Loot Season 1 Episode 5 Review: Halsa
Loot is really beginning to find its groove. As the characters continue to figure out who they are and where they fit in to the show — the show itself gets better and better.
On Loot Season 1 Episode 5, “Halsa,” Molly takes the girls for a self-care day at the spa, where she makes some realizations about her friends and herself. During that same time, Arthur seeks dating advice from Nicholas and Howard.
It’s clear that Molly and Arthur have a spark, and that’s why Loot is keeping them apart for now. Shows generally shouldn’t do that, but it works here. Their combined inability to be normal human beings that work together makes for a hilarious, awkward dynamic all throughout “Halsa.”
Plus the long glances and awkward high fives work well to build tension that will certainly get the audience invested.
Molly: Maybe the coffee machine needs coffee!
The Nicholas and Howard dynamic really works, which is clearly why Loot keeps going back to it. Joel Kim Booster and Ron Funches have great chemistry together. But the chemistry is tested when Nat Faxon is introduced into the mix.
Faxon adds a relatively awkward dynamic to the budding Nicholas/Howard bromance, but the dissonance works to great comedic effect. Sensible Arthur mixing with silly Nicholas and Howard is a recipe for laughter!
Arthur: So I asked her out!
Nicholas: IRL?!
The jokes fly a mile a minute with the guys at lunch, and they land. Their story is filled with laugh-out-loud moments! More moments with all three main guys, please!
Molly and the girls also have a compelling story with one-liners, but just as important as the jokes is the messaging behind it. Molly’s insistence that the ladies practice self-care in the face of their mistakes is a powerful, modern message about what it truly takes to do good work.
It goes even deeper as Molly gets frustrated and rejects some of her former friends. She manages to get some negativity out of her life in two different ways.
It works as a story for Molly, who is growing, but also as a metaphor for leaving toxic friends and work cultures behind.
The awkwardness between Molly and Arthur really ties both of the stories on “Halsa” together. Clearly they are meant for each other and they don’t know it yet — but the true geniuses behind that are Maya Rudolph and Nat Faxon. Their performances are subtle and unassuming, but you can feel their affection for each other radiating through it.
“Halsa,” and Loot as a whole are really finding stride and hitting more and more of the right notes each time.
Loot is funny, sweet, and charming all at once. If that’s not enough to convince you to watch, what is? It’s the new feel-good sitcom for 2022.
A few stray thoughts:
- I don’t understand why any spa would kick out an obscenely rich member for anything other than gross misconduct.
- “LeBron. Oprah. Khaleesi.” Names of my next three kids, for sure.
- It’s hysterical that every character is baffled when Arthur asks someone out using his words.
- Arthur and Molly absolutely belong together, but either way I just want Arthur to be happy.
What did you think of this episode of Loot? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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New episodes of Loot stream Fridays on AppleTV+
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Nick Hogan
Nick Hogan is an experienced podcaster and writer (particularly on media topics), who loves discussion and analysis of TV and is always looking for new shows to watch. He is also a parent who loves buffalo wings, blowing raspberries, and his beloved Cincinnati Reds.