Little Birds Review: Season 1 Episode 2

Little Birds Season 1 Episode 2 continues to be a visually stunning spectacle, but its disjointedness is starting to come through. 

This could be intentional, however. Anaïs Nin’s collection of short stories, on which the series is based, has a broad, unifying theme that explores women’s sexual agency. While this is expected in an anthology, it remains to be seen if the same hedonistic ambiguity can work for a cohesive narrative.

The direction of the story is fuzzy, much like the soft blur effect that the show routinely employs. Story is such a vital aspect of a television series, so one could see this as a drawback, but with strong actors bringing these fascinating characters to life it is only a minor weakness—at least, so far. 

Juno Temple as Lucy and Yumna Marwan as Cherifa are incredibly captivating in their roles, although in very different ways. Lucy is sweet and friendly and bubbly, her innocence seeming to be both believable and unlikely.

We, as the audience, know that Hugo (Hugh Skinner) has married her for financial reasons and that her father’s blessing is just a guise. This creates a degree of empathy for the duped ingenue that simply wants romance and passion in her marriage, and to make friends and have fun in this far-off land she now calls home.

Lili: The camera makes love to you—passionately.
Lucy: Somebody needs to. 

Temple does a great job of anchoring the flimsy plot as well as the erotic aesthetic. And as indicated in the quote above, one can hardly take one’s eyes off of her when she is on screen.

This is especially true in the opening scene when Lili (Nina Sosanya), the fun, vivacious singer that Lucy befriended on her voyage, invites her to be in her music video …or performance art piece …or experimental film. Oft-obliging Lucy really comes alive here, promptly shedding inhibitions and her clothes for the sake of her new friend’s art. Meanwhile, Hugo stands on the sidelines, unimpressed and unamused. 

The pressure he is under is a lot so it is understandable that he becomes a stick in the mud amongst a crowd of free-wheeling pleasure-seekers. His (ex?) lover, Adham (Raphael Acloque), takes this opportunity to buddy up to Lucy. It is unclear of his motivation for doing so, but the unease it causes Hugo is quite clear.

Cherifa is as mesmerizing as Lucy, complementing Lucy’s unassuming nature with a bold and unapologetic attitude. The scene where these two meet on Little Birds Season 1 Episode 1 is electric. It’s a shame to have both of them at the same party and not interact with each other. 

Like the plot, Cherifa is a mystery, and one that would be equally fantastic whether it’s explained or is kept as such. I can’t figure her out, and I like that.

If the overall motif of Nin’s erotica is an examination of female sexuality, it would behoove the series to focus on that. The high-art concept of Little Birds could easily manage, and even thrive, under this broad theme. The subplots that follow the men are much less interesting.

The success of the season will rely on whether it can marry its choppy storytelling with its sumptuous aesthetic effectively.

Little Thoughts:

• There’s some yoni imagery here that is worthy of a Gillian Anderson social media post.
• “Dreams are necessary to life.”
• “I’m a whore; I have no time for politics.” Marwan’s delivery is great.
• “There are rules. I know that. I just don’t seem to be able to stick to them.”
• I am loving this Contessa character.

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

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Little Birds airs Sundays at 9/8c on Starz.

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