TV Tuesdays Free Talk

I thought Netflix's Marriage Story would leave a bitter taste in my mouth, and it did, but not for the reasons I anticipated. The film is the character study of a failing couple, much like Bergman's Scenes from a Marriage and its 2021 HBO remake. So lots of resentful dialogue, either overt or under the surface.

In reality, this movie might have been called Divorce Story, since that's what it's actually about.

It's a very hard watch for someone who, like me, saw their parents divorce. It is also the kind of story that can make you think about your own relationships, what you did wrong, and how you might improve. In that sense, it's a very scary movie, because it's not something I can easily write off as fantasy.

For most of the film, I couldn't stop thinking that Scarlett Johansson's character was, well, kind of a bitch. I mean, Adam Driver's character was a cheating asshole, but his bad behavior was more of an unplanned consequence of his screwed-up personality, while her vindictiveness felt more like something she consciously agreed with. As if the judicial fight served as a way to get back at him for being a terrible husband. Edit: and that is never really addressed...

Noah Baumbach wrote this movie shortly after his own divorce, and it is hard not to think that some of his angst and frustrations ended up in the movie. The story would probably have a more universal appeal if the wife wasn't so petty. As it is, Marriage Story is basically the story of a terrible, self-centered, cheating husband who has his life dragged through the mud to appease the vindictiveness of a temperamental wife who uses court proceedings to bully him into submission.

In the end, I don't feel I learned much about relationships from this movie. As long as couples avoid being total assholes to each other, they'll probably be okay.

Also: it's probably not a good idea to have your wife as a subordinate and exert total control over her career. Ask Mia Farrow. Just saying.

DMZ starts this week.

DMZ leaps off the pages of the acclaimed DC graphic novel into the visual landscape of a dangerous and distorted Manhattan as one woman navigates a demilitarized zone in a harrowing quest to find her lost son.

Its got Rosario Dawson, so it should be decent.

Continuing my newfound Formula1 obsession, I crushed Drive to Survive season 4. The early reviews for it weren't great, but I think its because people wanted a lot of artificial drama. This season is more of a document, which is better. After the first season, Max Verstappen decided not to participate due to the inflated drama.

Outside of this, Our Flag Means Death is the series I'm most looking forward to each week. We got three episodes for each of the first two weeks and will get two each for the last two. Its a nice middle ground.

The Ms Marvel trailer seems good.