I enjoyed season 1 pretty much for its realistic approach and the inclusion of pretty dark and cynical humour and its wit. Sadly, season 2 can't hold up to that and there is one main reason for it: clinical depression.
In season 1 we get to see these two characters, who are incapable of having a healthy, "normal" relationship. We don't know why these two are incapable but that is okay, as the show tries to convey even if you are not able to have a healthy relationship with another person you want one nontheless. This season ends with those two people move in together due to circumstances. Season 2 on the other hand feels like it wants a cheap copout. We have these two people living together now and need to shake things up. We need something to throw in the gears to remind everyone that these two have issues and to keep the show running with its premise. Hence they are giving Gretchen the sobstory of having clinical depression. Worst of all, she never took medicine or talked to a doctor about it and pretty much half of this whole season was simply unnecessary as it turns out. It came out of nowhere and could have been avoided entirely. But if we consider her taking medicine, they could have completely left out the clinical depression thing. With that we wouldn't have had the drama, filling great parts of this season and the depression would be useless.
Why can't both persons in this be healthy but simply incapable by nature? Why bring sickness into it? Simply for awareness? To convey the idea that even then you can get happy somehow? I think it's highly questionable, as is that the female character gets this depth while the male character simply grew up in a dysfunctional family ("boring" and glossed over very quickly because unimportant compared to depression). Because the woman has to be the victim of course, while the man is simply a product of unfortunate circumstances and we can't do anything for him or there's no need to do anything. But of course, if the man would be the depressive one, he'd be the center of attention and the woman has to be the emotionally strong pillar for the man to rescue him. Not only is this depression story branch unnecessary, taking way too much time of the season, it is out of balance no matter what gender gets it and with that a bad decision overall...
It's like both season endings were considered the show's ending as well, in case there was no renewal. It still is an enjoyable season, less for the main duo, less for the wit that was lost in this season but more because of the shenanigans between Lindsay/Edgar and Edgar growing up and I loved to see him interact with his girlfriend, the actress is perfect for that character and sooo cute, especially when biting her lips when smiling. Not really looking forward for season 3 that was ordered, though as I think it'll get worse from here.
Review by ds1BlockedParentSpoilers2016-04-24T16:02:20Z
I enjoyed season 1 pretty much for its realistic approach and the inclusion of pretty dark and cynical humour and its wit.
Sadly, season 2 can't hold up to that and there is one main reason for it: clinical depression.
In season 1 we get to see these two characters, who are incapable of having a healthy, "normal" relationship.
We don't know why these two are incapable but that is okay, as the show tries to convey even if you are not able to have a healthy relationship with another person you want one nontheless. This season ends with those two people move in together due to circumstances.
Season 2 on the other hand feels like it wants a cheap copout. We have these two people living together now and need to shake things up. We need something to throw in the gears to remind everyone that these two have issues and to keep the show running with its premise. Hence they are giving Gretchen the sobstory of having clinical depression. Worst of all, she never took medicine or talked to a doctor about it and pretty much half of this whole season was simply unnecessary as it turns out.
It came out of nowhere and could have been avoided entirely.
But if we consider her taking medicine, they could have completely left out the clinical depression thing. With that we wouldn't have had the drama, filling great parts of this season and the depression would be useless.
Why can't both persons in this be healthy but simply incapable by nature? Why bring sickness into it? Simply for awareness? To convey the idea that even then you can get happy somehow? I think it's highly questionable, as is that the female character gets this depth while the male character simply grew up in a dysfunctional family ("boring" and glossed over very quickly because unimportant compared to depression).
Because the woman has to be the victim of course, while the man is simply a product of unfortunate circumstances and we can't do anything for him or there's no need to do anything. But of course, if the man would be the depressive one, he'd be the center of attention and the woman has to be the emotionally strong pillar for the man to rescue him. Not only is this depression story branch unnecessary, taking way too much time of the season, it is out of balance no matter what gender gets it and with that a bad decision overall...
It's like both season endings were considered the show's ending as well, in case there was no renewal.
It still is an enjoyable season, less for the main duo, less for the wit that was lost in this season but more because of the shenanigans between Lindsay/Edgar and Edgar growing up and I loved to see him interact with his girlfriend, the actress is perfect for that character and sooo cute, especially when biting her lips when smiling.
Not really looking forward for season 3 that was ordered, though as I think it'll get worse from here.