Sure, I get a perverse kick out of pairing two shows as wildly different as The Following (about an unrealistically well-organized cult of serial killers) and HBO’s new series “Looking” (about gay men and their relationships in San Francisco). What will I group together tomorrow? Duck Dynasty and Andy Cohen Live?
The Following…I’m not entirely excited that this show got renewed for a second season. Last year, each individual episode got more ridiculous than the one before it. By the end of the season, Joe Carrol’s cult seemed more like a paramilitary group complete with helicopters, defense contractor connections, and military-style planning…It was more than a little hard to believe that rightwing anti-government militias would be all that invested in a cult based on gothic romanticism.
Exactly what Carroll’s cult believes and their incrementally murkier mythology doesn’t become any clearer in tonight’s season premiere. Highlights: A subway attack with killers wearing Joe Carroll masks, a flashback where Kevin Bacon’s dour Agent Hardy was actually having fun (or pretending to), and creepy homicidal twins. Still, it’s a rather lackluster premiere altogether. Grade: C+
Looking…Right up front the show isn’t shying away from showing gay sex (the opening scene is a hookup in a park). People might say it’s homophobic to describe the scenes as graphic, but what separates the nudity/sex here from other HBO series (like “Girls” or even “Game of Thrones”) is that there’s no goofy humor or obvious ploys at showing boobs on a fantasy show. “Looking” is much more of a relationship drama (I would call it a half-hour drama more than anything close to a comedy) and there’s no veil of humor or obvious “entertainment” value to the hookups to filter out their realism. It’s much more direct…and uncomfortable.
As for the show itself, I think Jonathan Groff is a likable lead but his character is the only one who stands out so far. His bad date with a medical resident who’s not impressed he hasn’t had longer relationships would be relatable to anyone. Grade: B-