Horpe/MaxFriends, gather 'round and nestle into a discussion that, while honest and fair, may leave us all a bit blue, because this current season of "The Sex Lives of College Girls" has me utterly deflated! I genuinely cherished the first two installments, not because they shattered any creative boundaries in the Mindy Kaling cosmos (case in point: "Never Have I Ever," "The Mindy Project," and even "Velma"), but for the camaraderie and growth among this ensemble of female friends. Leighton's vibrant presence certainly added a spark, yet her absence isn't solely the culprit here. The real issue lies in how lifeless and disjointed these narratives have become, as if we're merely assigning arbitrary chores to fill time until a climactic moment forces them all to unite.
Take this week's episode, for instance: Kimberly has a day off—exciting, right? Imagine the fun she could have bonding with her buddies! Alas, such camaraderie is not in the cards today, as Kimberly's sole identity this season revolves around being a "quirky nerd." So, what does she do? Embark on an Essex campus tour? Seriously? Is this engaging? Does it enrich our understanding of her character? Absolutely not! Is this a fresh twist on our beloved nerdy Kimberly? Hardly! And is this tour merely a contrivance to set up a flirtation and eventual kiss with Brian, one of the mega-nerds from Tig Notaro's law class? You bet! But... why? Couldn't they have found another way to bring these two together? They share a class already; why revisit the worn-out trope of "Kimberly's Essex fetish"? It reveals nothing fresh about her and actually detracts from my affection for her character, as her actions keep repeating the same, tired trio.
No soul is immune to this dreaded narrative drudgery. Bela and Arvind have yet to consummate their relationship, a fact that clearly weighs heavily on her mind. Yet, considering their limited screen time together, spanning barely a handful of scenes, their lack of intimacy doesn't come as a bolt from the blue. While I'm on this tangent, might as well vent about my confusion regarding their bond. While it's beneficial for Bela to realize that not all men are short-tempered comedy geeks who mistreat her, the Bela I've come to know would find this gentleman utterly uninspiring. Their relationship occupies an awkward space in my heart. Narratively, it aligns that Bela desires a fresh start, dabbling in something non-comedic for a change. But is that it? A fleeting remark in the season premiere, and Bela's comedy journey comes to an abrupt halt? I yearn to delve deeper into how this transition impacts her or whether her newfound passion for FAF-ing (whatever that may be) fills the void in her heart. Alas, such insights remain unforthcoming, as the narrative solely revolves around Arvind and Taylor. Watching this unfold is anything but entertaining!
Speaking of unentertaining dynamics: Kacey and Taylor! A hallmark of a stellar sitcom lies in its ability to seamlessly integrate new characters, revealing unexpected quirks that complement existing ones or offering fresh perspectives on familiar faces. Regrettably, these two characters seem shoehorned into the narrative to fill the void left by Leighton. One, a blonde queer individual; the other, an image-obsessed prep. It's as if Leighton was literally bisected into two. Yet, what insights do we garner from Whitney, Bela, and Kimberly's interactions with them? They hint at untapped depths within both, yet we remain in the dark about Taylor's complex relationship with alcohol, for instance. She merely targets Bela or her circle with malice, confesses her true intentions, and the cycle repeats in the next episode. This should come as no shock; I've been counting down her exits since her debut. As for Kacey, there's a glimmer of hope, perhaps? She has more to her story than Taylor, with her involvement in "BREAD! The Musical" and her obsession with appearance hinting at a potential arc. Yet, I find myself uninterested in her, resenting the screen time she diverts from the other characters.
Let's talk about Whitney, shall we? The sigh that just escaped me says it all. What on earth is going on with her? How did she end up with so many剧情 twists? Allow me to enumerate: (1) She's a #WomanInSTEM, an overachiever battling anxiety; (2) entangled in a love triangle with a wealthy hunk and her ex; (3) grappling with a sports injury while enduring emotional manipulation from her coach. And let's not forget her sorority days – such an odd detour for her, isolating her from the pack and fostering a disjointed sense of existence.
Yet, we all see where Whitney's storyline is heading, don't we? She's exhibiting all the hallmarks of someone poised to make a harrowing emotional blunder. She deceives Willow about her injury, freaks out about losing funding for her fish lab, and then flips out at Isaiah for securing the funding with his dad's money. Girl, your mom's a senator! Why the melodramatic poverty act, as if rich folks pulling strings is a novel concept? She berates him, he apologizes, but she rejects his contrition. Enter Canaan, who essentially echoes Isaiah's sentiment, tying it back to his scholarship experience. Really, Whitney? Considering your mom's political clout, I'm not buying it for a second.
And here's the crux: can we please distribute some of Whitney's剧情 to the other girls? I confess, it's amusing to poke fun at silly plot holes or perplexing character decisions. My witty asides and rhetorical flair are mostly self-amusement (oh, how I chuckle), but constant nitpicking isn't exactly exhilarating. I genuinely want this show to thrive; I crave watching these ladies grow, laugh, and perhaps, very occasionally, shed a tear. The potential here is boundless! Let's give Kimberly a character arc; she's just admiring the school's architecture, despite attending for a year. Wouldn't it be more fulfilling if Bela were entangled in a love triangle, perhaps with a guy she met during her comedic journey's detour? Imagine the fun in watching Bela rectify the mess she created last season? Wouldn't it be lovely if they mentioned receiving a text from Leighton or snapping a pic to send her way? How delightful would it be if a cohesive narrative thread grounded this show and its characters, weaving them together seamlessly? Please, I'm imploring you!
