Minx Season 2 Episode 5 Review: A Stately Pleasure Dome Decree
This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
It’s the battle of the sexes in more ways than one on Minx Season 2 Episode 5, “A Stately Pleasure Dome Decree.” The subtle parallel between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs’ tennis match and the verbal sparring in Vegas provides a grounded 70s atmosphere without taking away from our favorite characters.
One of the things that I found so frustrating this season was how the series committed to celebrity cameos at the expense of our characters. “A Stately Pleasure Dome Decree” doesn’t lean as heavily on the historical event and as a result, our characters shine.
Let’s talk about Vegas.
We already knew that Minx would ultimately go global, and I expected to see that launch by the end of the season given how Tina pointed out a limitless ceiling earlier this season.
Introducing a competing women’s magazine, GAL!, edited by Joyce’s former friend, Maggie, is a smart move. Add to that, the panel staked with male editors, and the Vegas storyline became the perfect crucible for Joyce to come to terms with what it will take to keep her power.
The realization that Minx is powerful enough to buy GAL! and ultimately kill it symbolizes a shift in Minx‘s status.
Yes, the parties, clothing, and new cars may show that they’re bringing in money, but setting the precedent that you’ll destroy anyone who gets in your way is even more important to set the tone from here on out.
Minx fought hard to be here, and they’re not going to give it up easily.
It’s a hard lesson that Joyce has to learn on this episode, because while it’s aspirational that she wants to be able to lift up women she also realizes when she’s being used.
That’s never a good feeling, but definitely, something she has to learn if she’s going to move forward.
The more interesting, and laugh-out-loud part of the episode takes place in the Bottom Dollar offices.
The desire for Tina to be seen as fun and be invited shows her growth. She is taking a more assertive role, but she doesn’t necessarily understand how it’s changing her dynamics within the team.
The final scene between Tina and Constance where Tina acts like a child caught having a house party, is the perfect illustration of this. Constance is more impressed that Tina got everything back under control than punishing her for anything that may have gone wrong. That’s the kind of agency that Tina needs to step into her new role.
Richie’s desire to spread his wings, and Bambi’s desire to not be left behind are also very solid moves for the characters.
It’s heartbreaking to see Bambi realize that while Richie is shooting food porn and Tina is moving up at Bottom Dollar, and she’s being left in the dust.
It still feels like Bambi is going to be the character to watch and that she has the potential to do something really spectacular for Bottom Dollar. She just needs someone to be patient with her and take her under her wing.
Shelly’s story arc is another strong element of this episode. It was great to see Shelly come back to Bottom Dollar on Minx Season 2 Episode 4, “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Sexiness,” and watching her let her hair down to cheer on Billie Jean was an interesting extension of her character.
The fact that it also led to a couple of models with their cocks stuck in a tennis racket didn’t hurt the comedy. Lennon Parham delivers an incredible performance as Shelly gets more and more inebriated.
The arrival of Lenny also adds to the comedy as he gets ready to apply some of his dentistry to the situation. It also provides some insight into where Bambi’s future may lie. Instead of magazines and publishing, maybe dentistry is her calling.
Overall, “A Stately Pleasure Dome Decree” is a strong episode that gives all the characters a little bit of growth and some realizations. In the coming weeks, I hope that we can see the Bottom Dollar team launch their brand into the stratosphere.
As much as I want to believe that everything will continue to be good from here on out, Doug’s last words on this episode are echoing in my ear: “Nothing in Vegas is free.” This makes me wonder what else this team may have to sacrifice in order to keep Minx on top.
What did you think of this episode of Minx? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Minx streams new episodes Fridays on Starz.
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Lauren Busser
Lauren Busser is an Associate Editor at Tell-Tale TV. She is a writer of fiction and nonfiction whose work has appeared in Bitch Media, Popshot Quarterly, Brain Mill Press Voices, and The Hartford Courant.