Little Voice Review: Quick, Quick Slow (Season 1 Episode 5)
If I’m being honest, Louie’s shoutout to Audra McDonald and The Good Fight is the best part of Little Voice Season 1 Episode 5, “Quick, Quick Slow.”
Plus, his Evan Hanson cosplay outfit is clearly better than everyone else’s video shoot outfit. Broadway Con for the win.
The video shoot storyline is at least a little bit more realistic than the songwriting contest. Plus, it’s awesome that Louie has a real job to do on the shoot, though who can blame him for ditching everyone for Audra? She’s a wonder of wonders.
The producer at the studio likes Bess on Little Voice Season 1 Episode 4, “Love Hurts.” It’s totally plausible he gets her a job doing a cheese wiz jingle — it’s not like Bess’ other jobs are less weird.
The video shoot day is also so much fun.
It’s just such a shame that Little Voice doesn’t know that their heroine is so far above a love triangle — especially this one.
Little Voice reads the chemistry between their actors wrong. Samuel’s words are a little monotone or awkward sometimes. And while it takes four episodes to see Samuel’s crush explicitly, he and Bess do have physical chemistry.
They don’t even have to kiss for us to see it. Even Ethan sees it. He cuts the awkward dance scene between Samuel and Bess because he’s jealous.
Perhaps that’s because Ethan and Bess don’t have physical chemistry that is palpable beyond the strange dialogue that’s written for them on paper.
It’s just weird that we are meant to believe they have any feelings for each other whatsoever. Apart from the night they first meet, they’ve barely spent time together.
Yet we’re supposed to believe that Ethan is going to leave Laila — a woman who sacrificed her entire life so he could chase his dreams in New York City — for Bess, someone he’s barely touched?
Physical chemistry isn’t everything, but between Ethan and Bess, there is no other kind to speak of.
Platonic friendships are great but Bess and Benny would be cuter together. Ethan is the lead male and the only expendable one. It’s not a good look.
To see the best parts of this episode of Little Voice, we have to look beyond the story.
The color pops, like Bess in a bright red dress holding a giant bunch of bright purple flowers, makes me smile.
And the directorial choices are as unique as they should be while watching people shoot a music video. It’s interesting to watch the shots shift back and forth from a viewer’s perspective to a director’s.
Little Voice has so much potential, it makes me want to scream when it falls short.
We are supposed to feel as if this is a big episode for Bess. But Prisha is right: she’s pushing Samuel away when he obviously has a lot to give her and running toward a taken man.
Why does the TV industry insist this story is entertaining a million times over?
What did you think of these episodes of Little Voice? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Little Voice airs Fridays on Apple TV+.
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Esme Mazzeo
Esme Mazzeo is a lifestyle and entertainment journalist from Long Island. When she's not writing for work, she's writing for fun, or searching for something to satisfy her sweet tooth. She thinks rainy days are the best kind of days. Certified night owl.