rushed and amateur. Cut to
love everlasting or just a fling,
the next scene and, because
and it ends. Not a lot actually
we barely got to see it, all of
happens, but what makes the
the awkwardness and humor
movie intriguing is the situ-
plotlines. The main char-
is implicated by the droning
ation and what makes the
sit and sleep-watch another
acter
by
conversation he and the two
movie successful is enough
episode of Looking, much the
Jonathan Groff, is a video
other main characters, Dom
time to make us care about
same as I did with Glee and
game designer. He's attrac-
and Agustin, have while they
the characters. Haigh has
The Walking Dead. This new
tive, shy, and romantically
walk to the bus stop and sit
the ability to create a bond
show, airing on HBO, and
and sexually inexperienced,
around smoking. There's a
between audience and char-
having premiered this past
prime material for excite-
lot of talking in the show.
acter in relatively short story
January, follows the lives of
ment. The first time we meet
They spend so much time
time. He struggles to bring
three friends in San Francisco
him he's crawling around the
talking they don't have time
that to Looking. It’s diffcult to
who all happen to be gay. The
woods and we're unsure of
to do anything else (like make
bond with three main char-
show's hook is a promise to
what he's doing exactly. He
Patrick seem more painfully
acters, and therefore three
show gay men realistically. I
gets to a small clearing and
awkward through action).
different
was drawn in by this promise
it turns out another man was
Time is a technical issue for
at first and, so far, they've
following him and he was
the show and I'm not sure why
There is hope, though.
delivered.
characters
cruising. The other man starts
they chose to go with a thirty
Episode five does what the
feel genuine. They have jobs
to unbuckle Patrick's belt
minute airing. Thirty minute
other episodes wouldn't. We
and struggles and hobbies.
and Patrick fumbles around
shows are usually reserved for
follow Patrick on a day-long
None of them seem particu-
for words to say, introducing
comedies or cartoons, forms
date he has with a man named
larly adept at anything, they
himself and trying to get the
of entertainment that don't
Richie. There is no one else to
aren't politicians, or celebri-
name of the man who now
hinge on any real character
interrupt the story. The pace
ties, they aren't ruthless or
has his hand down his pants.
development. Since Looking
is slow, but not stagnant. They
morally superior, they are just
Patrick kisses the man, in an
tries to be real, not necessarily
go to Golden Gate Park, they
average people. More impor-
attempt to make the moment
comedic, it requires fleshed
see a fortune teller of sorts
tantly, these characters are
more intimate perhaps, and is
out characters, but with a
who only speaks Spanish, we
not defined by their gayness.
rebuffed. His phone rings and
limited run time they have to
see them being intimate with
Watching characters who feel
Patrick excuses himself
to
revert to talking to move the
each other. When the char-
like an accurate representa-
answer the call. The moment
story forward. Andrew Haigh,
acters aren't rushed, when
tion of me and people I know
tries to be awkward, it tries
an executive producer of the
we have time to see them
is refreshing, but, unfortu-
to
maybe
show, wrote for and directed
change, we can connect with
nately for Looking, this isn't
arousing, but because it lasts
the movie Weekend, a movie
them. You don't really need
enough to save a show from
only a moment, none of that
that is similar in tone and
action then. If Looking would
being dreadfully boring.
comes through. In reality, an
pacing of Looking. Weekend
stop talking and start doing
The problem with Looking
awkward person like Patrick
is about the brief relationship
it wouldn't be so boring. I'll
is that it relies heavily on the
would probably leave as
two men have over, as the title
continue to tune in, for now; I
premise of reality while fore-
quickly as he does, but on
suggests, a weekend. They
like having noise in the back-
going things like exciting
screen, the story comes off
meet, they bond, it could be
ground while I sleep.
By Matt D. Sullivan
Once a week I make myself
The
be
Patrick,
played
humorous,
storylines,
in
a
matter of ten minutes each.
LinQ
9
ENTERTAINMENT
Sleep; Or, Watch Looking?