The Romanoffs Review: Bright and High Circle (Season 1 Episode 5)

I have almost nothing to say about The Romanoffs Season 1 Episode 5, “Bright and High Circle,” because of the flawed, rather disgusting (and I don’t use this word lightly) narrative it chooses to present.

I give this episode such a low rating because I believe it deserves that low of a rating due to what it thought it could accomplish with such seriously flawed methods.

To be completely honest, Amazon and those involved with The Romanoffs have some nerve to be issuing a one-hour and 11-minute piece of television that revolves around allegations (of an “inappropriate nature” and involving a kid, even suggesting something sexual) against a gay man — which actually turn out to be false and not the hyperbolized, homophobic heterosexual fantasy that the show is perpetuating.

The nerve of those involved to be putting out this piece of television after showrunner Matthew Weiner was credibly accused of inappropriate behavior and sexual harassment himself is egregious.

Some note that the episode’s co-writer is Kriss Turner Towner, a Black woman who has worked on acclaimed comedies as well as Cosby (and thus most likely has had unsavory experiences herself in the industry).

Despite this, the episode’s core premise precludes me from taking any of the rest of it seriously. No matter what commentary it’s trying to make about homophobia and queerphobia and classism and gray areas, someone had to have come to the writers room suggesting a plot about a gay man being accused of inappropriate behavior.

Really, in this climate? Really? Right now?

It’s heavy-handed, trying to make a point in a way that I don’t think it can. The episode and the show wants to remain relevant, wants to transcend prestige TV to make some sort of grand gesture towards society at large, but it just doesn’t work.

Every gesture it tries to make just pushes it one more step towards being flat-out unwatchable.

To be honest, this episode might be the last straw. I’m struggling to figure out why it’s worth actually watching this show. I haven’t been impressed at all, in any regard, and it’s only getting worse as the season goes on.

I can’t seem to get unstuck from this point, and it (rightfully, in my opinion) colors my opinion and perception of the episode, no matter how interesting or entertaining the performances or plot were.

I’m sorry, Diane Lane and Andrew Rannells. I’m sorry, other people who were involved in trying to make this a quality piece of television.

And so, I believe that something this severely bad doesn’t deserve a careful analysis of the narrative and artistic values of the episode. I’m leaving that up to you if you think the show even deserves it — if you had any thoughts about this episode of The Romanoffs, feel free to share them in the comments below.

 

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The Romanoffs airs Fridays on Amazon Video.

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