Work in Progress Review: 180 Almonds (Season 1 Episode 1)

On Work in Progress Season 1 Episode 1, “180 Almonds,” Abby McEnany uses her unique comedy and charm to explore the messiness of life.

This pilot episode is so strong—hilariously funny, empathetic, and real—you can’t help but be instantly hooked and want to get in on the ground floor of Abby’s existential building in all its under-construction glory.

Abby: I’m surrounded by people who are, like, full selves. And I’m like this building that’s been delayed. I’m that building. Shitty. Thing with, like, unfinished beams, that is, like, hard on the buildings around it, and the people—that eyesore, you know? And all of this has to change. I need to become a building. You know what I mean?
Dr. Franklin: [dies]

I mean, just the opening scene is a doozy.

McEnany comes right out of the gate with this dark and quirky humor, laying the foundation for an episode that maintains that level of potency throughout and teases a promising first season as a whole.

After that introduction, they cut to Abby’s sister, Alison (Karin Anglin), who has the exact same shocked expression as me. Everything that happens is so unexpected like this—delightfully kooky and/or stunningly poignant. I say “and/or” because often there is a mix of funny and sad, and that combination is shrewdly achieved and, also, very effective.

A lot of story is fit into this short half-hour—the death of Abby’s therapist, mid-session, is just the beginning. There is a super sweet meet-cute between Abby and Chris (Theo Germaine) and their subsequent date which gives the show a nice romantic comedy feel.

On that date, another unexpected plot twist occurs. Abby sees Julia Sweeney of SNL fame, but it’s not just a celeb sighting. Seeing this particular comedian brings up past trauma for Abby who was deeply affected by Sweeney’s portrayal of the skit character, Pat.

Abby: Hi, Miss Sweeney. My name is Abby. Your character, Pat that you played, who nobody could tell was a man or a woman, ruined my life. Have a good night.

Abby doesn’t actually say this to Sweeney, it’s just her sarcastic version of how it might go if she did confront her. Abby does not like confrontation, but Chris does and he offers to do it for her.

At her ill-fated therapy session, Abby talks about sort of being saved in a fairy tale kind of a way.

Abby: It’s like I’m trying to be a feminist, and I have this princess, like, prince fantasy. Like, not necessarily a man prince, but I’m a struggling damsel in fucking distress.

And here is Chris gallantly stepping up to do something difficult for her. It is so precious and heartwarming.

This path the story takes actually takes us to the past in a flashback where young Abby is teased at a college party. Be it flashbacks or present day, the narrative is deftly handled, making the plot and the main character fully developed in such a short amount of time, which is no easy feat.

Work in Progress feels like this weirdly wonderful mash-up of Fleabag vibes and Hannah Gadsby’s Nanette with its unconventional love story and witty insights into mental illness, gender politics, and identity. It is refreshing and it is fun on a deep level, giving us old-fashioned romance with a modern twist, and a look into the fascinating life of a self-described 45-year-old, fat, suicidal, queer dyke.

I’d very much like to walk around this unfinished building with all of its exposed wires and emotional detritus. Where’s my hard hat?

What did you think of this episode of Work in Progress? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Work in Progress airs Sundays at 11/10c on Showtime.

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