Didn't like it.
I was really looking forward to it. I went to dinner with Sarah early, at 6:30, specifically so we could come home and watch it, and I was disappointed.
After watching Safran masturbate emotionally for a bit; making examples of wicked ex-girlfriends by stealing and sniffing their used underwear- an exercise in catharsis I'm sure; we were treated to the sight of him masturbating literally, at a Palestinian sperm bank.
Shock and self degradation are some Safran's strong points, along with embarrassing himself and displaying painful moments from his past in a kind of living awkward television vivisection. It's what he does. It's how he got famous. It's why he's here, but these are only some of his strong points.
Safran's strongest point is his intelligence, and last night's episode of Race Relations, to my disappointment, didn't offer any knowledge, insight, or intelligence. It was pretty much lowest common denominator stuff. It was funny- sitting down to a serious interview with a Pussycat Doll only to excuse himself to raid her dirty underwear in secret, and masturbating to an Obama biography being the best moments, but the laughs were cheap. Unlike Music Jamboree and Vs God, which felt a lot like learning, fulfilllingly so, Race Relations felt like the learning equivalent of when Mrs Killeen put on 'Outbreak' in year 9 science, because it was "too hot to teach".
I'm a really big fan of Safran's and I really want to like this, so here's hoping it will turn into the ethically provocative exploration of our post-race world it was promised to be. If not, I will probably just be satisfied with pepperings of Justin Heazlewood throughout the series, as there were in last night's episode. Oh Justin, I do love you madly.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Hey cyber-friend (fiend?)
ReplyDeleteI too was shit excited to watch Safran last night and ended up feeling a little used and grubby. I watched it with my mum and my partner, both of whom weren't too big on him in the first place, and ten minutes into it the three of us were visibly uncomfortable.
I told them to stick it out because there would very probably be some profound slash poignant musings by John at the end but there wasn't.
I felt bad for making them watch it. As for me I am going to stick it out because I like Safran and I think we are going to see something truly genius emerge in the coming weeks. And if I don't, Margaret and David will always be there waiting to soothe my ruffled feathers afterwards.
Who is Justin Heazlewood?
I have to admit that I didn't even watch it in the end. I decided I wasn't in the mood for smart stuff last night, but it seems from your review that it would've been perfect for my dumb mood! I'll watch it online tonight :)
ReplyDeleteJustin is the Bedroom Philosopher: Writer (Frankie, J-mag, Big Issue etc), comedian, and musician. He played John in the flashbacks. He was also seen doing some indcredibly unimpressive break-dancing in that Lawrence Lueng show. He is also my future husband.
ReplyDelete