Irma Vep Review: Dead Man’s Escape (Season 1 Episode 3)
On Irma Vep Season 1 Episode 3 “Dead Man’s Escape,” we see a little deeper into Mira’s past, Rene opens up about his regrets, and Edmond takes a nasty fall that may or may not add yet another obstacle to filming.
My primary concern with Irma Vep is that it feels like an elaborate show with very little happening. The cast is beautiful and talented, several of the characters are queer, and the subject matter revolves around filmmaking, which I find to be an interesting subject. But even with all that, I’m just not hooked yet.
I was hoping that this episode would change my mind. Sadly, that did not happen.
It’s not all bad, though. I had also been bothered by the recasting of the main character as a white woman, and that is addressed (kind of) in Rene’s therapy session. In Rene’s telling, he had previously worked with a Chinese actress, Jade, but had to recast her as an American because of the heartbreak Jade left him with.
When it comes to that narrative, I’m not sure how I feel just yet. I’m glad it’s addressed, but I’m hoping that story is told further and in a way that doesn’t feel like an excuse. I’m still holding onto hope for this series in spite of the areas I feel need improvement.
For example, it seems that the plot is almost cyclical. The movie is being made, the actors are uncooperative, the director does something rash that makes him a financial liability, everything is resolved, the movie is being made again, and then the cycle continues.
This sort of mundanity could very well be a sort of metaphor for what filmmaking is. Nothing is ever new or original, everything comes from something else, and at the end of the day, the viewers and their money decide whether it was a project worth making or not.
There is a conversation in which Zoe, the head of wardrobe, explains to a group of the film’s actors that movies and television are art forms. The actors have been in the business long enough to disagree. If the plot of this series is a metaphor for the film business itself, the conversation is well-placed.
I find myself wanting to know more about Mira’s relationships. We keep getting glimpses of them, even being introduced to yet another old flame in “Dead Man’s Escape.” But with conversations continuing about Laurie, and with Zoe and Regina’s obvious crushes (or obsessions?) with Mira, it seems the relationship aspect of her life is seriously important.
And that’s exactly why I don’t understand why we’re not being told more about it. I understand wanting to keep us hooked and coming back for more, but there’s one problem: none of these relationships are particularly interesting.
I want to be given something to care about here, and I want to care about whether or not Mira will go back to Laurie. I want to care about whether Regina’s obsession with Mira is something devious, or whether she’s just a young film student with a crush and I want to know if Zoe’s friendship with Mira has motives we’re not being told about.
Really, I just want to care. If the series ended now, so much would feel unresolved, but nothing would have me heartbroken over saying goodbye to these characters.
Is it so much to ask that we be given someone to root for? So far, the most sympathetic character to me is Rene, the drug-addicted director with anger issues who may or may not be trying to kill his leading man. However, he has so little screen time in comparison to everyone else that I’m not sure if what I feel is sympathy or just curiosity.
Or if we’re not rooting for anyone, could we maybe hate someone or something? I want to feel something. I feel almost nothing for these characters. Though I have to admit, the costuming and insight into filmmaking makes it not altogether boring to watch.
We’re almost halfway through the series. Maybe that means there’s a turning point soon. I sure hope so.
What did you think of this episode of Irma Vep? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Irma Vep airs Mondays at 9/8c on HBO and is streaming on HBO Max.
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