I must say, to begin with, that the first two episodes were really good. I actually watched them twice, and judging from them alone the series is quite fabulous. The filming is great, the developments of the main characters are quite good as well (and enables you to ignore the very static and stereotypical nature of other characters, similarities shared with MTV's "Awkward.").
From these two episodes I received the feeling that something really was about to happen in Suburbia; a gay cuple was presented (but they both had wives), the guy across the street had only his sex appeal as an asset and the father George is a single parent to a teenager. However, as the series move forward as I watch one episode after another it seems like nothing is right.
I must say, there were things in the first two episodes that I reacted on, but held for myself as I thought that "Suburgatory" had a lot more to offer. First off, finding condoms in Tessa's dresser does not sound like a good enough excuse to move to the suburbs, especially not since they encounter even worse obstacles in that area as soon as they get to Suburbia. In fact, I can't even think of a single good reason for the family to stay; Tessa is obviously not guided into a morally better path, neither George nor Tessa actually like the clingy nature of their neighbours or their traditions, and there obviously aren't any jobs around for George (what kind of an architect builds windows??).
What also bugs me is the authority of George. Firstly, when he asks Dallas for sincere advice about the condoms he does not take her opinion into consideration, never does it cross his mind (really) that he might have been overreacting. Tessa obviously shows him the product of what she is exposed to in Suburbia, and he admits to having ruined her life, however the next time they talk and she makes it clear that she really does not comfortable in their new environment all she needs to hear is that 'he has a feeling that it's going to work out alright', and she gives him a smile of conformity. She seems like such a strong-willed and smart girl at first, I can't see why she would agree that easily (without a legitimate reason). To me, it seems like Tessa and George are a married couple, or at least that George has never taken care of his daughter until recently (and hence made some rather odd decisions). She seems so much more mature compared to George, still she gets no say in the house. There simply is no balance of power.
What I am also concerned about is that fact that the episodes do not seem to come together in a smooth way. For instance, one of the episodes ends with a great revelation, but it is not even mentioned in the next episode. We get to know people in the first two or thee episodes that we don't see anything of in other episodes, and the focus on the very static character Dalia is too great.
When it comes to morals, this series is telling me e.g. that no matter how valid my arguments are I should always conform to the opinions of a man (even if they make no sense). Another thing one may learn is that housewives are all stupid, and that a father doesn't have to be as much of a parent as a mother, in fact if the child is a daughter she needs to be her own parent.
There are so many things that one can react on when it comes to this series, and I believe that the reason why there are people who like Suburbatory is because they have not yet seen that many episodes. I have seen eight now, and I can't get any further (I'll seriuously explode in anger). Watch it at your own risk, but don't get surprised when it turns out the way I have described. Please, I'm begging for some unity in the scrips, and some new writers!
From these two episodes I received the feeling that something really was about to happen in Suburbia; a gay cuple was presented (but they both had wives), the guy across the street had only his sex appeal as an asset and the father George is a single parent to a teenager. However, as the series move forward as I watch one episode after another it seems like nothing is right.
I must say, there were things in the first two episodes that I reacted on, but held for myself as I thought that "Suburgatory" had a lot more to offer. First off, finding condoms in Tessa's dresser does not sound like a good enough excuse to move to the suburbs, especially not since they encounter even worse obstacles in that area as soon as they get to Suburbia. In fact, I can't even think of a single good reason for the family to stay; Tessa is obviously not guided into a morally better path, neither George nor Tessa actually like the clingy nature of their neighbours or their traditions, and there obviously aren't any jobs around for George (what kind of an architect builds windows??).
What also bugs me is the authority of George. Firstly, when he asks Dallas for sincere advice about the condoms he does not take her opinion into consideration, never does it cross his mind (really) that he might have been overreacting. Tessa obviously shows him the product of what she is exposed to in Suburbia, and he admits to having ruined her life, however the next time they talk and she makes it clear that she really does not comfortable in their new environment all she needs to hear is that 'he has a feeling that it's going to work out alright', and she gives him a smile of conformity. She seems like such a strong-willed and smart girl at first, I can't see why she would agree that easily (without a legitimate reason). To me, it seems like Tessa and George are a married couple, or at least that George has never taken care of his daughter until recently (and hence made some rather odd decisions). She seems so much more mature compared to George, still she gets no say in the house. There simply is no balance of power.
What I am also concerned about is that fact that the episodes do not seem to come together in a smooth way. For instance, one of the episodes ends with a great revelation, but it is not even mentioned in the next episode. We get to know people in the first two or thee episodes that we don't see anything of in other episodes, and the focus on the very static character Dalia is too great.
When it comes to morals, this series is telling me e.g. that no matter how valid my arguments are I should always conform to the opinions of a man (even if they make no sense). Another thing one may learn is that housewives are all stupid, and that a father doesn't have to be as much of a parent as a mother, in fact if the child is a daughter she needs to be her own parent.
There are so many things that one can react on when it comes to this series, and I believe that the reason why there are people who like Suburbatory is because they have not yet seen that many episodes. I have seen eight now, and I can't get any further (I'll seriuously explode in anger). Watch it at your own risk, but don't get surprised when it turns out the way I have described. Please, I'm begging for some unity in the scrips, and some new writers!