Though I have never watched Lena Dunham’s most prolific work, Girls, I have actually watched a lot of other things she’s been a part of over the years. I do really like the way she speaks, both physically and in her writing, so I was excited to check out her new series, Too Much.
It helps that I also find Cleveland native Meg Stalter mesmerizing to watch mainly because her comedy style is a bit unconventional. She used to make me a little uncomfortable, but I’ve grown to really like seeing her on screen. It was actually very cool to see her lead this series, and I am looknig forward to watching some interviews to learn how Lena landed on her for the role. I do think she portrays Jessica pretty perfectly.
After getting dumped by her longterm boyfriend, who was already in a new relationship before doing so, she suffers a mental breakdown and is then given the opportunity to work in her company’s London office. Nothing quite as grand as the movies make it seem, but having been to London, I know that not everything is as shiny as Hollywood has you believe. Her job is fine. Her co-workers are all extremely eccentric in their own ways, and her landlord is surprisingly there for her, and somehow, she lands indie rocker, Felix.
Felix is messed up in a lot of ways, but he seems smitten with Jessica almost instantly. At first it seems like he’s trying to spare himself future heartbreak, but he gives in really quickly. From there, their love is passionate, loud, and messy. At its core it is pure, but they both have their fair share of baggage. Jessica is by all counts a strong woman except for in her relationships. For whatever reason this is the area where she doubts herself, makes herself small, but puts her all into it just to be dismissed in the end. She requires constant reassurance, and it’s a shame she lacks the surety she has in the other areas of her life. Felix, forever haunted by abuse during his childhood, seems to have never actually grown up. Most of his past seems fake in a way that would make anyone uncomfortable, and while he does genuinely seem willing to change for Jessica, his brain just keeps reverting him back to his old habits.
The final twenty minutes of this series was a huge letdown for me and seemed totally out of pocket and rushed. So ignoring that, I actually ended up liking this series. Much like its title though, at times it was in fact too much to watch more than one episode at a time. I definitely needed some space in between. While there was plenty to like about out leads, I found that I most enjoyed watching Lena as Jessica’s sister on screen alongside her husband, the always enjoyable Andrew Rannells. What a fun on-screen Girls reunion! All in all, you’d be in good hands with this series.