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(voice over) ‘On last week’s Hotchka post about Dietland …’ (end voice over)
‘By their very nature, women are strange … bonkers, even. Knowing this, I thought I would take the plunge, remove myself from my comfort zone and delve into Dietland …’ tweet
…where I’m probably about to get into all sorts of trouble.
So be it. Here goes.
Things begin to get tense over at Austen Media because of the subversive, shadowy ‘Jennifer’ group which has now disposed of seven different men who the group decided needed to made an example of, mainly by having them free fall out of the sky. (The drama of such is not lost on the viewer nor the characters in Dietland.) Kitty Montgomery is obviously itchy that Austen Media, her magazine Daisy Chain and its employees (and, primarily, herself) are next on Jennifer’s list. Does it have anything to do with the fact she has a tail on Plum Kettle in an effort to see if she’s the mole who has been subverting Daisy Chain’s loyal readership? Naturally suspicious at every turn, Kitty intends to get to the bottom of things.
Meanwhile, Plum is in full compliance with Verena Baptist’s offer to submit to her methodologies as the perfect spokesperson for Baptist, so much so Plum has gone cold turkey on her anti-depression medications. It turns out that’s not a good idea because of all the side effects that can manifest themselves … and do. Dizziness, hallucinations, fatigue, freed inhibitions, you name it.
So, here’s where I open my mouth and insert my foot …
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At that convenience store Plum is at where the woman in line behind her is being harassed by the asshole, coming on to the woman in plain view and volume to all in the store: It’s a store in a big city, naturally harboring security cameras. Add to that a half dozen women witnessing the jerkwadiness that guy foists on the woman in question. Why didn’t any of the women cold-cock the dude? Why didn’t any of them simply rush the guy and dog pile on him while the police were called? The cameras would have caught all going on, the women could have told the authorities they were in fear for the one being singled out and the guy would have been taken away in cuffs? Instead, all anyone did was call the guy out and point a cell phone in his direction noting he was being recorded. The police would have sided with all the woman and not the man, being there were half a dozen witnesses, not to mention the store owner behind the counter. If the #metoo movement has the power behind it and women are so gung-ho as to confront jerks like that guy, why not dive in? Instead, the guy takes off no worse for wear. Meanwhile, the woman he harassed is mentally compromised by his taunts and lewdness. The Question: What’s changed?
No, maybe it’s not tit for tat to jump the guy. But the message would come across loud and clear, let me tell you. It could result in huge positivity for the #metoo contingent. Not for the fact feminists everywhere are willing to go all fisticuffy on any Neanderthals lurking about but to send the message they’re mad as hell and they’re not going to take it any more. I mean … why not? (Better yet, let’s use this episode’s title: ‘Y Not’ … ??? (How cheeky.)
Now, let’s see if I can fit my left foot comfortably in with my right foot that’s already firmly planted in my pie hole …
Question: Is it fashionable for everyone and his brother to have some sort of debilitating depression or OCD or addiction that renders them unable to deal with the public or super sensitive to what others say and do? Because the little rant Plum mouthed off at her mother and Steven when they came calling at her apartment pigeon-holed her in that category to a “T” when you think about it. And I have a problem with that. Mainly: Why does she give a rat’s ass? If she’s that miserable working for Kitty and all the insulting abuse that comes with her, why continue? Why put up with Steven if he’s just going to cajole her about men and life and love incessantly? Why does Plum even submit to anything her mother says if she can’t stand to do so? Stop talking to her on the phone! Tell Steven to fluff off! Get a new job! I was afraid Plum was going to turn into just this kind of character and she has. Why? So that the audience who can relate to her can commiserate and understand where she’s coming from? So they can point in her direction and cry out ‘That’s exactly what I’m going through! I can relate!’ So we can chalk several more excuses on why woman can’t get ahead in the world because of all the judgments and unreal expectations they carry each and every day?
Look … I don’t have a real point of reference when it comes to what women actually bear day in and day out. I only have mine. And there’s a lot I don’t put up with … and I’m vocal about it, consequences be damned. But if Plum’s going to burden herself with not only her excuses and worries and heap others’ concerns and advices on top of those she already lugs around, what’s the point?
Oh, that’s right. Dietland is supposed to be satire, isn’t it? Isn’t it? Or is it commentary on real life situations, at least for some women’s lives out there?
Maybe I just don’t get it. Because, right now, the secretive unknown of Jennifer is the best part of the show currently. And we don’t know anything about them yet.
Hey, I know: Let’s delve into next week’s episode and see if anything makes more sense to me, okay?
Dietland airs Mondays at 9:00 PM on AMC.
What did you think of Dietland? Tell us in the comments below!
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