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spotlightsaga · 7 years

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Kevin Cage of @spotlightsaga reviews... F is For Family (S02E03) The Liars Club Airdate: May 30, 2017 @fisforfamily Ratings: @netflix Original Privatized Ratings Score: 8.75/10 **********SPOILERS BELOW********* One thing I've never been accused of is being un-empathetic, at least not since a bit after high school anyway... It is quite possible I may have had some sort of horrible God complex like most did in their early stages of adulthood. I often question why I treated people certain ways or did things that I did. Not knowing any better really isn't a good answer. Sure, empathy is a trait you hone and grow into as you age and experience life's many different heartaches, but its also true that it does come naturally, eventually anyway. Sometimes there's just something inside you that literally allows you to cosmically switch shoes with someone in a blink of an eye... At times I can be so sensitive to other people's energy that I adopt their general mood or disposition. I know I'm not the only one, but I think there's a select few of us that had a very distinct opportunity to experience as much as humanly possible and it shapes the way we see the world. As a young, developing adult, I wanted to be as street smart as I was book smart. For me, you couldn't just have one without the other or else you opened yourself up for great windows of ignorance. I purposefully put myself in awkward and dangerous positions. Sometimes I'd even travel great distances with nothing but a few hundred bucks in my pocket and an eagerness to connect with others in any way possible, hoping it would somehow shape my maturity, worldliness, and understanding. I'd end up homeless, reveling in it, attempting to draw as much as possible from the experience instead of focusing on removing myself from a bad situation. Homelessness wasn't the only thing... I had to see, feel, and try everything I could, because for me, perspective was everything... And even as a wiser adult (with still so much to learn), it still is. There was a large stint in my life where I was unemployed like Frank (Bill Burr). I allowed my core values and self-importance to destroy good things happening in my life. I always tell people this who are thinking of quitting their job on a whim or reacting off of strong emotion, or even those needing a dose of reality in confirmation form. When you have a job, everyone wants you. It's easy to find work when it's not a necessity, but when you find yourself in a position, like Frank where you're forced to take what you can get, suddenly nobody is in a giving mood. It's one of life's dirty little tricks, and if you don't believe me... Try it out. No, no, please don't, seriously. I wouldn't wish what Frank is going through on my worst enemy. I've been there and it doesn't feel good. Frank has been blacklisted by his boss throughout most airlines as an undesirable, no matter how qualified for the position he may be. Sure, there is pride involved. I saw a commenter call it 'toxic masculinity'. I understand the concept of 'toxic masculinity' and the harmful psychological effects it has on men and women within society. Even though this particular string of events happen p in the 70's, a better, more accurate example of 'toxic masculinity' would be the misogyny that Sue (Laura Dern) is dealing with in her stifling, unhealthy office space... Not Frank's unwillingness to break down and accept a handout from the government, or filter through jobs that he deems compromising or humiliating to his experience and very specific set of skills. I don't think there's anything 'toxic' about the drive to provide for your family... Or the desire Frank has to actually do what he's trained to do, what he's good at, and what he can potentially make the most money doing. If anything this is human in nature, not exclusive to the ideals of masculinity. When we talk about ego, there's definitely a split on how both genders handle things... Why each gender may protect certain aspects, attack issues in a particular manner or prioritize ideals more than they do others; but ultimately as human beings, at the end of the day, we all want to count. We all want to do our part in protecting and providing for the ones we love. Even in the 70's, where male ignorance and patriarchal control reigned supreme, as continuously displayed in Sue's ongoing story arc... i.e. 'I'd like to put some mustard on her sandwich', Sue is now head of her household and must assume the role of lead 'bread winner' and only working spouse. She wrestles with earning the respect of a group of men who rule over her company like a bunch of primitive primates and a woman who gives into the ideas of that sexually charged, insult driven, 'toxic masculinity' to maintain her position by acting like 'one of the boys'). Ultimately, they don't even deserve Sue's respect. We are seeing Sue, as a character, show signs of defying what a woman's role is in the 1970's. Honestly, this is one of the most endearing spots of S2 so far, Sue's drive is inspiring... Even though she's constantly pulled down and made to feel less than human, she wades through a cesspool of humiliation and depression because her family is counting on her. Sue pushes on because she must. She knows she has no choice, but this isn't about that... This is about maintaining her family, and clearly Sue is not afraid to step up to the plate, though it does take a lot out of her emotionally and physically as well. She looks to Frank to do the same, and as hard as everyone wants to be on Frank, I have to put my hand out here. I find it hard to believe that this many people have never found themselves in a situation even remotely similar to Frank's. His embarrassing breakdown during Maureen's (Debi Derryberry) 'Honeybee Troupe' meeting was comical and a great way to tackle these sensitive subjects with a cheeky wink and irreverent humor... But don't let that waggish satire cloud that sense of relatability and empathy with Frank. The follow-up scene that contrasts that similar humorous moment with an embarrassing private period of candid vulnerability where Kevin (Justin Long) catches his father sobbing and verbally exclaiming that he 'fucked up' as he breaks down on the living room floor had me torn. This is almost like an instance of 'talking to god', where you're completely letting your weaknesses and insecurities boil over to where you're simultaneously falling apart and attempting to find a way to cathartically push on... And then boom... One of the people that you go out of your way to always make sure they see you in a position of control sees you completely helpless. Frank springs into action and attempts to show Kevin he's still a man who can solve problems by attempting to create a space for Kevin to have private moments for himself, freedom to grow without being cramped by his younger brother, Bill (Haley Reinhardt), his constant hovering and a instinctive drive that is very similar to that of Sue's that annoys Kevin's apathetic teenage sensibilities. Kevin is gracious towards his father at first, but he hears Frank lie to his mother... And that doesn't exactly sit well with Kevin, especially since it was Kevin who was outed for skipping school and Frank then used his authority to keep his own lie going about keeping with his assumed responsibilities at the Unemployment Office. Any headway Frank made with his eldest son was destroyed in that moment. Kevin remains silent and allows the moment to remain uncontested, but the damage has been done. Obviously animated series rarely inspire this sort of impassioned article from me. 'F is For Family' is an extremely special and 'one-of-a-kind' show that really takes all my favorite elements of any type or genre of series and turns up the existential volume to full blast. Michael Price and Bill Burr have literally created my dream series in animated form. With each episode, I become more and more appreciative of what this show is at it's core. When people put their heart & soul, their blood, swear & tears into their work, it shows. People see that, they react to it, even if they don't completely understand it's value right away. I continue to take my time w/'F is For Family'. Netflix has already renewed the series for S3, there's no longer a need to rush through the episodes, and to be honest... Rushing through a show this earnest and intricately nuance is only doing it a disservice. Netflix may have reinvented the way we watch television, allowing for binge sessions, and all-night marathons... But 'F is For Family' provides us an exceptional antidote for that new style of consuming entertainment, calling for the series to be sipped like a fine wine, even promoting repeat viewings of episodes so that the series can truly be honored for everything that it is. Great job guys, I can't praise this one enough.

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