Funny Woman Season 1 Episode 2 Review
Funny Woman Season 1 Episode 2 reverses the mood of the pilot in no time flat. Though Barbara opens the hour working as an exotic dancer, within a few scenes she’s making a great impression in an audition for a role on television.
Happy as it is, the turnaround is a bit jarring. The trouble with her new agents and other meddlesome players is immediately forgotten with nearly everyone now in Barbara’s corner—except the one person she needs to impress to get the role.
Yet Sophie Straw eventually wins him over, too, despite being chronically late and unfamiliar with all aspects of a TV set. She continues to bond with Dennis, slowly wins over her co-star, and even scores her first published interview.
From her last major success, we already know to be cautious about this, and sure enough Barbara gets a telegram ahead of dress rehearsals. Her father has collapsed after work and is now being driven to the hospital, seemingly on the brink of death.
Shamed by her aunt for not jumping on the first train home, she’s left torn between the guilt of not being at her father’s side and the fact doing so would probably mean throwing away her brand new dream. Back into the trenches we go.
By the second episode of the series, it’s clear we’re setting a tone of extreme highs and lows with little middle ground in between. Barbara is either on top of the world or at rock bottom and can experience both within the same day.
It’s a lot to take in, but it makes for a fun ride. Admittedly, “fun” might not be the best word for the emotional tone of the end of the hour, but it’s the perfect word for both Barbara and Sophie. I’m again reminded of the bubbly spirit of Elle Woods.
There are a few hints of something a little more somber in her past, mostly through the departure of her mother as referenced by her aunt. I’m curious as to how these will resurface and whether they’ll affect Barbara more in the future.
For now, while I can’t say for sure what Barbara will choose to do in this key moment, I can’t see her losing her new role. The show must indeed go on, and it doesn’t hurt that “Auntie” is portrayed as someone whose word we should doubt.
Chances are good that everything will be resolved within a few minutes of the next episode, if only so it can all fall apart again. Why watch a show about show business if we’re not in it for both the jokes and the drama?
Given that we’re now taking Sophie’s path to stardom at a gallop, I also expect there to be a few paparazzi-worthy plot twists along the way. With this many big personalities around, the only thing I can safely predict is chaos.
What did you think of this episode of Funny Woman? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Funny Woman airs Sundays at 10/9c on PBS.
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Caitlin Wyneken
Caitlin is an elder millennial with an only slightly unhealthy dedication to a random selection of TV shows, from PBS Masterpiece dramas to some of the less popular series on popular networks. Outside of screen time, she's dedicated to the public sector and worthy nonprofits, working to make a difference in the world outside of media.