknown to us as to how they tie into the big picture. The thread, I would say, was broken.
Would have much preferred to have met Guya through the eyes of her niece first to ground the character. I also REALLY hope that we learn Guya is conning Tina’s character because otherwise the campiness of the scene would seem very disrespectful of the character’s passion for the spiritual. I agree comedy is fine but dropping something completely off the wall into a world established thus far as being realistic soapy drama would be like mixing the realistic story and shooting style of Guiding Light in the final year with the over the top silliness of Passions.
Not dissing the actors here – they clearly did as they were instructed in script or direction but the tone seems way off.
Looking forward to episode 3.
Thanks for being real schmootz!
Thanks for the recap! Thanks for keeping it impartial!
I was thinking the same thing when I saw these two and that was ” who the hell are these folks” no backstory just in your face. I was also thinking where the heck is Annie and Gina where is Laura. I don’t think I will care for these two characters and the less I see of them without the main characters around the better.
“If Guya is not being played as a confidence woman that preys on the loneliness of wealthy widows, then her overt spirituality is being portrayed more of a carnival sideshow than with the metaphysical homage it deserves.”
You articulated this very well. Guya came off like a charlatan and that surprised me. I believed from past descriptions of her, she was to be a more solid and stable family friend to Gina and I don’t see how that can be. The scene didn’t work for me for a number of reasons, but mostly, I was just disappointed that it was written (or a improv?) so shallowly.
Very.Well.Written
I too wish for Venice too succeed, but my attention is very hard to keep. The delay in showing Ep 2, the server issues, then finally seeing the episode which was lacking in continuity, sound quality and solid writing has made my attention wane even further. Looking for Ep 3 to turn things around.
To me,I’m waiting for the first few eps, before I pass any critical judgement. Right now, the tone and characters of the show are introduced, and I have yet to get a real feel for them.
I watched the first ep with friends, and one of them asked whether Owen was the third in the boy-girl-girl threesome, so I guess,introducing him as the bro would have been kinda productive;-)
I’m really wondering how much the show will be able to stand on its own two feet, aside from the actual fan support.
Do you have to be an outright Venice fan, or will it be able to match “The L Word” in pop culture status..Only time will tell, I guess.^^
Thanks for the review! I see all of your points. If you don’t have a background in the story, then you don’t know what you are seeing. However, I am trying to keep an open mind b/c this _is_ the beginning. I particularly enjoyed Michelle’s scene..I want to see more of her. I enjoyed watching two pros like Tina Sloan and HBS mix it up..HB has a great voice! I’m not sure what to think of her character at the moment; hoping a future ep will clear that up.
I, too, want Venice to succeed..the potential impact of this series _is_ overwhelming!
I can see if you didn’t know the background of Guya you would wonder where she fits in. The whole series is 72 minutes and at some point they needed for us to see her in action but you are right that should have come after an introduction through Gina. So many of us already know about the particulars of the series it may have been assumed we were up to speed. I never looked at Guya as a grifter but more a woman finding a way to be needed. In the area where I live she wouldn’t be the first person I see to be over the top like that. From what I heard about the character of Guya, and as a Hillary B. Smith fan, I knew she was the perfect person to deliver it. I’ve got to say with the utmost respect I enjoyed HBS boobs. “F-tard” not so much and I have dropped the F-Bomb plenty of times. I think Venice is gonna do just fine.
I loved your recap/review of episode 2. Will you recap the rest of the season?