Even if I wasn’t in quarantine, I still would have spent my weekend binge-watching the new season of Dead To Me. I didn’t even know it was going to drop on Friday, so when I opened up Netflix and all ten episodes popped up, I knew how I’d be spending my next five hours.
Twinning
So when we last saw Jen (Christina Applegate) and Judy (Linda Cardinelli) they were staring at the body of Steve (James Marsden) dead in the pool. They spend the this season hiding bodies, covering their tracks, and trying to cover the tracks left behind from covering their tracks.
Making things even more uncomfortable for them (and more enjoyable for us) is that Steve’s semi-identical (and much more likable) twin brother Ben shows up with concern for the now-missing Steve as well as his own set of issues.
This season has a much more intricate plot, and it’s challenging, in a fun way, to keep track of how everyone is connected and who’s betrayed who.
Love Connections
But the heart of the story is still the connection between Jen and Judy. The show is filled with moments the type of absurd, subtle moments we all share with our besties. Granted, we don’t usually share homicidal connections with our besties, but no one’s perfect. These moments remind us of all the odd and annoying interactions we have with the people in our lives. Like a neighbor wanting to share a bottle of orange wine while you’re trying to dispose of a body (Be cool, Karen).
There is a moment near the end of the season where Jen writes Judy a note, and one of the last lines on the note, but not read on camera, says ‘I love you more than wine.’ That underplayed moment of sentiment encapsulates the murderous journey these two have embarked on.
It’s a testament to their performances as well as the writers that we are presented with two murderesses and we are rooting for them the entire time.
This season also develops Jen’s kids, Charlie and Henry. Charlie plays an integral role in the cover up, and is always the one loose threat that sticks out from a sweater. The thread that you want to pull on, but when you do, everything comes unraveled.
Henry is showcased in the children’s christian rock choir. Their best moment is when they sing Amazing Grace at Steve’s vigil and start name-checking: ‘Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like Steve.. he once was lost but soon will be found.’ As the audience finds out, the adapted lyrics are true and prophetic.
And just because storylines are tied up with a pretty bow, doesn’t mean the bow can’t be untied in the blink of an eye.
The Critic’s Cocktail Recommendation
I love this show, but not more than wine. Still, I went through more than one bottle along with Jen and Judy. My fave was Racine pinot noir, because the last two episodes had my heart racing the entire time!
Cheers!
Critic's Cocktail 