Four Weddings and a Funeral Review: The Sound of Music (Season 1 Episode 7)

I have been holding my breath for Four Weddings and a Funeral Season 1 Episode 7, “The Sound of Music.”

After the last episode, when so many pieces of this show finally seemed to gel, my biggest fear was that the show would take a step backwards.

Thankfully, it did not, and while the episode isn’t funnier than the last, the overall quality is consistent; now I just hope that it finishes strong in these last three episodes!

It doesn’t hurt that this episode played to so many of my biases. Community theater? Bonding over Cracker Barrel? To quote Bryce (Dermot Mulroney), “That’s amazeballs. I’m hashtag dead.”

In all seriousness though, there are plenty of things to love on this episode…and some persistent problems. 

How do you solve a problem like Maria, i.e. Maya?

I will admit that I enjoyed the parts of this episode that focused on Maya’s career (covertly job searching in a toilet stall? Using your boss’ past speeches to ground him in his purpose and get his head out of his arse? Yes, please). 

Maya, personally, is a mess, but professionally…she might still have some messy tendencies, but for the most part, she’s in her element.

While Maya’s brand of politics does come off a little one-note, she does seem competent and driven, and I’d be interested in watching a show about a young, biracial, American female navigating her way through traditional British politics and society.

Sadly, I think that would fall into another TV genre entirely. In Four Weddings and a Funeral, Maya’s career is secondary, so her romance with Kash is what is consistently pushed.

I know I’m supposed to be head over heels for these two. The show certainly pushes that narrative, and Kash and Maya speak about each other like they’re star crossed lovers.

…I still don’t feel it.

Maybe it’s that Emmanuel is playing the tortured, guilty friend too well, but I don’t feel like these two have the kind of chemistry to sustain a show.

Now that they’ve finally kissed, I don’t know if the next episode will lean into the guilty, forbidden side of their relationship or if the show will actually let them have a little fun.

There’s been a lot of moping and longing, so something needs to make this worth it (though given that Tony 2 definitely saw Kash and Maya eyeing each other, methinks more drama is ahead).

In the meantime, the Ainsley/Bryce pairing is increasingly interesting. While it was always clear where this storyline was going — Four Weddings and a Funeral doesn’t generally win points for originality — Rebecca Rittenhouse and Dermot Mulroney have chemistry for days.

Part of it is that Rittenhouse can deliver even the most seemingly obnoxious of lines with alluring charm. Case in point: “Do you know how hard it was to design a home for a gruff, monosyllabic oilman? I want compliments!” 

Granted, Rittenhouse probably plays off of her scene partners better than anyone else in this ensemble, but her chemistry with Mulroney is sweet and very apparent.

Few people can make talking about gardens, airports, or Cracker Barrel wine feel like foreplay, but those two do.

I also have to give the show, and by extension, Rittenhouse, credit for helping Ainsley develop into a multidimensional character. Her grieving process about her failed relationship has not been a straight line.

While Duffy’s reaction to his breakup with Maya is all encompassing, and ever so visible, Ainsley’s is more subdued.

While she was noticeably upset earlier in the series, she’s also put up a good front, even telling Maya that she’s totally fine with the casual hookup she’s been with since Craig’s wedding.

I think Ainsley truly believes herself when she says that, and it’s only when Bryce makes a move that she realizes she’s not quite as fine as she thought. Bryce presents a far more exciting and substantive option, but that makes him all the more terrifying.

Healing from heartbreak doesn’t just look one way, and I appreciate that this show acknowledges and showcases that. (But also, Ainsley, get it together soon and go after that oilman.)

Speaking of couplings that may get together soon, let’s address Gemma (Zoe Boyle) and Duffy (John Reynolds). I have theorized for awhile now that these two may be headed down a romantic path, and while that has not come to fruition yet, my thinking about it has changed.

On this episode, Gemma is once again responsible for shaking some sense into Duffy and spouts more great lines: “You still appear unhinged and unwashed…I have eggs in my refrigerator that lasted longer than your relationship.”

Gemma is clearly fond of Duffy and is more of a friend to him than some of the other characters appear to be.

While I had initially thought these two were going to be paired up by the end of the series, I actually hope that doesn’t come to pass. We need more representations of positive male/female friendships that happily remain platonic.

Additionally, I don’t think we need another example of “girl-helps-messy-guy-get-his-act-together-and-falls-in-love.” It perpetuates this common idea that women have to help men grow up, and I don’t think that’s what I want for Gemma.

For now, I’ll enjoy their budding friendship and respect for each other. That’s enough.

Lastly, I’d be remiss to neglect to discuss the storyline between Maya’s boss, Andrew, and Ainsley’s coworker, Tony 2.

Given the importance and emotional poignance of the gay couple in the original movie, I had thought it was strange that the series neglected to have a gay couple.

As with so many things with this show, it came…it just took a bit longer to get there.

While I don’t know if the relationship between Andrew and Tony 2 will go anywhere, I did find their scenes interesting, though their coupling seems somewhat implausible.

While I don’t think it has quite the sweetness or sexiness of other romances on the show, I do think it provided a good platform for some important messages about privilege and how we think about dating in general. 

I found myself wildly nodding my head as Andrew said, “You’re someone worth remembering.” Isn’t that how we all want to feel, after all?

Stray observations:

• Give me everything in Ainsley’s closet, right down to her headbands.
• I giggled with recognition at the Sound of Music rap; you have to be a theatre kid to fully appreciate how often directors will try to put ridiculous and creative spins on material to “make it more relevant” or draw a more modern audience. Take it from someone who was forced to sit through a Taming of the Shrew production set in a wrestling ring and a hip hop version of Camelot. That is real.
• Bash continues to be the best character on this show. I would definitely hide with him during The Purge. 

What did you think of this episode of Four Weddings and a Funeral? Who are your current predictions for our last two weddings? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Four Weddings and a Funeral airs Wednesdays on Hulu.

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